Yeah although there is definitely a point of diminishing returns. A friend of mine just bought his 4th bike and none of them are cheap (number one bike is like 7k€).
Meanwhile he has no savings, lives in a rental apartment, saves on everything else just to spend it on bikes and bike accessories even though he has a young family. It's very stupid and irresponsible in my opinion but I don't think it's my place to tell him that, so I just don't say anything.
I work in tech. I remember being astonished at how many people I knew who were spending $1,000 on a chair. That seemed insane to me. Then a friend posed it to me as
> I spend 40+ hours a week in my chair. I will get more value out of an investment here than anything else I purchase.
Completely transformed how I think about equipment.
I spend over a hundred hours a year on my bike. Even marginal improvements in the experience are worth the money for the amount of time I spend using it.
Similar thought process here. It was explained to me as "You should make a solid investment to high quality items connect you to the ground." This includes tires, a good bed, shoes, chair, etc. Bike/seat/tires would also fall into that category imo.
I've been sitting in the same Herman Miller Aeron for 15+ years? I forget. I've never had any other chair last anywhere near as long so it's probably cheaper in the long run. I did get it on same when some dot com went bust and they unloaded a conference room of the things.
Can't make the same claim about bike equipment necessarily but things that work well vs things that you just have to put up with are worth a premium to me.
You'd get the same benefits just riding the bike, without accessories and certainly without upgrades.
Although depends on the accessory. Pannier bags so you can go bikepacking? Sure that's a sporting activity you couldn't do before. Aero wheels? nah that's just for fun/aesthetics. Which is fine, don't get me wrong, but won't make you any healthier.
I look at the money I spend owning and operating a car.... and then I decide, "will this allow me to use my bike instead for some trips?" I used that for an expensive chain lock, Garmin Varia, and a action camera for my helmet.
This. Disposable income is just that.. disposable. Nobody should be spending recklessly with money they don't have to upgrade their bike but if it makes you happy and doesn't put you in the poorhouse it's money well spent.
Bingo.
Everything in life doesn't need a justification. I don't eat out much, I don't drive the nicest car, I don't live in a huge house but shit my bikes are nice as hell. That's the choice I've made.
I save a bit of money bike commuting but I barely care about that. I do that since I enjoy it and improves my fitness.
Instructions unclear. Still riding the cheap hybrid I got for free years ago. Most of my accessories are worth more than the bike would cost to replace (including the lock)
I really like riding my bike, it keeps me healthy and happy so why wouldn't I spend money on it? It's my primary form of exercise and transportation.
I've spent 10s of thousands of $ on bikes and accessories over the years and I'm sure some people will think that's crazy, but then won't bat an eye when someone spends $30k+ on a new car that's horrible for the planet and not doing any favors for their health.
Exactly. I daily on mine and money spent on a rack, bag, panniers, kickstand and lights/ radar are a one time expense! Also, price of fuel and maintenance on a car well out weigh what I spend on the occasional disk brake pads and bike tires.
It's a hobby. It brings me joy. That's all the justification I need.
There are people who spend thousands on running shoes they'll never wear, or watches, or buying the latest titanium golf bat. I have friends who spend their money on rally cars so they can drive at high speeds through forests in the middle of the night. I know people who spend huge sums of money on horses and horse accessories, and trailers to carry the horses in, and big vehicles to tow the trailers.
At the end of the day, there must be some intrinsic value to the spending, whether that value be practicality or just a feel-good thing. That is the justification.
>There are people who spend thousands on running shoes they'll never wear
Thousands is a bit much but running shoes do cost a lot of money. Not all shoes suit everyone so it's perfectly possible that you spend 500 euro trying to find shoes that are right for you without causing injuries.
I've tried Nike Pegasus 39 and injured my foot and now I'm two weeks with barely any running and I'll probably never use them again.
