What are the biggest wastes of money in biking?
#51
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Anything that costs more than what I spent.
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#53
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I could have just lit a $500 bill on fire instead and still come out $100 ahead.
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#54
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Wow three pages in and I’m just now seeing this gem of a thread. I cant speak for “Biking” in general but the biggest waste of money for me was a low end Showers Pass rain jacket.
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Whatever you buy that you get little to no use from it. Unfortunately you don’t know what those are when you buy it. My guess is that most of us have a collection of bike accessories and clothing we never use, if not bikes.
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#56
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Any accessories related to bike packing, especially those ridiculous mushroom-like pouches that people strap everywhere on their bikes. For some reason these things are ridiculously overpriced for what they are.
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Tell that to the folks who ride from Banff to Antelope Wells with over 200,000’ of climbing in fewer than two weeks.
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#58
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Anyone who thinks cycling is expensive should try motorcycling, boating, or divorce.
Anything you want to buy with your own money is fine, even if it's a million dollar bike to cruise the m.u.p. It's fine if you just want to hang it on your wall and look at it.
Anyone who judges you for what you spend on things needs to stfu.
Anything you want to buy with your own money is fine, even if it's a million dollar bike to cruise the m.u.p. It's fine if you just want to hang it on your wall and look at it.
Anyone who judges you for what you spend on things needs to stfu.
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A lot of nice bikes worth of money can go down that rabbit hole.
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The best ones are put on by a club and they just ask for enough to cover costs.
Then there are overpriced rides where they cheap out on the food and cut corners everywhere they can. You finish those rides feeling like you got screwed.
Haven't done one in several years, though.
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#62
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Bike packing stuff is expensive but it's also very well designed and very practical for people who enjoy doing ultralight off road adventure trips. You have to pay to play, no other way around it.
#64
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I certainly don't want a $40 water bottle, and my cabinet full of bottles that cost between $0 and $12 is proof of that, but to each their own I guess.
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#65
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The biggest waste would be many name brand items that are of no better quality or design than lesser expensive alternatives.
...unless someone really likes the brand, which then makes it money well spent.
Crazy, huh?
...unless someone really likes the brand, which then makes it money well spent.
Crazy, huh?
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#66
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No brainer: Conti Gatorskinz are THE biggest waste of money. Fact!
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#67
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If your old trailer hitch won't come out, a bike rack that fits into your trailer hitch is a waste of money.
Take your old hitch out before you buy something else to put there, is my advice.
Take your old hitch out before you buy something else to put there, is my advice.
#68
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Strictly by chance, I found the Aquafina water bottles from the local convenience store fit my bottle cages perfectly, and snap into place and don't bounce out. Sure, they use a regular cap but since I do all my drinking while stopped, it doesn't matter anyway. It's no slower than drinking vodka from a bottle found in a dumpster.
I bought an Enve seatpost.... It's priced like you probably think an Enve seatpost would be, but it's gorgeous and the attachment and adjustment screws are really clever. I'm glad I bought it.
On the other hand, I bought a Spurcycle bell and decided it was a waste of money and returned it. The $6 bell from Dick's Sporting Goods is a lot louder and everyone recognizes it as a bike, which is something I can't say about the Spurcycle. I really think people hear it but don't recognize it as a bell.
I bought an Enve seatpost.... It's priced like you probably think an Enve seatpost would be, but it's gorgeous and the attachment and adjustment screws are really clever. I'm glad I bought it.
On the other hand, I bought a Spurcycle bell and decided it was a waste of money and returned it. The $6 bell from Dick's Sporting Goods is a lot louder and everyone recognizes it as a bike, which is something I can't say about the Spurcycle. I really think people hear it but don't recognize it as a bell.
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Anything that doesn't get used. I've bought all sorts of bits for various prices and a scary amount of it just doesn't get used. Worst offender is cheap frame bags, though I've always been strict about donating away anything that I'm not going to use so someone else can.
Or stuff that's at a level I won't benefit from. I'm a pretty casual rider (longest ride is about 35 miles and averaging about 12mph), so anything high end is wasted on me.
I've got a jersey I like from Aldi for $15 (and then 2 more in a sale for $7.50) so can't fathom spending $100 on one, but maybe one day.
I don't think I've paid more than about $5 for a water bottle, and so on.
I don't grudge anyone else getting enjoyment from kit that I couldn't justify.
Or stuff that's at a level I won't benefit from. I'm a pretty casual rider (longest ride is about 35 miles and averaging about 12mph), so anything high end is wasted on me.
I've got a jersey I like from Aldi for $15 (and then 2 more in a sale for $7.50) so can't fathom spending $100 on one, but maybe one day.
I don't think I've paid more than about $5 for a water bottle, and so on.
I don't grudge anyone else getting enjoyment from kit that I couldn't justify.
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#72
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#74
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The biggest waste of money in cycling is crashing. It can both cost you lots of money in medical bills, destroyed equipment or worse, permanent damage to your body or even death. 2nd waste of money in cycling is buying equipment on credit or installments or breaking the bank. If you can't easily afford something in cash and the price puts a dent on your savings, then don't buy it.
Not wasting money is simply avoid crashing and avoid stretching your budget.
Not wasting money is simply avoid crashing and avoid stretching your budget.
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Biggest waste of money IMO, with the exception of padded bike shorts, is bike apparel.
I can't believe people spend ~$100 on jerseys and mountain bike shorts. $20 for a bike jersey or shorts on Amazon gets you the equivalent of the $100 piece of apparel without the fancy brand name on it.
Last edited by prj71; 08-29-22 at 02:46 PM.
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