So what does it cost to ride a 29er

[Me rida my bicycle]

And 4 new BF's for your Toyota around 50 000kms about R12k or 20 29er tyres.

[L46]

And 4 new BF's for your Toyota around 50 000kms about R12k or 20 29er tyres.

 

If you only get 50000 kms out of a set of BF's you are throwing too many doughnuts around traffic circles and should move to the East Rand

[BarryH]

The one i use to to to work, because i must, the other i use to relax and enjoy because I want to.

 

it does cost a lot, i am stil not going to stop.

 

But your point is valid, maintaining my ds is comparable to running my 4.5l Toyota, I have done the calcs as well. Trapping up the mountain, suffering and sweating, thinking about the costs etc., I wonder why I do this, coming down the mountain,...… then I know.

[porqui]

What about replacement costs when your bike is moeg?

 

And what about that itch that is created by "fashion"?

 

How many years can you keep a bike current before others start commenting?

 

Cost has to be factored in.

[Dirkitech]

What about replacement costs when your bike is moeg? Or a car/bakkie/vehicle

 

And what about that itch that is created by "fashion"? Adding mags, conti's, speakers, lights, stickers, air scents, other rubbish

 

How many years can you keep a bike current before others start commenting? Or a car/bakkie/vehicle

 

Cost has to be factored in.

Is this really relevant to add if it applies to both vehicles and bikes?

[leeubok]

The one i use to to to work, because i must, the other i use to relax and enjoy because I want to.

 

it does cost a lot, i am stil not going to stop.

 

But your point is valid, maintaining my ds is comparable to running my 4.5l Toyota, I have done the calcs as well. Trapping up the mountain, suffering and sweating, thinking about the costs etc., I wonder why I do this, coming down the mountain,...… then I know.

Yeah I'm with you on this one. Unless you need to decide between driving or commuting 50+km on your bicycle to work, it's a bit of a useless comparison. 

[sias]

So are you suggesting one only takes into account some of the fuel we use to keep our cars going? 

 

What you eat while out on the bike isn't what fuels your ride

You have to eat in any case - so do you count your 3 square meals (or whatever) as purely fuel to race, or as a daily necessity to keep you alive.

I would count food taken extra, specifically for riding into account, not normal dietary requirements. 

[Danger Dassie]

Throw in motorbike service cost for a comparison, especially consumables like tyres etc ... a painful literal application of deewors ....

[Gregc]

Looks like some clarification is in order:

 

I probably should have made the topic "maintain" and not "run" so then insurances, licences etc. can be excluded.....

 

Firstly by LBS isn't ripping me off

 

My drivetrain lasted 4900km (1.5yrs) because i kept it clean and lubed. The tyres lasted 1.5 and 1 year respectfully. The front has a sidewall cut and the rear has chicken pox (oozing sealant but holding pressure) so I replaced both as I got a special from my LBS.

 

You may get away with just a pivot service every year, but if the bike is striiped it makes sense to replace a R50- R 100 bearing rather than pay the labourtwice when the bearing throws in the towel.

 

Headset and BB bearings probably will last longer than a year as will a set of brake pads but the lifespan on these depends on where you ride. One W2W in the rain and mud......

 

I get 90 000km from a set of Bridgestone Dueller AT's. As I do 30 000 or more per year, I trade in my vehicle before the maintenance plan runs out and before I need to replace tyres.

 

My Polo has 67000km on it and i haven't had to replace tyres.

 

The last time I tasted petrol or diesel it wasn't so lekker......

 

The idea of the post was to remind you to maintain your bike. Instead of having 2 latte's when you stop for coffee, just have 1 and put the other cash in the piggy bank.

 

It doesn't really matter what the cost is. Its a lifestyle choice with lots of positive spin offs. There isn't a price to put on that......

[TyronLab]

If you only get 50000 kms out of a set of BF's you are throwing too many doughnuts around traffic circles and should move to the East Rand

 

HEY!! You hold your bék off of the East Rand! *starts swinging fan belt*

 

...