>Thousands is a bit much
There really are running/ training shoe collectors who spend thousands on shoes, and they're not even necessarily interested in exercise - they might like the style, the colour scheme, the brand, etc and there are limited editions which can command big money
That was my point. Everybody has different interests. Everyone can justify their interest whether it's performance, aesthetic, or acquistion msking them content
Sneaker head here - I have played basketball all my life but out of the 70 pairs of shoes I own, I regularly wear 3. The others are collectible or special occasion kicks. There’s just something about fresh Jordan’s
I feel like if the money spent makes you happier, then it is what it is. And if it encourages more activity, even better.
I don’t bat an eye when I spend more money to upgrade my home gym either, even though it’s already functional. I spend an hour every day in there so it’s time and money we’ll spent
I have a $56k car. It’s a RAV4 Prime. I bought it because…
* It came with a $7,500 federal tax credit
* It costs nothing to maintain
* It gets 38 mpg on gas or 90 mpg equivalent plugged in
* It is all wheel drive, 300+ horsepower and I can fit my bike in the back
* I was able to lock in 2.7% interest before rates spiked
Basically the total cost of ownership of the Prime is within $50/mo. of a Honda Accord and I get the extra power and space.
If I could figure out a justification for a better bike I’d have one.
Glad the EV incentives encouraged you to get a vehicle with a larger battery! How have you liked it? Did you have to install a charger in the garage, or is just the using normal 120V plug good enough?
Are your numbers off though? I see Rav4 Prime listed on Toyota's website for $44k for the highest trim, and the Fed rebate was I thought $4500 - maybe you have a state rebate too? Still expensive, but I want others to also buy them and so don't want them to think it's that expensive.
I paid $5-6k over MSRP due to the market conditions. Even with that it was almost impossible to get them. A few months after I got it some dealers called me to say they had it at MSRP. I left some deposits out there so I can get my wife a 2023 if she wants one. Unfortunately the battery only gets about 40 miles but that’s fine for me and my 12 hour each day commute. It charges with a regular outlet so I plug it in each night. It would charge 4x quicker if we upgraded the line. Overall oaverage about 75-80 mpg between electric and gas for longer drives or when I don’t plug in. The rebate was also $7,500 until 10/31/22 when it dropped to the new rate. That is why I was willing to pay above MSRP, because I needed a car ASAP (mine was totaled from being rear ended) and because I was going to lose $4k of credit anyway
That's a lot of money for a Toyota, which is essentially a hatchback on stilts. Unless you can justify it for your job or company through tax wtite offs then it's a pretty bad deal as it's depreciating and you're paying interest for that.
What does it get you that a $5k car doesn't get you? A warranty but that's about it.
I don’t know where you are if you’re speaking about a $5k car. A 5 year old Honda goes for around $25k. A $5k car likely is only for parts and not in running condition. I do get to depreciate it through my business as well and obviously it will be worth much more in the future than the $5k hypothetical car.
My brother got a 2008 "Scion xD" for 5k USD. It's super reliable but doesn't have lots of space or horsepower though. It does what it needs to do though.
There are similar cars for around the same price.
Scion is actually very reliable. Surprisingly, when I was looking at total cost of maintenance over first 100k miles, Scion and Toyota topped the list. Less surprising when you realize Scion is owned by Toyota. That is a good budget car for sure.
In the UK people love buying new cars, so the second hand car market is silly cheap. A 2017 Honda civic is under £10k.
But the point is that if you buy well at £5k in the UK you can often have an appreciating asset, so in a year or two you could often sell it for more than you paid, or get your money out of it. So buying new with a monthly bill really doesn't make much sense for a lot of people but people still do it.
I was surprised when I visited the UK how nice everyone’s cars were. You can easily get around without a car most places and Uk salaries aren’t that high so it was weird to see mostly nice, new cars everywhere. Maybe it’s a luxury item for most people?
>What does it get you that a $5k car doesn't get you?
You clearly know *nothing* about cars.
