bike budget planning/estimation

"Bruce Edge" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

No, not a budget bike, a bike budget.

I remember seeing an article on how much riding costs per day. I think
that was road though. Anyone have a link to it?

Or, anyone have any educated guesses on what a 12hr / week or so habit
of hard trail riding costs long term? Assuming no crashing, just normal
wear, unwasheable stench, tread life, metal fatigue, battery life, etc.

You know, consumables, wheels every couple of years, a frame every so
often, lights, shoes, ibuprofin, helmets, brake pads, grips.....

All I know is I blow a lot of dough on it.

-Bruce

Don't bother analyzing it...just go out and ride...

- CA-G

Can-Am Girls Kick Ass!

Carla A-G said:

"Bruce Edge" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

No, not a budget bike, a bike budget.

I remember seeing an article on how much riding costs per day. I think
that was road though. Anyone have a link to it?

Or, anyone have any educated guesses on what a 12hr / week or so habit
of hard trail riding costs long term? Assuming no crashing, just normal
wear, unwasheable stench, tread life, metal fatigue, battery life, etc.

You know, consumables, wheels every couple of years, a frame every so
often, lights, shoes, ibuprofin, helmets, brake pads, grips.....

All I know is I blow a lot of dough on it.

-Bruce

Don't bother analyzing it...just go out and ride...

- CA-G

That's the problem, I do, and I spend whatever it takes to keep doing it.
My wife's trying to plan finances, and this is wildcard that keeps
messing everything up.
If I could come up with a figure, it'd make her life easier.

-Bruce

"Bruce Edge" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Carla A-G said:

"Bruce Edge" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

No, not a budget bike, a bike budget.

I remember seeing an article on how much riding costs per day. I think
that was road though. Anyone have a link to it?

Or, anyone have any educated guesses on what a 12hr / week or so habit
of hard trail riding costs long term? Assuming no crashing, just normal
wear, unwasheable stench, tread life, metal fatigue, battery life, etc.

You know, consumables, wheels every couple of years, a frame every so
often, lights, shoes, ibuprofin, helmets, brake pads, grips.....

All I know is I blow a lot of dough on it.

-Bruce

Don't bother analyzing it...just go out and ride...

- CA-G

That's the problem, I do, and I spend whatever it takes to keep doing it.
My wife's trying to plan finances, and this is wildcard that keeps
messing everything up.
If I could come up with a figure, it'd make her life easier.

-Bruce

In that case, $5,000...that should hold you off for a while...

:-)

- CA-G

Can-Am Girls Kick Ass!

On 2004-09-14, Bruce Edge penned:

Quoted message said:

That's the problem, I do, and I spend whatever it takes to keep doing it.
My wife's trying to plan finances, and this is wildcard that keeps messing
everything up. If I could come up with a figure, it'd make her life easier.

As someone who's never been able to stick to a budget, I sympathize.

Maybe you should look at it from the other side. How much can you, as a
family, afford to spend on entertainment? From there, how much of that can
you take for your own personal entertainment? From there, you find out how
much you can afford to spend on biking.

Fact is, you can spend an infinite amount of money on any hobby. You have to
look at how much you can actually *afford* to spend.

As I said, I've never been able to stick to a budget. But if I were going to
do so, I'd work it from that direction.

--
monique

"Get a bicycle. You will not regret it, if you live."
-- Mark Twain

Monique Y. Mudama said:

On 2004-09-14, Bruce Edge penned:

Quoted message said:

That's the problem, I do, and I spend whatever it takes to keep doing it.
My wife's trying to plan finances, and this is wildcard that keeps messing
everything up. If I could come up with a figure, it'd make her life easier.

As someone who's never been able to stick to a budget, I sympathize.

Maybe you should look at it from the other side. How much can you, as a
family, afford to spend on entertainment? From there, how much of that can
you take for your own personal entertainment? From there, you find out how
much you can afford to spend on biking.

Fact is, you can spend an infinite amount of money on any hobby. You have to
look at how much you can actually *afford* to spend.

As I said, I've never been able to stick to a budget. But if I were going to
do so, I'd work it from that direction.

That makes a lot of sense. Unfortunately it would take a lot of planning
and estimation too.

I guess I need to just go back and pull up all charges from
performance/supergo/etc and average them.

My last big screw up was when I sold my frame to get a kona coiler
frame. The guy I sold it to found a crack in it, so I had to refund the
$$$. There's a $1K whack I hadn't planned on.

Maybe road biking wouldn't break so much stuff....

....nah, I could never do that. :-)

-Bruce

Bruce Edge said:

Or, anyone have any educated guesses on what a 12hr / week or so habit
of hard trail riding costs long term? Assuming no crashing, just normal
wear, unwasheable stench, tread life, metal fatigue, battery life, etc.

Depends a lot on the level of equipment you purchase. Bikes can cost
anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars; helmets can cost
anywhere from $20 to $150.

