Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Michael A on June 17, 2010 at 2:17am

You have the skills ( however cavemanish) to keep a $300 used bike running. The average person is much more limited. If saving money is your only reason to bike commute, maybe public transportation is a better option.

notoriousDUG said:

I just cannot agree that 800 is a reasonable number for a simple commuter bike... 30 seconds on Google got me this hybrid that with a rack could be a totally viable commuter bike and its only 270 bucks.

Is it a great bike? No. But it would be a viable commuter bike.

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Permalink Reply by Craig S. on June 17, 2010 at 2:18am

Good for you. Personally I think $800 approaches a decent wheelset. If y'all are offended by this person's blog, don't read it, simple as that.

Gabe said:

I have 3 bikes purchased under 800 bux. Craigslist and a sale at performance. And the gear isn't tarps. No one said wrap your self in a tent. Proper layering doesn't usually require more than you have in your closet. Now if this reporter wants to look cute and fashionable and look like she's a spandex warrior then sure spend all ya like. But it makes ya an idiot.

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Permalink Reply by Joel on June 17, 2010 at 2:33am

I started to write a rant to post on her article, but I decided it wasn't worth it. It sounds like she is in favor of bike commuting, especially for the long term benefits. I think she was trying to be funny with the initial more expensive premise. If you are going to be serious about cycling, I think her numbers aren't horribly far off. I could easily see spending $1000 in the first year on the bike, lights, locks, a rack, a pannier, etc. It adds up quickly if you don't already own everything. Obviously it isn't more than buying and maintaining a car.

My biggest beef with the article is that people will see the headline, assume it is true, and move on without reading -- with a renewed sense that biking isn't worth it.

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Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on June 17, 2010 at 2:42am

Craig S. said:

Good for you. Personally I think $800 approaches a decent wheelset. If y'all are offended by this person's blog, don't read it, simple as that.

Did anyone say they were offended? Most of what has been going on here is a simple refutation of facts. If you need to spend $800 on a wheel set, have at it. But if that is the case then you have vastly more expensive standards than the typical entry level commuter. Or me, or pretty much anyone I know.

There are plenty of perfectly adequate commuter bikes available for a lot less than $800 and that is assuming a new bike. It would be pretty tough to spend more than $300 on a used commuter.

By way of more examples, I'm commuting on a pretty awesome 1982 Schwinn Voyageur that I got for $120 earlier this year. It is a tourer, but it works great for commuting. I'm building my next commuter now with a budget of $300 (half of that for 3 speed rear wheel).

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Permalink Reply by Joel on June 17, 2010 at 2:56am

You know how to put together and maintain a bike built out of used components. The average person getting into cycling wants a bike that just works. They will go to a large store and find one they like. You can be frugal to an extent -- I bought a new Specialized Sirrus Sport for $200 under MSRP. When you buy new you also get some shop maintenance. A decent new bike is still going to start around $500.

It isn't just the cost of the bike. I'm not talking high end jerseys and shorts either. Let's look at what the minimum a person getting back into cycling for the first time since childhood needs to ride safely and comfortably in the city. I include a rack & pannier because riding with a backpack on a hot and humid Chicago summer day is going to leave your clothes a sweaty mess -- which just isn't good for most people.

Bike: $500
Helmet: $50
Lights: $50
ULock + Cable: $60
Rack: $40
Pannier/Trunk: $50
Floor pump: $30
Tax: $79.95
= $859.95

You should also throw in a spare tube, frame pump, tire levers, multitool, etc. depending on the length/route of your commute. Remember, most beginning cyclists don't own all of this stuff already.

Tony Adams said:

Craig S. said: By way of more examples, I'm commuting on a pretty awesome 1982 Schwinn Voyaguer that I got for $120 earlier this year. It is a tourer, but it works great for commuting. I'm building my next commuter now with a budget of $300 (half of that for 3 speed rear wheel).

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Permalink Reply by Jack on June 17, 2010 at 3:02am

I think her article was aimed at the mean price and not what the lowest is. For 50 clams, pick up a Craigslist beater and ride. Done. You can also easily spend $2,500 on a bike (or $13,999 if you have the budget).

Go to a bike shop, pick up a touring or urban Cannondale, Trek, etc. you can easily pay $800. Then to get into the locks, bags, and racks new it is another few hundred dollars. Adding in the clipless pedals (then shoes to match) you can easily get to $500.