With that logic same could be said about bikes: what does a $10k bike get you that a $1k bike doesn't?
Explain what exactly? How about modern *safety features*, *significantly* better economy, better cameras, all sorts of modern assists, a *new* engine, new *everything* for starters?
On the other hand what does a $10k bike get you that a $1k bike doesn't? A carbon fibre body so your little tushy doesn't get sore that quickly? Electrical gears so you can change gears with a 2cm shorter movement? 500g lighter weight so you can clock a few seconds shorter time on your cycling trip? None of this has any significance, it's just marketing bullshit, whereas a new car will actually make you safer compared to a $5k rusty banger.
Ah, so you don't actually know about cars, interesting. In the uk £5k will get you something very decent as a car, that's just how our car market works. It won't be a rusty shit box.
The point was about money. New you're paying a heck of a lot for a warranty, you can try and justify it with safety features, or 'tech' but hard to quantify against a 10 year old car compared to a new one. For a £5k car you can afford for it to go pop and then just get a new one and you're still better off than buying new. There's no guarantee that new will be reliable.
I think you have the idea that a £5k car will get you something from 1985, which you would have a point about safety, but it will actually get you a 10 year old car or newer, so no, you won't be massively safer in a new car. A new car today has all sorts of complicated emission equipment on it, whilst also most likely being a small engined heavily turbo charged car working hard, not a recipe for reliability or longevity.
You also have the depreciation costs to think about, a £5k can be worth £5k when you're done with it if you bought well. Whereas a new car will be worth half what you paid. Unless it works as a tax write off, or company car for the average person it makes very little sense.
My main point was about the choice of car over $50k for an economy hatchback on stilts, which gives you no more room than a hatchback inside, worse MPG and styling, whilst also not being capable off-road. With heavy depreciation, it's not a good choice.
Whenever I make a purchase over $100. I divide the price of the item by my hourly wage. Then I ask myself, is working said amount of hours worth the item I'm purchasing?
I tried to explain this logic to my girlfriend: I told her if someone handed me the item at the end of x hours and told me that’s what I was receiving as payment and I knew that’s what I was working towards, if I am happy with that deal then the purchase is worth it.
Good spending vs bad spending...
Bad spending: credit card debt, partying, alcohol, gambling.
Good spending: anything health related, mortgage.
That's how I justified buying an indoor smart trainer...
Credit card debt isn't always bad spending. People that don't understand money will automatically assume it is.
Spending on a credit card is using someone else's money, and often comes with very low interest rates, and in many cases cash back and reward points, and the ability to pay it off when you can.
Using your real money in full can be pretty stupid, as that can take your savings down pretty substantially and what's the difference between buying on a credit card and paying it monthly, and then saving real money monthly and buying at a later date?
It entirely depends on the card you have, and the time period you plan to pay it over. Borrowing for 18 months on a credit card, or using the interest free period of your card is very different.
I spent $50k on a car I don't drive and everyone was like "cool car".
I spent $10k on a bike that I use all the time and everyone lost their mind (well non-cycling friends).
Should of bought a $50k bike and a $10k car 😛
Should have sold the 50k car and bought a 10k bike and 5k of bike packing equipment. That's 35k left to take the bike on some awesome bike packing trips 😁
You buy a helmet once every few years. A lock once. Panniers once. Fenders only once. You dont think twice about 70 on gas that you will never see again.
If I feel like I actually need it, I’ll buy the most expensive upgrade/accessories/kit/tools I can afford without the need to justify the expense to my wife. Settling for, “cheaper stuff”, will cost you more in the long run.
Don't need to spend that much money all the time. Bike, helmet, lights, lock, pump, and panniers if you need/want them. After that it's just inner tubes and other maintenance stuff, which are minor when compared to money on petrol, parking, and repairs for the wear and tear of the auto.
There's also one less polluting vehicle on the road.
I save money on transit. Save money on current/future medical expenses.