Assuming you're riding a $1200 bike, set aside $50/month, and you'll have
enough to purchase a new bike every 4 years, plus $300/year for extras. If
you don't buy a bike every 4 years, you'll have extra money to cover other
stuff - like a trip to Moab & Fruita. :-)

--
-BB-
To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

BB said:

Bruce Edge said:

Or, anyone have any educated guesses on what a 12hr / week or so habit
of hard trail riding costs long term? Assuming no crashing, just normal
wear, unwasheable stench, tread life, metal fatigue, battery life, etc.

Depends a lot on the level of equipment you purchase. Bikes can cost
anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars; helmets can cost
anywhere from $20 to $150.

Assuming you're riding a $1200 bike, set aside $50/month, and you'll have
enough to purchase a new bike every 4 years, plus $300/year for extras. If
you don't buy a bike every 4 years, you'll have extra money to cover other
stuff - like a trip to Moab & Fruita. :-)

I guess I'm spoiled. I rarely buy anything new, but I have a 3K+ rig.

I was thinking around $150/month min. Just consider the consumables:

Drivetrain and shifting components, there's $500 of components that will
all fail sooner or later.

Twisted a chain, and bent [censored] out of chain ring & front derr, there's a
$100.

Tires/wheels, another several hundred.

Oops destroyed a rim, $100 min.

New light for winter (I ride early). Hmmm HID? $300 easy.

Not to mention things like shorts.
How many of you are riding on shorts with no chamois left?

Catch jacket on tree you tried to squeeze under and get ripped of your
bike by your sleeve? Kmart $10 or Pearl Izumi $150 ?

$30 for crappy XC shirts that never lose their stench after a few
months. (Although, that doesn't stop me wearing them)

Fork seals, brake pads, shock rebuilds.

Hmmm, wonder what Pete F. kicks down on bike stuff & video gear :-)

-Bruce

Bruce Edge wrote:left?

Quoted message said:

Catch jacket on tree you tried to squeeze under and get ripped of your
bike by your sleeve? Kmart $10 or Pearl Izumi $150 ?

send it to me for repair. (www.specialtyoutdoors.com/about/whatis.asp)

Quoted message said:

$30 for crappy XC shirts that never lose their stench after a few
months. (Although, that doesn't stop me wearing them)

google "stinky bike gear" laundry recipe...

Quoted message said:

Fork seals, brake pads, shock rebuilds.

can't help you there.

penny

small change said:

Bruce Edge wrote:left?

Quoted message said:

Catch jacket on tree you tried to squeeze under and get ripped of your
bike by your sleeve? Kmart $10 or Pearl Izumi $150 ?

send it to me for repair. (www.specialtyoutdoors.com/about/whatis.asp)

You got it. If it's worth fixing anyways.
The only pearl izumi jacket I have is one I found in the mud :-) Just
happened to be my size too.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

$30 for crappy XC shirts that never lose their stench after a few
months. (Although, that doesn't stop me wearing them)

google "stinky bike gear" laundry recipe...

Every bit helps. Thanks.

-Bruce

On 2004-09-14, Bruce Edge penned:

Quoted message said:

small change said:

Bruce Edge wrote:left?

Quoted message said:

$30 for crappy XC shirts that never lose their stench after a few
months. (Although, that doesn't stop me wearing them)

google "stinky bike gear" laundry recipe...

Every bit helps. Thanks.

You know, my exercise clothes can get quite pungent, but they always smell
fine after a wash. I don't know if that's because I buy the $50ish jerseys or
for some other unkown reason ... I do know that my front-load washer seems to
make a difference in the degree of cleanliness my clothing exhibits.

My hockey gear, on the other hand ... peeeyyy-ewww! Oh, wait, I don't wash
that stuff ...

--
monique

"Get a bicycle. You will not regret it, if you live."
-- Mark Twain

Monique Y. Mudama said:

You know, my exercise clothes can get quite pungent, but they always smell
fine after a wash. I don't know if that's because I buy the $50ish jerseys or
for some other unkown reason

I get the cheapest jerseys I can find. Half of mine are coolmax-type
running shirts that I get from Marshalls for $12.99. They all smell fine
after a washing.

--
-BB-
To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

Bruce Edge said...

Quoted message said:

I guess I'm spoiled. I rarely buy anything new, but I have a 3K+ rig.

I was thinking around $150/month min. Just consider the consumables:

That's what I was going to suggest. But that is a luxurious budget. That
would get me a new $3k bike every 3 years and and still have plenty left
over for all the other stuff. IMO, you could support a serious biking
addiction for as little as $25 a month. You just have a $500 bike, keep
it longer, and have fewer accessories. SS would be a good way to go if
you wanted to do it on the cheap long term.

"Bruce Edge" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Carla A-G said:

"Bruce Edge" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

No, not a budget bike, a bike budget.

I remember seeing an article on how much riding costs per day. I think
that was road though. Anyone have a link to it?

Or, anyone have any educated guesses on what a 12hr / week or so habit
of hard trail riding costs long term? Assuming no crashing, just normal
wear, unwasheable stench, tread life, metal fatigue, battery life, etc.

