sunburst

A friend bought himself a Harley (already had a fine Bianchi) and had to buy his wife a frickin' Volkswagon New Beetle Turbo (when they were still cool), to keep her happy!!!

Sometimes it's good to be single -- again.

BarracksSi

But you will. If a twelve-year-old can do it with his dad's tools on the back porch and no training or online help, anybody can.

Best thing you can do now is to learn how to do all the maintenance yourself. You probably won't need to go as far as, say, being able to change the bottom bracket, but adjusting the shifters, changing brake pads & tires, and routine tweaking & cleaning are all easier than you'd think.

For now, though, the bulk of your costs are done, and you've got a rideable bike. Now you're either going to stay cheap or turn into a schwag weenie.

entukay

money is sweet, we should all talk about it more.

Nachoman

Just last night I was surfing around cycling websites and I dropped about $50.00 on a new tire, a pair of socks, a bottle cage and two bottles. I was bored. Thankfully they don't sell cycling stuff on HSN.

jccaclimber

Bike: 400 Cool.
Tune up: 30 Not too bad.
New Brake Pads: 30 Should have talked to the old shop
Brake Pad Installation: 30 You could have purchased a full set of allen wrenches for that
Bike Pump: 60 Average
Bike Hanger: 45 Mine was $5 at a hardware store, but that's a one time cost.
Speedometer/Cadence: 50 Ok
Rear Flasher 10 Good idea, more people should buy these. Batteries in these things last a while
Front Headlight 30 Also a good idea, but you'll want rechargeable batteries for this one.
SPD Pedals 50 Ok, don't sprint hard in them.
SPD Shoes 60 Ok
New Inner Tube 20 What? Patch kit with tire levers($2) Tube($4) Did you have a shop change your tube? You really need to learn to do that, it'll keep you from walking back from the middle of nowhere when you get a flat. Go to the Park Tool web page as well as the Sheldon Brown (RIP) web page. Practice with a good tube a couple of times.

Rear View Mirror 15 Ignore the people that make fun of you for this
Bike Cleaner 12 Soap, water, rag, but ok
Bike fitting 75 Also a good idea, now don't screw with the fit they gave you for a while.

What else can you really throw in to this? Every couple thousand miles you'll need a chain, $20-30 at most. Tires last at least as long. Everything else in the drive train lasts longer if you clean your chain, or at lest lube it (I didn't see that on your list). I guess clothing but that is well within the realm of want not need.

You don't NEED trail wheels, you could just change tires. It's a pain, but it also isn't a situation where you'd be driving there otherwise so the gal argument is moot. I'm sure the week you purchased your car you spent more than this. Also driving into an overpass is unfortunate, but cheaper than driving your car into a pole. Honestly though, after seeing the amount of people that have done this to bikes I don't ever think I'll put my bike on the roof of a car. Inside or on the trunk. At least when someone rear ends you it's their fault, and if you back your bike into a pole, well, I hope you never drive a longer vehicle than the one you are in now.

Letting bike purchases continue to cost you money is mostly a matter of want than need and will cost you as much as you allow it to. Alternatively, if you learn to do your own repairs (hint: tools purchased at a shop are paid for the first or second time you don't have to pay the shop for a service) and keep some tubes and chain lube around you should be set for quite a while on the cost of tap water and extra food due to the faster metabolism.

Looneytuna

Cycling like any sport can be expensive or not depending on the person and not on the needs...

We don't need that $5k+ bike or bikes, $400 shoes, $250 bibs, $200 helmets to enjoy the sport.. but some of us including me have them anyway... the more I spend the more I feel the need to ride to bring down the cost per mile.. I have friends that ride $750 bikes, $75 shoes, $75 bibs, $50 helmets and enjoy the sport as much as I do...
I do my own maintenance and thats not just to save but to be sure it's done right...

Even the guys on the $750 bikes have to make their wives happy with vacations, clothes or jewelry...

slvoid

Good god if i had to count... I got ripped off.
Bike- $2200
Seatpost- $120
Saddles (2)- $350
Bottle cages- $120
Handle bar- $500
Bar tape- $20
Pedals- $120
Computer- $220
Saddle bag & contents- $60
Wheels- $2000
Tires- $120
Brakes- $400
Chain- $50
Superhero outfit- $250
Shoes- $250
Helmet- $220
Gloves- $50

About $7050?

So somehow, I've managed to turn a $2200 bike into a $7050 bike.. **** I'm an idiot...

shawneebiker

Hell I've got $8k in my beater bike.

prehall

t man, ive been putting off doing this for a while now. guess its time to htfu.

Nashbar Frame & Carbon Fork- 150
Campagnolo Electron Wheelset- 200
Continental tires and misc tubes- 40
Campagnolo Veloce Shifters, Cassette, & Chain- 270 (i got screwed, i know)
Campagnolo Record Cranks- 100
Campagnolo Chorus Pro-Fit Pedals- 35 (free cleats)
Campagnolo Chorus Front and Rear Brakes- 85
Campagnolo Centaur RD- 50
Campagnolo Mirage FD-50 (i think i got screwed here too)
Campagnolo post clamp- 15
Cannondale CF Seatpost- 50
Specialized Long-Pro Seat- 20
Diadora shoes- 15
Misc bad CF stem- 15
Setup costs- 100 + case of Sierra Nevada

total- $1,235 + a case of Sierra Nevada
bars i stole from a previous bike. kinda disappointed now. i spent 1235 and ended up with a barely sub 20 lbs bike. stupid idea of buying parts separate...next step is to upgrade the nashbar frame and fork. i realize now that was not the best/lightest combo to start building from. but hey, coming from a Schwinn Varsity to this monster has been a fun ride. any suggestions to lighten up?