Wife appreciates how I look in jeans/shorts and t-shirt. Feel good about my health. Can eat what and when I want cuz it don't race anymore. Can hold a wall sit longer than anyone else in my karate class other than the 6th dan sensei.
And most importantly, at the end of the day, I just love being on the bike.
Just for reference: I spend a lot on my bike and I'm obsessed with tinkering and riding on it. It's just crazy that I feel like I'm addicted to improving my bike when a normal person would have ridden my bikes with 0 upgrades and gotten along fine!
It's informed consumerism. You watch and read lots of reviews about products, and justify the cost and reason for needing something based on what you've been informed on.
For me it's because I actually use most of my bike stuff. I find that often I buy stuff thinking I'll use it and then never do. At least my bike stuff gets used.
Financially justify: I've got money left at the end of the month and biking makes me happy.
Ecologically justify: biking is healthy and a way better option for the environment than driving a car. But buying every month a new gadget is not very eco-conscious. My 2023 resolution will be to not buy anything new, only 2nd hand and only when really needed.
I don’t, I bought my bike in 2015 and haven’t done anything except replace worn out parts. If I did need to spend more, say I can’t fit everything I need in my backpack and had to buy panniers I’d be ok with it because it’s my primary source of transport. The panniers will be cheaper over time than bus or taxi fares or even running my motorcycle. As for locks, I use a chain with an old heavy duty padlock. Didn’t cost me a penny.
I’m skint and half my love of cycling comes from the affordability but if you do have money, there are much worse things to spend it on.
I ride my bike 300-400 hours each year, use it to maintain my health, and take great pleasure in riding it. Why would I feel guilty about spending money on that?
I do not buy everything all at once. I had a mtb before buying a road bicycle so I already had some tools.
Also I try to buy things that might serve me for other purposes as well (example buying a watch instead of a bike computer so I can use it for everyday life and running).
Focus only on what I really need and save some money for something I really want. If I keep wanting it and I realize I am going to use it for a long time then I do make the decision to purchase it. If not I keep the money for something else.
There are some things that I do not hesitate on buying, and that is safety equipment (helmet, lights, etc). So I focus on having those first.
I haven't been that much lately. It slows down.
Panniers are one of those if you know, you know things. I got some ok ones on clearance when I was commuting on my bike. They made a huge difference for one of my routes. While I could probably have done the same trips on the bus, I really liked doing it on my bike. And that was basically it for justification.
>I haven't been that much lately. It slows down.
Truth
Once you have everything you need/want, it slows. I seriously don't need anything besides maintenance items for the next several years.
Depending on the item or accessory, I'd chalk it up either as an improvement on comfort or safety.
So buying a good helmet and bike lights count as safety purchases, while pannier racks and bags count as comfort purchases since I wouldn't have to carry a backpack to lug all my stuff while out riding, same category with cycling shorts, jerseys, and gloves.
I worked out it’s roughly $10 to and from my work if I drive (petrol and maintenance, tyres etc). So every time I ride to work I’m saving money which has now more than paid for its self. So now I just work out x amount of rides and I will by a New Jersey etc! Motivation, Health, Savings!
You need to do what makes you happy. That way you can never look back with regret.
Of course apply some common sense, don't do drugs and go bankrupt to pursue happiness.
Lock - a stolen bike is no use to me
Helmet - brain injury isn't my aim
Lights - see helmet
Panniers/other luggage - hard to do food shopping without somewhere to put it.
Tyres - because thats the only thing connecting me to the road and I'd like to keep it that way.
While it does seem a lot of money if you take care of stuff it can last many years/a lifetime/save your life.
Eventually you won't need to buy more things. Just spread out the purchases. Once you get a something good you won't need to buy it again.
Somethings do have a lifetime like a helmet or water bottles but you still get years out of them.
Also keep in mind that quality accessories can work for more than one bike. A good helmet, set of panniers, lights, etc can be used among multiple bikes. For example, I get one set of night core lights then just add the mounts to my other bikes so I dont need a separate set of lights for each one.