The article was aimed (IMHO) at non-cyclists who probably drive to work each day. They pay probably $500 a month in a car payment, plus parking, insurance, and gas. $1300 is spent in about two months. You can easily find cheaper and just as high quality options with some leg work and research, but I think it was more geared to a person walking into a bike shop and buying new. Still cheaper than a car in the long haul but the point is it isn't free initially.

Just my two pennies worth.

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Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on June 17, 2010 at 3:26am

Joel said:

I started to write a rant to post on her article, but I decided it wasn't worth it.... My biggest beef with the article is that people will see the headline, assume it is true, and move on without reading -- with a renewed sense that biking isn't worth it.

Yes! great point!

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Permalink Reply by BalloonBiker on June 17, 2010 at 3:33am

I had also read this article. Last year I picked up a vintage motobecane from craigslist for $50 to use as a winter commuter. I spent another $100 to get it tuned up and to put a front basket on it. I also got lights...they don't need to be really expensive, so that was another $30. My helmet was $35. For that bike, i use an inexpensive u-lock which I purchased at Target...I'm sure it was $20 or less. That totals $235, but that is without any degree of doing mechanics on my own.

Naturally, you can spend a lot more on a bike, and I have, but for basic commuting it really isn't necessary.

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Permalink Reply by Liz W. Durham on June 17, 2010 at 3:39am

Yeah, I was confused by the article. I thought she was dismissing bike commuting at first and then, by the end, realized she was saying that bike commuting is a good thing...just for other reasons. I would not consider it well written at all and I can see how some folks will only get the initial bit that suggests riding is not all that smart or great of a thing.

As for costs...there is such a wide range in what people need or are looking for whether they are new or experienced riders. I love older bikes and have picked up many over the years for next to nothing. But there are also those who would never get an older bike and who want to pay more.

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Permalink Reply by Craig S. on June 17, 2010 at 3:40am

Tony,

Everyone has vices that they choose to throw money at, one of mine happens to be bikes. If I could afford it, you better believe I'd have a new custom ride every year. I'd love to see a Steelman, a Pergerotti, a Rivendell, another Waterford or two, a Seven, a Moots, an IF, a Calfee in my stable. Others may have "vices" that I wouldn't drop a dime on. Case in point, I can't imagine why anyone would willingly purchase a MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL ticket or watch a broadcast yet all of those that do help pay my mortgage.

My point is, who really fucking cares what that blogger has to say and the interweb is a real big place if you don't like the blog post. If you read the second half of her blog post, it goes on to say it was all money very well spent and perhaps that may help someone decide to ride their bikes even one day a week.

If anyone ever sees me in another thread that does NOT involve cocktailing, spirits, drinking, inebriation, etc., I give the population of the Chainlink permission to bitch slap me.



Tony Adams said:

Craig S. said:

Good for you. Personally I think $800 approaches a decent wheelset. If y'all are offended by this person's blog, don't read it, simple as that.

Did anyone say they were offended? Most of what has been going on here is a simple refutation of facts. If you need to spend $800 on a wheel set, have at it. But if that is the case then you have vastly more expensive standards than the typical entry level commuter. Or me, or pretty much anyone I know.

There are plenty of perfectly adequate commuter bikes available for a lot less than $800 and that is assuming a new bike. It would be pretty tough to spend more than $300 on a used commuter.

By way of more examples, I'm commuting on a pretty awesome 1982 Schwinn Voyageur that I got for $120 earlier this year. It is a tourer, but it works great for commuting. I'm building my next commuter now with a budget of $300 (half of that for 3 speed rear wheel).

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Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on June 17, 2010 at 3:54am

Jack said:

Still cheaper than a car in the long haul but the point is it isn't free initially.

And that brings me back to my initial beef with the post. She says it's not worth it in the short-term. Well, many things aren't worth it in the short term, like investing in your 401K plan, exercising, starting a new job to name a few.

Aside - yes, exercising - not worth it if you go for a short bike ride 1 day a month, and you don't start seeing benefits (pay and insurance) for 1-2 weeks at a new job.

What really annoys me about the blog post is the push for instant gratification. She really needs to look at a bicycle and whatever gear you need to get - however minimal it may be - as an investment. You really need to stick with it to get any monetary or health benefit out of it instead of going "I biked to work all this week, and it cost me 5 times as much as driving."

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go buy a Moots that I'll ride one day a year.

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Permalink Reply by Paul on June 17, 2010 at 4:45am

who rocks a titanium fork? not even on a ti bike.

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