Safe Speed Forums

how much are your bikes costing to run?

When I looked at getting a bike it gave me heart failure because they seemed frighteningly expensive. What about tyres, maintanance, insurance and other sundry costs?

A lot cheaper than a car, but not "free" by any stretch.

Tyres £15-20 each, will last 3-5000 miles. At around same mileage you will need new chain and cassette (£30-50). Brake pads every 2000 miles (£10).

Third party insurance £36 with CTC membership.

Above examples are for a mid-range (£500-£1000) road bike. If you do more than a few miles each way you will need to spend a bit on suitable clothing too.

It's entirely possible to get costs well below these, but I find this amount of spend gets me a fast, enjoyable and reliable mode of transport suitable for 4-5000 miles per year.

It's not too bad.

I just had to fork seventy quid for a new front wheel, my chains last for about 1,300 miles in winter (that's about 13 weeks, I do 100 miles a week or so), and in london my tyres don't so much wear out before I have to replace them when I start getting punctures through the holes made by previous punctures.

Other than that I've not spent much on my bike for two years.

Replace the chain more often and you don't have to change the cassette.

If you don't replace it by the time it's worn to a 16th of an inch over one foot then you should replace the cassette too, but if you catch if before then it's OK.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chains.html

Bike - £25

Lock + pump was about £12 for the pair.

Lights, about £5 for a set.

Spare innertube £3.50 (is it even worth buying a repair kit?)

Pair of road tyres, £15

Helmet, £27 (it's worth splashing out for something with an adjustable headband).

Cycling waterproof / hi viz jacket £20

Already had pretty much everything I need.

Used the bike for a year then upgraded to something a little better for the outrageous sum of £100, not had to replace any parts on either of them.