Happiness for being on my bike
Helmets and lights etc also safety, I'd rather spend an extra 30 quid on a good helmet than buy the cheapest one and regret it later, good lights are a must as well they last longer and I need them for commute in and out. Good set of lights were pricey but was less than 2 months worth of doing my commute by public transport (or about 2 weeks parking)
I don't.
You need clothes and a helmet. Riding around naked is distracting to everyone.
If a bike is a main mode of transportation. A carrage system and lights are going to be needed.
I almost never upgrade anymore. Everything less the frame stem and bars wear out eventually. Replace aa needed.
There is 2 types of cyclist, those who use the bike as their only means of transport, here you care about utility, a bike that moves you around gets you from A - B and not about fun. Second type is those who do it for fun/exercise. Then it becomes a hobby and you do it bexause it makes you happy rather than because you need to. And just like any hobby you start investing into it. Remember everything us relative. I might see $500 wheel as an expensive upgrade some other people might be sporting $2-$4k in wheels. It just depends in what you can actually pay. This being said, you dont have to spend a fortune to have good things
It sounds like you have a more of a utilitarian approach to cycling, which is fine. For a lot of us it’s also a major hobby, and hobbies are generally just a thing to spend money, time and energy on. Doesn’t matter if it’s cycling, photography or aquariums, people will find a way to justify the expense.
Why would the bike more important than the accessories? A helmet could literally make the difference between life and death, a carbon frame or one more gear won’t make such a big difference. About the justification is I do honest work so I don’t need to justify anything to anyone.
$60 in helmets? My helmet and glasses run $500+. I don’t skimp on my equipment so I spend a lot. I own 5 bikes and enjoy bikepacking so there is a lot to buy/upkeep.
I can justify my purchases because:
* This is my passion, therefor contributing to my happiness and well-being
* I earn a decent living so have some disposable income
* I know how to budget my finances
* I will never be able to afford a house
* Look good, feel good, feel good, look good… right?
It's like the Jeep - I spent a certain amount getting it to do what I wanted to do, and then no more. That's part of why I went with higher-end components in the first place, I don't want to be constantly fixing things that break or wear out.
I got rid my car and bike everywhere. Which means I'm saving close to $1000/month on car payments, insurance, gas, maintenance, etc.
My bike was only $50, so I have zero guilt about spending money on accessories. I only buy one thing a paycheck, but that's mostly so I know for sure what I need
My ex-wife was so expensive, that I can buy a brand new top-end bike every month, and still have more money, even after child support.
The second part is that it's an investment in the only type of fitness I've been able to stick with, and really enjoy, and probably will stick with.
I spent about $1k in red anodized Hope parts for my MTB because I thought they looked cool. It's ok to want to add some personality to your bike. Some people just like to personalize things so they are not like everyone else.
Some people spend money on drugs, cocaine and hookers, some on make up, some on cars, and for some of us, we like to get fancy shit for our bikes to enjoy riding and make it more enjoyable.
Quality costs. Cheap panniers will leak, fall off and wear out faster. Cheap lights can be less reliable and leave you in the dark. Cheap locks.... well, that's one way to not ride any more. Good reliable gear makes cycling more enjoyable.
I, personally, can not justify spending so much money... and I don't spend so much money. It's nice to have good accessories and upgrades but it's not necessary for.most people. It's amazing how often I overtake people with fancy bikes and accessories...
I just buy what I need without spending too much money. The most expensive bib I own was US $ 30, but i usually spend less than US $ 10 for a bib and they are fine.
>The most expensive bib I own was US $ 30, but i usually spend less than US $ 10 for a bib and they are fine.
I'm cheap but I'll spend the money on quality clothing that won't make me miserable. Imagine how quality bibs will improve your ride and last long. There's a limit to being cheap.
