The High Cost of Bike Freedom

I know it's just a bike, I know. Typically they have two wheels, a metal frame, handle bars and a seat. They also can cause extreme enjoyment and get you where you need to go while staying in shape! Now here is the kicker, I don't want to mention this, but there comes a time when you need to, and that time is now.

"Bikes Cost Money"

This may seam trivial for some, but it remains true. Bikes are not a Free object to be obtained upon arriving on planet earth, they are a material object that cost money like any other item we humans enjoy to buy (food, cars, houses). So now that we know bikes cost money, lets talk specifics.

Assuming we are not considering Bike Shaped Objects from department stores, we can expect to pay ~$400 for a entry level new bike or half that for a used one a guy is selling in his garage. Bikes typically do not cost $50 bucks, unless you score a deal with someone moving or you find the bike.

Some bikes cost over $10,000 (ten thousand dollars)

Bikes do require a significant capital investment and subsequent maintenance from wear and tear. On top of that, they might require a significant number of accessories and improvements to make the ride a bit more practical/enjoyable. A U-lock, front and rear lights typically are necessary when riding in an urban environment or at night.

Once the bike is ridden, even more money needs to be spent on the bike from wear and tear. Each pedal stroke wears the chain, tires, grips, seat, bottom bracket, gears, and spokes. Additionally breaking causes wear on the break pads. It is estimated biking costs 10 cents per mile. But what does this mean for a casual cyclists who owns a bike and uses it routinely? Lets work through an example,

Consider a college freshman who buys a bike before headed off to college. She knows the powers bicycles have to get around and they make a great way to see the world. Her house is always near campus so she usually walks to school, but she uses her bike on weekends to travel on the nearby Pekiomen River Trail. Here is here estimated miles for the first year of college.

Trip	Mileage
	per week	per month	per year*
Saturday Explore	20	40	200
Sunday Extended Trip	N/A	N/A	60
Weekday Quick Trip	2	20	100
		Year Total:	360

*Note, we assume only riding bike 5 months out of the year due to weather

If we continue this trend for another 2 years of college, we estimate she rides 1080 miles for 3 years in college.

Now the finances! This rider might notice some issues as her chain stretched over the years and the gears and break pads worn out. If we use the Sierra's club estimate of 10 cents per mile for biking, we calculate a bill of $108 dollars upon her first day of her 4th year of college. So a bike shop recipe of $140 is not out of the question considering the amount of enjoyment received from all these lovely miles ridden.

I told myself when I bought my new mountain bike that I would put $5 dollars in a jar after every ride (2+ hours) to keep a fund for the bike. If I would have done this 4 years ago, my mountain bike would be running in tip top shape, with money still left over in the tip jar!

Weather you choose to perform this maintenance yourself (using Virtual Bike Mechanic) or by supporting your Local Bike Shop, it pays to take care of your bike and keep it in a safe riding condition. The money spent on your bike is one of the best investments for your bike, your health and your planet. Future generations should thank you for riding your bike!