Underrated point. Someone always brings up the cost of bikes in these threads and it’s silly. Sure, some hard core cyclists will put $20k into the hobby, but it’s not at all necessary.
I’ve got maybe $1200 in my total set up, and I could have done it far cheaper if I’d been picky about shopping sales and buying used.
The bike was around $750 new, $80 for an ergonomic saddle (saves on padded shorts, but YMMV), $60 for a helmet that fits well, $100 for pedals with toe clips so I can wear street shoes, and a few accessories here and there.
I put in 30-50 miles a week on average and I’ve had the bike for better than 2 years with no major mechanical issues. I don’t know where that puts me in terms of milage over the average cyclist, but I have a great time and get plenty of exercise without breaking the bank.
I used to ride a mid to high range Fuji (a semi permement loan) with no toe clips or any aditional gear, and in street clothes. At my peak riding with that bike, I was doing 90 miles a week (to and from work only. I was probably doing more outside of work travel). Like once a year the tubes would blow out, that was the only cost. The bike was also not rated for my hieght. To boot, I was at least three inches too short for it, and would use road curbs to mount and dismount lol. Ya couldnt stop me from riding.
god I miss it. I just got my bike working again, an REI mountain bike, and I like it, but have no where to go on it, I just lap my neighborhood a couple times a week. I miss the city in this way. I used to go to the store with a back pack, put my shopping on my back, ride to friends houses, do a 20mile trip with a mapquest printouts, get lost, find my way. So much fun. I did everything on my bike for close to ten years. It was liberating not needing gas money, and by god was I fit
![[meme] Anon likes bikes](https://files.ikt.id.au/aqdemc.webp){kind=link}
You can cycle a lot without getting into racing bikes though.
Walking you are going to want shoes. Shoes wear through and actually cost more than a decent regular bike per km.
Underrated point. Someone always brings up the cost of bikes in these threads and it’s silly. Sure, some hard core cyclists will put $20k into the hobby, but it’s not at all necessary.
I’ve got maybe $1200 in my total set up, and I could have done it far cheaper if I’d been picky about shopping sales and buying used.
The bike was around $750 new, $80 for an ergonomic saddle (saves on padded shorts, but YMMV), $60 for a helmet that fits well, $100 for pedals with toe clips so I can wear street shoes, and a few accessories here and there.
I put in 30-50 miles a week on average and I’ve had the bike for better than 2 years with no major mechanical issues. I don’t know where that puts me in terms of milage over the average cyclist, but I have a great time and get plenty of exercise without breaking the bank.
I used to ride a mid to high range Fuji (a semi permement loan) with no toe clips or any aditional gear, and in street clothes. At my peak riding with that bike, I was doing 90 miles a week (to and from work only. I was probably doing more outside of work travel). Like once a year the tubes would blow out, that was the only cost. The bike was also not rated for my hieght. To boot, I was at least three inches too short for it, and would use road curbs to mount and dismount lol. Ya couldnt stop me from riding.
god I miss it. I just got my bike working again, an REI mountain bike, and I like it, but have no where to go on it, I just lap my neighborhood a couple times a week. I miss the city in this way. I used to go to the store with a back pack, put my shopping on my back, ride to friends houses, do a 20mile trip with a mapquest printouts, get lost, find my way. So much fun. I did everything on my bike for close to ten years. It was liberating not needing gas money, and by god was I fit