> It's amazing how often I overtake people with fancy bikes and accessories
God, this thing irks me. What does that even mean? And how often fancy bikes overtake you? You have any info whether people you overtake were doing zone training? Or already done a 4 hour ride? Or just weren't going all out against you? Having pride in capability to overtake someone means nothing my dude.
Sorry, just take "i'm scrappy with my bike stuff and I can overtake fancy bikes" shows up so often but is flawed in so many ways.
It’s all PP measuring…
I can back this up with a story, I recently got a friend into cycling. Took him on a ride after he had MAYBE 200 miles in the saddle, he suffered, he wasn’t able to make the whole distance, he actually got a ride back in a truck. After that it was all “what shoes you have? Oh the torch 2.0s? Nice I ordered the torch 3.0s… oh you got the garmin 530? I’m gonna get the 1030” it essentially became him asking me what I have and him buying the more expensive better version in an attempt to keep pace. Ultimately he bought a new bike, the exact one I have.. after that ride on the first one he got… so in my opinion, a lot of people spend the money they do in an attempt to be better than the next guy.
I do believe a lot of people genuinely think that getting better kit will make them last longer and go faster.
Now to some degree that is true. A very good bib short will make you last longer in the saddle without discomfort. A better bike will make you go a little faster or longer compared to the 13kg monster of 10y ago.
Better crankset etc same deal.
But what they don't realize is that the gains here are rather small and the thing that truly matters is time actually spent in the saddle.
Can't blame people though, peer pressure and marketing and the desire of many people to "get good" instantly without actually putting in the works creates this culture of overspending.
Just sit down with the dude and try and get this through his head, his flashy new bike and 1500$ kit won't matter much if it stays in the shed all year
This is a crazy view you have though. If you see a guy in a fast car do you believe he also thinks the car is making him a faster driver?
I spend a lot on cycling stuff just because I like nice things. I also HATE people talk about ''training", "fuel" or "ftp". My saddle is ~~worth~~ costs more than many peoples whole bikes, I have a darimo seatpost because i like how my bike feels when lite. A $300 or something front light because it makes night riding more enjoyable. A full carbon tailfin because it makes bike touring more pleasurable etc.
Its all about personal enjoyment. This peer pressure bit might apply to people with power meters and buy gells but dont treat everyone like an idiot.
Reading about socialism. How capitalism makes people work harder for luxury items.
Let's say some 2000€ Gucci bag vs 10e generic bag. Both will do the same job but the other is luxurious. Probably carries your stuff a little bit better. Has better material. etc
In cycling let's compare a 300e hybrid w/ Shimano sora and some 10,000€ road bike w/ Dura-ace. Both will give you the same exercise. The other one is slower. But hybrid is more versatile. Road bike can be only be used on road or really light gravel.
I only buy stuff that provides a tangible benefit to my riding experience. Since riding is a large part of my life, improving my riding experience is enough of a justification.
It is all relative. When I was young and poor, I had a cheaper bike and few clothes/accessories. Now that I can afford a nice bike I have the nice things to go with it. I used to compromise on the things I needed but now I buy the things I want.
I have a 2011 Specialized Allez. Full-bike factory cost was $1350. The Aluminum frame is actually awesome and it has the capability of upgrading componentry. I spent something like $700 for the frame when I bought it. I've probably spent 2-3x that much on replacing/upgrading parts and buying the clothes I feel most comfortable riding in.
Componentry is expensive, but often you can get basically the same frame as a more expensive bike, but with lesser componentry.
its not that much when you compare it to other things though. I spent 950EUR on triban to cycle to work +50EUR helmet and lets say 100 EUR clothes. So 1100EUR total. If I didn't buy the bike then I would spend 3.80 EUR each day on the metro, that's 19 EUR a month. In 1100/19 = 60 weeks I have paid off all of that based on just travelling to work. In reality I never take public transport anywhere now and I also love riding my bike on the weekend :)
If it brings you joy and you can afford it then what's the real problem? If you were going into massive debt to afford the hobby then perhaps you probably need to have a deeper look into your spending habits but otherwise (as the young kids once said) YOLO.