You know, consumables, wheels every couple of years, a frame every so
often, lights, shoes, ibuprofin, helmets, brake pads, grips.....

All I know is I blow a lot of dough on it.

-Bruce

Don't bother analyzing it...just go out and ride...

- CA-G

That's the problem, I do, and I spend whatever it takes to keep doing it.
My wife's trying to plan finances, and this is wildcard that keeps
messing everything up.
If I could come up with a figure, it'd make her life easier.

Sounds like your wife needs a mtn. bike, too.

Dave

SuperSlinky <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Bruce Edge said...

Quoted message said:

I guess I'm spoiled. I rarely buy anything new, but I have a 3K+ rig.

I was thinking around $150/month min. Just consider the consumables:

That's what I was going to suggest. But that is a luxurious budget. That
would get me a new $3k bike every 3 years and and still have plenty left
over for all the other stuff. IMO, you could support a serious

<snip>

heheheh you said "serious"

JD

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden]
says...

Quoted message said:

No, not a budget bike, a bike budget.

I remember seeing an article on how much riding costs per day. I think
that was road though. Anyone have a link to it?

Or, anyone have any educated guesses on what a 12hr / week or so habit
of hard trail riding costs long term? Assuming no crashing, just normal
wear, unwasheable stench, tread life, metal fatigue, battery life, etc.

You know, consumables, wheels every couple of years, a frame every so
often, lights, shoes, ibuprofin, helmets, brake pads, grips.....

All I know is I blow a lot of dough on it.

I budgeted myself into several new bikes by commuting. The formula was
quite easy, 100 Euro a month for public transportation. Much less than
that if I rode to work. I get a new bike every 3-5 years and if I need
parts, there is no need to haggle over replacing parts, buy lights,
clothing, etc. I still ride the same bike to work, but have upgraded my
off-road rig twice.

Now I need to replace my crappy Kryptonite Evo 2000 lock so off to the
store.

Bruce

"Bruce Edge" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Monique Y. Mudama said:

On 2004-09-14, Bruce Edge penned:

Quoted message said:

That's the problem, I do, and I spend whatever it takes to keep doing

it.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

My wife's trying to plan finances, and this is wildcard that keeps

messing

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

everything up. If I could come up with a figure, it'd make her life

easier.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

As someone who's never been able to stick to a budget, I sympathize.

Maybe you should look at it from the other side. How much can you, as a
family, afford to spend on entertainment? From there, how much of that

can

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

you take for your own personal entertainment? From there, you find out

how

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

much you can afford to spend on biking.

Fact is, you can spend an infinite amount of money on any hobby. You

have to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

look at how much you can actually *afford* to spend.

As I said, I've never been able to stick to a budget. But if I were

going to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

do so, I'd work it from that direction.

That makes a lot of sense. Unfortunately it would take a lot of planning
and estimation too.

I guess I need to just go back and pull up all charges from
performance/supergo/etc and average them.

My last big screw up was when I sold my frame to get a kona coiler
frame. The guy I sold it to found a crack in it, so I had to refund the
$$$. There's a $1K whack I hadn't planned on.

Maybe road biking wouldn't break so much stuff....

...nah, I could never do that. :-)

-Bruce

Here are some thoughts for what they are worth. Initial investment in a
bike and gear, well, that's pretty variable, but let's say, $2,000,
including bike, helmet, clothes, shoes, camelbak, basic tools.

Annual maintenance, upgrades, repairs, gas to the trails, will probably run
betw $350 and $600 by the sounds of how much you're riding. Not too much $$
compared to most other activities. Like *paying* to play golf! LOL!

So, let's keep it simple: $2,000 down, and $50 a month. Easy enough? Oh,
I almost forgot, you'll be eating and drinking more, now, too. Add a few
bucks a month to cover the increased appetite and rehydration.

paladin

SuperSlinky said:

Bruce Edge said...

Quoted message said:

I guess I'm spoiled. I rarely buy anything new, but I have a 3K+ rig.

I was thinking around $150/month min. Just consider the consumables:

That's what I was going to suggest. But that is a luxurious budget. That
would get me a new $3k bike every 3 years and and still have plenty left
over for all the other stuff. IMO, you could support a serious biking
addiction for as little as $25 a month. You just have a $500 bike, keep
it longer, and have fewer accessories. SS would be a good way to go if
you wanted to do it on the cheap long term.

Hey, $150/mo is the price of cable and a cell phone, of which I have
neither :-)
Yes, I'm the last of the luddites in that respect.

So that's going to be it. I'll let ya know how long it lasts. My bike
budgeting in the past has been life govt defense contracts, overrun
after overrun.

On Wed, 15 Sep 2004 21:23:31 +0200, NotaKnob <[email hidden]>
scribbled:

[snip]

Quoted message said:

Now I need to replace my crappy Kryptonite Evo 2000 lock so off to the
store.

Damn kids and their Bic pens, eh?

Quoted message said:

Bruce

-Slash
--
"Ebert Victorious"
-The Onion