Miguelangel

Dr. Pete amazing.... do u ever equal your operations to how many top end bikes you could buy???? (as opposed to BMWs which is what Drs. usually measure it to!!!)

SushiJoe

Probably around $15,000 on my 3 bikes. Maybe more...

Looneytuna

in just the last 3 years...easily surpassed 20K on cycling..

2005 Seven Elium originally cost about 8000 with Topolino wheels, Campy Record, pedals..
Upgraded to new 2007 Record.. 1500 (put old campy in boxes)
Sold Topolino wheels and upgraded to Zipp 404's.. 1400
Damaged a Zipp so bought rolf Elan Aeros as an everyday wheel 775
Total so far 11675 with 2 wheelsets

2006 Tarmac Comp to leave in florida - Sold 2002 Seven Alaris with DA for 2000. paid 1000 for the the tarmac and swapped the stock grouppo for my 2005 record group. bought helmet, glasses, jerseys, toolkit to leave in Florida... already had an old pair of sidi's and floor pump plus all the maintenance crap that goes along... probably have less then 500 left over..

2008 Tarmac SL2... being built now...
frameset 2500
bars/stem 250
record group 1800
Zero Gravity brakes upcharge 75 from record skeletons
Wheels 0 (using extra set)
Easton EC90 seatpost 0 upcharge from stock one
Fizik Aliante carbon saddle 180
Look keo peddles 200
Bottle cages 75
LBS bottles 0
seat bag and contents 50
Total 6030..

and all of the above does not include the 3 helmets, 3 pair of shoes, and closet full of clothes for all year round riding..

If SLVOID claims to be an idiot, then I am a much bigger idiot...

threeflys

Take up anything with an engine!! I just came off of BMW motorcycles and my Miata I had prepped for the track. $100 for a saddle is nothing compared to $350 for a cold air intake that is just a piece of shaped aluminum!
Chris

neurocycler

No kidding, although I left downhill ski racing in favor of cycling, 2 bikes and $10,000 later...

woodduck

One thing for sure the spending on equipment never stops. At least the riding is free.

I like the bikes as much as I like to ride them. I spend a large amount of money on them. I do not try to explain this to anyone not seriously into cycling, or my wife (although she rides and has a real nice bike).

It's mainly tires and tubes, chains and cassettes. I stash away cash in old water bottles, I think I have enough for a nice new road bike, not that I need one right now but that is what the money is for, bike bits.

I used to use my credit card, until I really started adding all the bike costs up (and I hunt for bargains).

Dreading the days my kids go through the bmx, mountain, road, track cycling phases. Thats a lot of gear to supply.

slvoid

Going out with $7000 worth of bike on a bike that was originally worth only 2200 is like, a 350% difference. I don't think you've polished a turd as successfully as I have.

kill.cactus

Of what you listed, only the bike, pads (which you could have gotten online for half the price), pump (ditto), lights (can't really save too much here), spd pedals (got used pair online that were originally 130 for about 20 dollars), shoes (online too), the tires and other stuff (online) were ESSENTIAL. I mean, bike fit is important, but for seventy five dollars I'd just ride out to a low key touring club one day during their rides and ask about how the bike should be fit to you. Also learning how to take care of your bike is important: tune ups are expensive and for the most part don't cover anything you can't quickly and very easily do yourself.

As you go you'll learn how to save - my only losses are replacement parts (chains, etc) which I can get online for a fraction of the cost that LBSs sell them for (although if you want to support local business... IDK)

MIN 

geared - $5k
fixed -$1k

Nachoman

It's an investment in my health and in my future. Yeah..... that's the ticket.....

Asian Sensation

Tarmac Team: 2200
Keo Carbons: 125
Cateye Astrale 8: 25
Lube: 3

Total: 2353

Shoes were 180, don't know if those are part of the bike though, sometimes they are, sometimes they're not.

Total bike after use... probably like 1800 or so

^oZ

About 10k

DrPete 

Nah... besides, there are a couple issues: 1. The surgeon's fee for a CABG is ridiculously small. The doctor sees very little of that. In fact, most plastic surgeons see more cash for a tummy tuck than a heart surgeon sees for a CABG. Yay, medicare. 2. I'm in the Army, so I'm salaried. The only place where it matters how many cases I do is in my own personal satisfaction and getting my department funding/facilities/etc.

roadwarrior

The OP lost me when I saw the words "rear view mirror".

Miguelangel

Salary??? Army Surgeon???? Dr. Pete you have my respect!!! Way to go!!! Coming from a country were medicine is socialized I can attest to the Medical Satisfaction of actually doing a good job and not the Medical purpose of becoming a zillionaire!!!

merlinextraligh

Incorrect, the Beetle Turbo was never cool.

Trying to market the Beetle as a sports car was the worst move in the auto industry since the Edsel.