MoneySaving for cyclists discussion

Herzlos

Keep_pedalling said:

Why no mention of maintaining your own bike. Long term probably the biggest money saver for bike owners.

Absolutely, but then getting a bike serviced professionally is so cheap that it's sometimes easier to start that way.
Though everyone should be able to replace an inner tube and adjust brakes and gears.

Keep_pedalling said:

As for bells,  never use one, I prefer the device nature gave me for communicating with my fellow humans. 

I find a lot of people ignore/don't hear shouts of "excuse me" but respond to a bell. I use it a lot more than I'd expect even if it feels stupid.

MSE_Kelvin

Keep_pedalling said:

Why no mention of maintaining your own bike. Long term probably the biggest money saver for bike owners. 

As for bells,  never use one, I prefer the device nature gave me for communicating with my fellow humans. 

Hello there @Keep_pedalling,

Bit late getting back to you on this one (just a smidge over five years...), but the guide has a section on free bike maintenance tutorials for those looking to save by learning to look after their cycle themselves.

When it comes to alerting pedestrians to my presence, personally I prefer a bell-and-yell combo to help get through to those who might have headphones on or had their attention diverted by their phone.

Cheers,

MSE Kelvin 🚲

bouicca21

Thank you. Free bike maintenance tutorials are just what I need.  

And personally I find that yelling ‘coming through on your right/left side’ as appropriate works well.

Nasqueron

Money saving and cycling in my experience are mutually exclusive  

Herzlos

Nasqueron said:

Money saving and cycling in my experience are mutually exclusive  

If you're careful it can be done pretty cost effectively. You can buy a 2nd hand bike, lock and multitool from marketplace for £100ish if you're not fussy. Then get a new helmet for £20 and you're sorted. 

You can obviously spend as much as you want after that point on bikes, gadgets and clothing, but I can't say my £1500 gravel bike is 5 times more fun to cycle than my £300 commuter bike. 

Nasqueron

Herzlos said:

Nasqueron said:

Money saving and cycling in my experience are mutually exclusive  

If you're careful it can be done pretty cost effectively. You can buy a 2nd hand bike, lock and multitool from marketplace for £100ish if you're not fussy. Then get a new helmet for £20 and you're sorted. 

You can obviously spend as much as you want after that point on bikes, gadgets and clothing, but I can't say my £1500 gravel bike is 5 times more fun to cycle than my £300 commuter bike. 

I was half joking lol, some bikes are more fun, some are just nicer to ride for other reasons, DI2 makes my custom best bike more relaxing to ride than my mechanical road bike which is in turn is quicker and more responsive than my old heavy commuter work horse!

rollingmoon

Keep_pedalling said:

Why no mention of maintaining your own bike. Long term probably the biggest money saver for bike owners. 

Yes, a lesson I learned early on... I took my electric Dawes to the local shop (on the website of the manufacturer as an agent) to have new wheel bearings in the rear wheel. The proprietor refused, saying "there'll be wires in there and allsorts" (!) so I did it myself, at a total cost of about £7.50 for the new bearings. Never been near that, or any other, bike shop since.