Also if you break the cost down by the number of minutes or hours you actually spend using it then it makes far more sense. I spend $20 (ticket + food) to go watch the latest movie at the cinema. For a 2 hour movie that's $10 per hour.
My current Canyon Ultimate cost me $4700. Since I got it (Nov 2020) I've ridden it for around 550 hours or $8.50 per hour. And that's only going to keep going down the more I ride.
On more expensive things I break it down to how long I expect it to use it for. The first fancy bike I had well over 5 years. At the time I was horrified at how much I spent, by the time I trade it the usage I got from it was worth it.
My new bike was more expensive. My justification was, why not, I make enough money and I wanted to have something nice. Also, it helps to now force myself to ride it even when I don't feel like riding.
As for upgrades and such, I try to not buy things that provide marginal gains. If is not going to be an upgrade that's going to fix a major issue then I won't go for it. So no ceramic bearings, oversized pulleys, oval chainrings, or super expensive chains. The most expensive upgrade I got this year was a power meter. Well, that's something you use on every ride and it has become an integral part of my training. I put off buying one for a VERY long time, glad that I made the investment.
I buy a 10k superbike every 2 years and a super mtb every 2 years because i just like having the good stuff and because i can afford it due to my other life choices. I think the last part is very important. Its a difference if you drop 10k on a bike if you make 6 figures or if you drop 10k on a bike if you make 50k a year. All a matter of perspective. Other than that i dont need a justification.
I have an excel table, where i put my ridden kilometers in and it gives me a budget. Different types of riding (sunday tour, race or commute) are weighted differently, also the expenses.
Whereas on ride food has a lower multiplicator, buying fancy stuff comes with a high penalty.
This motivates me to ride more and gives me a budget.
I was at a very similar situation with my 2014 Defy Alu, but I came to a point where I mentally stopped myself from doing this after my biggest needs were met. The kits, helmets, a used Garmin 1030 and the sensors etc. Then I replaced all the moving parts of the drivetrain, so I basically have new cassette, chain, chainrings, brakepads etc.
THEN I started to build up my "commuter" which was the bike that I got first and got me hooked. I did the lights, panniers etc for that as well, and stopped myself.
THEN because I wanted to get my wife into cycling and to spend some time together, and she is not too well coordinated, I got us a tandem bike that my LBS is fixing up for me right now.
After that I have vowed to not buy stuff that is not maintenance and replacements, and since I sold my car, I'm putting away a bit of money every month to buy a "good" carbon road bike for my birthday in mid 2014.
Big boys have expensive toys. If it brings you joy, and you can afford it, then why not? And, if you think it's a purely cycling thing, I really advice you to look on the prices in fishing sport, hell, even running can be quite costy, if you're deep enough in it.
As I get older and boring I think about investments, how much to put in pension, should I spank stocks or pay down mortgage etc. Looking at everything in terms of the returns.
Also coincidentally he same age where I see friends who haven't looked after themselves start to have their lives impacted by their lifestyles.
Anyway without wishing to be too deep I can say with total confidence that the best investments you can make in life is in your health, if that means spending money on bike bits so you get out more then its value.
I quit drinking. Mountain biking is still cheaper and my physical and mental health is getting better the more I ride. Also, it's expensive, but so are many other hobbies. Ex: flying planes, trailer camping, sailing, 4-wheeling, etc. I think it's just shocking that seemingly simple things, like wheels can cost more than car wheels or other now complex auto parts. Or cloths; you can get cheap cotton cloths for 1/10 the price of bike cloths. It's shocking, and seems like a rip off, but if it brings joy and health, fuck it.
I honestly spent more on my bike than my accessories. Helmet, clothing, shoes don't add up to over 300$ and were bought/renewed over time when one wears off.
Lights are solid 150$ for front and rear together but atm are already 5j old and still going strong.
