kudude

I was riding along today, realizing that I've bought (or justified buying) quite a few things that I would not otherwise own if I didn't ride my bike to work (however occasionally).

Ground rules - bikes don't count (ok, exceptions can be made of a pugsely in Anchorage), "wear parts" don't count - chains, tires, whatever, they're just a by-product of riding.

What are something you *would not own* if you didn't commute?

Reasons I use to justify stuff:
Early/late = need lots of light
It rains here. All. The. Time. = waterproof panniers, various clothes
Colder early/late = more clothes


For me:
Fancy cycling coat
Day-glo yellow coat/vest combo thingy
~4-5 PB SFs spread around
2x magicshine lights
Rack
Heavier gloves
Ortlieb panniers
Thingy for packing dress clothes in a bag
Thing so I'm not mad I have to put my shoes back on
3x locker locks that I've left in the locker room. I have a problem

Cost is probably ~$700. Holy crap, that's a bike.

However, as we all know there are marginal financial benefits - gas, parking; as well as cumulative - health, sanity, air of superiority, etc

Medic Zero

You say the bike doesn't count, but if I didn't commute, I'd just use my tourer for errands around town. So for me, I've sunk about $2K into my commuter bike, including things like its racks, Airzoundz horn, fenders, bell, etc.

Other things I wouldn't have if I wasn't commuting:

* Topeak trunk bag
* Zimbale 18L saddlebag
* rubber overgloves (they're motorcycle gauntlets)
* cycling specific shoes
* wool tights
* bib tights
* lots of lights
* a bunch of jerseys (although I use inexpensive motocross and paintball jerseys)
* balaclavas (its nice to have two, they get funky)
* winter weight cycling jersey (661)
* several pairs of wool cycling socks

Although I've kept fairly good track of how much I've spent on parts, upgrades, replacement parts etc, I haven't kept track of cycling related clothing purchases at all, so I really couldn't say how much I've spent on the above. I can tell you it seems like a hungry monster that always needs to be fed. I need a new pair of wool tights before winter and need a few more jerseys, replacement winter cycling shoes, glove liners, socks, etc...

Mr. Hairy Legs

I have a very large pile of MEC and LBS receipts. I'm afraid to add them up.

Most of the expensive gear was for winter, this last winter being the first one I commuted through. Hopefully things will start to get cheaper.

Shahmatt

I am guilty as charged.

On lights I've spent the following:
1. Two $2 lights from a $2 shop, but they both fell to pieces in about a month.
2. After that I spent $12 on a front and rear light pack from a proper LBS. They lasted me for around 4 months.
3. An imitation Knog beetle for $6. Weak batteries now. Still works.
4. A solar rechargeable Chinese branded front light for $14. Still works.
5. A Niteflux rear light for $99. So far so good with these!

On luggage:
1. A rear rack bag made by YAMI (or something like that) for $20. Poor quality bag. Expansion compartment lost its stitches after about a month.
2. A seat post bag made by Roswheel for $35. Seems much better built and most likely will last much longer.

Others:
1. One bike bell ($8)
2. An Airzound horn ($35)
3. Incoming: A cargo net for my rack ($9)
4. Portable tools, a wrench, pliers and some others ($40)

Most of the above were imported from China!

The total should be around $282. Sigh!

jyl

Rain jacket, pants x2, booties = $450
Fenders x2 = $200
Lights (various) = $300
Pannier = $100

That's over about 5 years

hyhuu

Lights and fenders. About $120 total.

1242Vintage

Nice Gore jacket and pants $250 plus another $30 for a snap on fender. That's it really. Everything else i either had (headlight, red flashers, backpack, tools, pump, etc.) or are wear parts.

cdalefan

23 commandment of commuting

Thou shalt not thinketh about the money thou spendeth on commuting. Nor shalt thou thinketh about how the money equates to a new car, boat, motorcycle.

Thou shall buy whatever thou can afford (or not) and justify (rationally or irrationally)

xlDooM

About 100 euros. A nice wind and waterproof jacket (65), the cheapest plastic rain pants I could find (10), two sets of lights (blinky type, not for lighting up the road, 15).

terrapin44

I've spent about $200, but I plan on getting a nice rain jacket soon so that might almost double.

