SlinkyWizard

I bought a relatively decent hybrid bike a month ago, for exercise purposes, to ride with the missus, and to try living as car free as possible. I did some research, went to the LBS, picked the bike I liked, looked at the price tag, it seemed reasonable, paid for it, and off I went thinking this was all I needed.

Within a week, I had gone back to the bike store to buy a front and rear light, a bike rack, a bike lock, a pump, and a bike computer. 2 weeks in, I had added padded bike short ( cheap ones ) merino wool socks, a side mirror and a bag to put on the bike rack.

Thinking I was done, I stumbled upon information on bike maintenance, ( bike maintenance?? what on earth is bike maintenance ? when I was a kid, there was never any maintenance done on our bikes, they seemed to last forever. ) and was surprised at how often people, say, clean and lube their bike chain, and give their bike a once over. So I went back to the bike store and bought some dry lube, cleaned and lubed my chain. I am also thinking about getting a stand so I can clean my bike at home.

Upon further digging, I now realize that I'll need to replace my chain every now and then, cassettes and chain ring less frequently, of course tires, and possibly a new saddle if I still have sore sit bones after another month. There must be many other bike components that also need to be replaced eventually, that I don't know about. Also the cost of getting professionals to do necessary work done to my bike if I haven't figured out how to do it myself. When the price tag of the bike says $xxx, I naively only looked at the price tag.

While this might sound like me complaining, it is not, if I could go back in time, and know I would be spending a lot more money aside from the actual cost of the bike, I would gladly do it again. It's been an interesting experience so far. When I bought the bike, I was at the top of the rabbit hole, how far I have stumbled down the hole since? I don't know yet. But I am still tumbling, for sure.

TriDanny47

Easy to do - like getting into any sport or hobby, there are startup costs you know ... Then a whole a lot you soon discover ... Then maintenance and ongoing costs. There are needs ... Then wants/desires.

If $ is a concern or just a principal, most bike maintenance and even a lot of repair is doable with a little education (online videos, books, etc) and the investment in some specialty tools.

OldTryGuy

At least your bike is a whole lot better than having a boat. With a boat you're putting good money into a hole in the water, with a bike you're putting good money into a healthy lifestyle.

Enjoy and prepare for n+1!

SlinkyWizard

I'm loving it so far, averaging around 30km a day, and having only driven a car a couple of times in the last month, the money saved on petrol will one day pay for the bike and then some..

I have also bookmarked a ton a how to bike vids and will soon hopefully understand how to clean and fix the basics.

Whats is n +1 ? I hope it is not something similar with headphones because I have been down that path before, but luckily, I knew when to stop.

A quick question, do better bike components last longer? or is it more about a "smoother" ride? I was thinking that perhaps I could have gotten a better bike, but now looking at components I will have to eventually replace, I think I am happy with what I got.

Nermal

N is the number of bikes you have. N + 1 is the number of bikes you need.

Your components will likely last much longer than you expect. Unless you just like to "invest" in accessories, you're probably about where you need to be.

ETA: If by better components, you mean more expensive, make sure they are going to do something for you. There is practically no limit to how much you can spend to save an amount of weight only important to a professional racer. Try to make sure any upgrades actually do something for you.

Garfield Cat

A friend's wife put it in a similar way: better than getting a fancy Corvette pocketbook wise.

GerryinHouston

You should try sailing!...

Anyway, been there, done that! I bought all of the items you are talking about and done all this (actually, as you will find out, there are some more 'must haves'...).

If I could go back, the only thing I would have done differently, is I'd have bought a better specced bike (or two... )

rumrunn6

be glad if you ever have to change your chain or cassette cuz that means you're enjoying yourself! it's a right of passage to look forward to! :-)

bruce19

Also stay away from motorcycles.

MRT2

Not really. Once you have what you need, it is just a matter of routine maintenance. Do things like wheels, brake pads, bottom brackets, cables, and shifters wear out? Sure, but I wouldn't worry about it until something actually gives you trouble. A lot depends on how much you ride a bike, and in what conditions. The bike that is ridden in rainy, snowy, or dirty conditions will require a lot more maintenance than the bike ridden in mostly fair weather.

As far as other stuff goes, tools last a really long time, ditto for grease, lube, degreaser, etc... You might find yourself buying kit or accessories from time to time, but that may be as much a want as a need. Like a new jersey or pair of shorts to add to the rotation. Or fall gloves. Or special cycling socks when regular socks will cushion your feet almost as well.