 

Back to the topic, if you're doing cost comparisons on how much you're spending on a hobby rather than just enjoying it, then I think you're kinda missing the point. Sure its interesting to evaluate the numbers (numbers are, after all, pretty fun), but you can't put a $$ value on pure enjoyment. My bike has given me more excitement in the last two months than my car has in ... ever...

 

Also, working on your bike is almost as fun as riding it in my case, so save yourself some dosh and DIY.

[Vetplant]

I get 90 000km from a set of Bridgestone Dueller AT's. As I do 30 000 or more per year, I trade in my vehicle before the maintenance plan runs out and before I need to replace tyres.

 

 

Do a cost estimation on how much that new vehicle every 2 to 3 years is costing you compared to buying 2nd hand in the first place (50% saving on my 3 series BMW when it was 2 years old) and driving it for 10 to 20 years.

 

Wait, rather don't do that calculation, you will fall of your chair....

[Gregc]

I'm in Construction so everything needs to be comparible in terms of unit rates and averages  

 

The only thing the bike shop does for me is the pivot service, BB replacement, fork and shock service because a hammer and chisel don't work to well for any of these

[Wayne pudding Mol]

I would never admit the "costs" of cycling  - Happily tell anyone what my vehicle running costs are but I don't even admit to myself what cycling costs.  Not because it needs to cost a lot really but because I have problems.  I write those costs off to good health but I'm certain my car costs less.  

[arendoog]

Maintaining a swimming pool that nobody uses .Now that is money in the water .I have 6 bikes and their maintenance costs me less than your one bike .I do most servicing myself and keep everything clean .I replace stuff when i notice a problem ,not when the LBS suggest i do .Squeaks and creaks can cost a lot ,so i do a government fix and just ignore them 

[CdT85]

i'll bite...

 

number 1... Learn to maintain your bike yourself. Moerse lekker to work on you bike, also afford you the opportunity to find minor faults before they end up becoming big ones. Buy the tools once, and you can use them a lifetime. have more tools than common sense hanging in my garage for that exact reason.

 

number 2... as a few people pointed out, one suspension service in 4000km Invest in some fork oil, and a seal driver, that way you can do the basics yourself. Leave the dampers to the po's unless you have the skills/tools needed.

 

number 3.. you brought mtb tyre and brake pad cost into your equation, Where is that listed in you comparative cost calculator for your car/bakkie? Brakes usually get done every 60 000km and most tyres also last about 60 000 to 80 000km, depending how you drive Also not listed was suspension. Shocks generally have a lifetime of 100 000 to 120 000 km's, depending on where you drive. From the service prices listed in your price comparison, it looks like you only listed the basic service cost, so not really comparing apples with apples.

 

lets write of licensing fees as we pay about the same if not more for year / day passes to ride.

 

The fact is that we have an expensive sport, but in the long run with the health and fun benefits that comes with it, can you really put a price on it?

[Shebeen]

I'm in Construction so everything needs to be comparible in terms of unit rates and averages  

 

The only thing the bike shop does for me is the pivot service, BB replacement, fork and shock service because a hammer and chisel don't work to well for any of these

 

Blessing rides 10km to work in madam's garden every day

 

This is 100km per week, or 5000km per year (he goes to the transkei for 2 weeks to plant mielies).

 

He puts in a new tjoop at a rate of 1 per month, the chinese R5 store sells these for R15

He doesn't have brake pads on the back, and the front ones are now 4 years old and still kwaai. if it's really crazy and he needs to stop he just puts a tekkie into the wheel.

He has to get new pedals about every 6 months, the chinese shop has black ones for R50 per pair.

He gets his bike serviced every never. Sure the wheels make a funny purring noise, and the chain sings like a cat but it works.

He gets tyres from madam's son, who has a seemingly limitless supply of 26er tyres from back in the day

 

total annual cost for riding 5000km

R280

=5.6c/km

 

if his bike gets stolen, it's R750 for a replacement of equally *** condition with wobbly rims from cash crusaders

if this happens once a year it bumps it up to about 20c/km.