How do you like that Peet Dryer. I've been considering getting one, not so much for commuting, but more for hiking. Although, I'd use it for commuting as well.

OneGoodLeg

I'm over $600 in the last month alone. Last two years? Maybe $800. That includes new cranks/chain/seatpost/chainring/chain/cog/pedals/fenders...etc.

dramiscram

All in all about 400$ in the last two years but now I'm fully equipped, I don't really need anything else but please don't tell my wife!

From now on it's about improving what I already have and finishing my home built xtracycle.

I think I saved about 2000 $ in gas since last year so it's a good investment.

kudude

It's great. Really.

Sort of underwhelming when you turn it on - almost can't tell anything is happening, but come back 2 hours later and it's all smiles. Benefit of not being a high-powered hairdryer is that it doesn't bake your shoes either.

Dead silent, small power consumption and really works

Buzzatronic

I have a spreadsheet where I keep track of all my expenses for commuting and try and reconcile it against how often I don't drive to work and how much that saves me. I save a little over $3 a day in gas alone but I'm still in the red by over $2,000 for all my bike stuff excluding the bike.

If I don't buy anymore bike gear and commute 5 days a week without fail I'll break even on May 18th, 2018. Now I'm really depressed.

kudude

If you're lucky, gas will hit $6 a gallon and you can break even in 2016!

It's pretty hard to quantify the $$'s associated with improved mental/physical health, being a nicer person for your SO/kids, and the satisfaction you get from not driving to work.

majwell

Question, to offset this cost does anyone get the bike commuter benefit?

Wikipedia

My work says they won't because of the system we use to buy transit tickets and such, but figured ask if this helps anyone out on the costs people are putting up.

RidingMatthew

too much according to the wife but can you really put a price on the Sanity that comes from riding a bike to and from work?

Andy_K 

I haven't spent anything on commuting gear...this week.

I've got:

4 portable pumps
5 headlights
8 taillights
4 racks
3 sets of fenders
2 trunk bags
2 panniers (not a set)
1 messenger bag
lots of bike-specific clothes

Obviously, most of this is redundant. Also, most of it gets used in non-commuting situations once in a while.

I think of it this way: How much would I pay not to have to drive to work every day?

That's more than enough to justify any commuting expense I might have. The health benefits, the pleasure of riding the bike and any money I might save are just icing on the cake.

phillybill

more than I'm allowed

hubcap

I have no idea how much I have spent. I imagine it is well north of $1K when you start adding things like panniers to the total.

Medic Zero

Word!

Commodus

I bought a topeak trunk bag. I think that's the only thing that's really commuting specific. I would be riding in all weather and conditions anyways, so the rest is more universal.

ShartRate

Maybe $60-70 in lights all told. Luggage rack was about $30, panniers would have been ~$120 but they were a gift. Bad weather riding gear is probably around $150. Then there's the $25 for a broken spoke and the $150 for a new wheel after the second broken spoke. And that's leaving out the stuff I would have used for leisure riding/other purposes.

I'm definitely not saving any money by biking given I already have bus/motorcycle options (and I have a motorcycle parking permit just in case I don't want to ride the bicycle for some reason ). For me, any amount of money seems worth it at this point to have a source of exercise that doesn't involve me going to the gym.

modernjess

No idea. But I have EVERYTHING I need to commute year round in any condition, no exaggeration.

Here's the thing, I've been doing it for 18+ years, so I'm so sure I've spent a thousand or two. But I buy quality gear, that has lasted a long time and is still going strong. Also I use a lot of my gear on other bikes for other purposes and riding beyond commuting. So in the big picture over that many years it's not much at all. I bet haven't bought anything "specifically" for commuting (other than consumables like chains brake pads ets.. ) in over 5 years. That's not to say I haven't spent countless thousands on all my bikes and gear during that same time. Like I said i have everything...

kudude

I've been to Minneapolis in the winter. Good on you, and I really do believe you must have an entire 2nd (and 3rd) wardrobe