Jim from Boston

When I bought my bike, I didn't look at the overall cost in $$

I recently posted from the bottom of the rabbit hole to this thread on Fifty-Plus, "Buying expensive bikes and parts...,” including this definition of a really nice bike I read on Bike Forums:

Marcus_Ti

If you want an eye opener. Calculate how much money you save riding your bike.

Simply not paying for car parking 9 hours/day, 5-days/week/ 52 weeks/year....I save $2350, every year based on what the city charges for garage or meter parking. I could buy myself a whole new road bike every year, and still come out ahead just on parking alone....never mind the cost of gas, and car maintenance expenses.


Every hobby has some upfront costs. But odds are if you commit to it and ride every work day, you'll still come out ahead financially inside of a year.

AlmostTrick

Not in my experience. Once you step up to entry level bike store quality components stuff lasts a really long time. Fancier junk can actually sometimes be less robust than the less expensive stuff!

And "smoother" (if and when it actually exists) may be extremely difficult to detect... especially in a blind test.

Higher Price, Better Product? | Living Rich Cheaply

wphamilton

You've got your bike, some riding clothes, accessories, you can stop buying stuff if you want to. Don't get a cassette tool chain whip and cone wrenches until you replace the cassette, etc. A stand isn't necessary to clean the bike. I'm not saying that it isn't good to have the extra stuff you want, but it's beyond the cost of entry, beyond the "overall cost" of owning and using a bike.

George

I've had a lot of boats and motorcycles. Believe me bicycling, is a lot cheaper.

Wilfred Laurier

I am going throught he exact same thing. The sticker on the car window said $12000, but every three months I have to pay for 'oil changes', and I am expected to 'wash' the car more frequently than that.

2manybikes

You should carry a patch kit and a spare tube. One should learn how to fix a flat tire. Also a lock.

Stratocaster

I hear ya. I started "serious" riding last June.
I'm still looking for stuff to buy. It's more of a "wish list" rather than "must haves". Even so, I'm enjoying all of it. Cycling really has it's hooks in me.

B8888S

Truth! I hang a lot of my old worn out bike items on the walls in my garage. I keep them as souvenirs from all of the great times I have had on a bike.

With any hobby their are associated costs. We all know this and have been down that road with my other hobbies. My wife is just happy that this time it is a hobby that keeps me active and healthy. She did not feel this way when $$$$$ was going into classic cars, motorcycles, firearms, guitars or some of the other expensive hobbies I have been involved in. She never gives me a hard time when a box of cycling stuff is sitting on the porch after work. Just so I keep riding on a regular basis.

If you think you are in deep. Try outfitting a family of 4. We all mountain bike year round and take trips every summer to a couple of bike parks for some epic family downhill days! I am not complaining and love getting outside and enjoying life.

Ed_P

I experienced exactly the same when I got into cycling, sadly it doesn't get any cheaper, I am afraid! Try to see it as a positive investment and something that will bring you days and hours of joy long into the future.

-Ed

rumrunn6

FBinNY 

Getting into bicycling has a high front end cost, and as the OP found out, it goes way beyond the bike itself.

OTOH - most people do all that one time purchasing within the first ninety days or so. Once that period is over and they have the basic needs the cost to keep riding are very low.

Of course one might continue spending for upgrades or all sorts of other stuff, but that's a choice, not a need. Actual maintenance costs are very low unless one goes crazy with ultra high end replacement parts.

Seattle Forrest

Sure but as a kid I'd ride 2 or 3 miles a couple times a week. If I rode that little now, maintenance would still be pretty rare. (And the parents did it when we weren't paying attention back then.)

Hermes1

Pretty much and to the point.

Having owned boats I can laugh and agree with this.


Yes, so true where everything in motorcycles is expensive, the industry see's you coming. Might as well bend over and grab your ankles.

79pmooney

My dad was into boats. Got me into it. I kept my boats very small so $$ output wasn't huge but still real. The boat dictated where I could live, what I drove, etc, etc. My dad stayed into boats. Eventually bought the boat to fulfill a dream, sailing the Atlantic. That boat and the modifications and prep to cross an ocean would easily cover n+1 bikes for a bunch of us for a lifetime. And at 34' was about as small as you would want to go to sail an ocean with a crew of four. (I got to hang onto my money and join him for that sail. An experience of a lifetime.)

I no longer sail. Just bikes. One small car (that costs roughly twice what I have spent in bikes). No family. (A conscious decision I made decades ago, not for the $$ but to not bring a child into this world; a huge money saver none the less.)

Ben