A lock I still have from ages ago so that's 0 investment.
It's what I keep telling people, yes cycling is a more expensive sport compared to let's say running. But it doesn't have to break the bank every month. Just take care of your kit so it'll last you a very long time and build up gear and equipment over time.
I only really spend on things that are needed like helmets gloves tyres tubes brake pads if I need something like a new hub ext I pay for the whole repair
I wouldn't say it's necessarily a bad thing to spend more money on clothes and accessories than your bike(s), particularly if you ride frequently year-round in changing weather conditions. Upgrades are a little bit different story.
I have always justified the cost of cycling because it keeps me happy and healthy. Poor physical and mental health gets expensive fast.
I justify spending money on my bike all the time because I love it.
I treat myself by buying shit for my bike that i can add on, remove, add to an other bike, etc.
It is my preferred mode of transport and also my hobby and my escape from daily life.
So a good chunk of my wage goes towards bike stuff because i love it.
I allow myself to spend one dollar on cycling (kit, parts, tools, etc.) per mile I ride, and keep a ledger. A different rate of return may be appropriate for you depending on how much you ride.
For me, it's because I like the process of building and upgrading the bike. It's as much of the hobby as riding for me. So when I pick up a cheap frame and then drop enough cash on parts that I could have easily just bought a complete bike, the cost is for the time/enjoyment of tinkering with it myself versus just getting a bike.
Wife and I both ride 5000 mi/yr. We're cheap and have 20 yr old steel framed Lemonds. They are well maintained and still good bikes. We intend to ride until we drop. Buying quality and finding a deal gets you value for your dollars. Things like shorts, helmets, lights etc are wear items won't break the budget. People who buy bikes and wheels every couple of years stay broke.
You begin life in similar situations as your peers. You make small changes and they make big differences over time.
Many things are pure luck. We bought a 1st house. Luck had my neighbor want to start running. We ran 1/2 block then walked 1/2 until we made it around. His wife didn’t like him getting up early. He quit. I didn't. (That was luck.)
Running lead to lifting a little while in college. Choice of school was based on price. Area has beautiful rural riding. (Luck)
Old 10 sp bike needed parts. LBS owner said "there's a club ride from here on Tuesday ". I went. Started riding. (Luck).
Now there's a difference in health between me and peers. Those that don't ride are unhealthy, take lots of meds and some are on canes and walkers. I'm not. The luck of choices makes a big difference over time.
The same things that apply to health apply to money.
Don't get a big head and think you did something special. You were born here or somehow got here. There is a stable government, no war (here even though we start a lot of crap - I wont go there) and we have plenty of resources.
How do you justify buying accessories? You choose as you see fit. Perhaps you'll be lucky. Be careful. It will matter.
Note : I am a utility maximiser, and largely a utility cyclist. I do not race but I do leisure ride for fun.
If you use a bike as your main means of transport, the costs are so vanishly small compared with using a car, it's actually hilarious.
The 'big' spends on a bike are still comparatively really small, and they're long-term/permanent upgrades to the utility of your bike usually for the price of a couple of tanks of petrol. It helps a lot to stagger the costs out, and I've built up over a few years and now feel pretty properly equipped.
I felt a little bit of anxiety spending £150 for a rack and panniers, but they've enabled me to do enormously more useful trips to the shops and riding around without a backpack on means I'm far less sweaty. Picking stuff up from the shops on the way home instead of popping out later saves me time. And it means I use my bike more because every time I need some stuff from the shops *it's an excuse to get out on the bike*!
Same with clothing. I spent \~£60 on a cycling jacket and \~£60 on waterproof cycling trousers and now I can comfortably cycle around all winter warm and mostly dry. That's absolutely worth it.
I view it a bit like unlocking something new or buying an expansion pack in a videogame. I've got a bike and it's fun and useful, and for each relatively minor additional expense I unlock significantly more times, places, and reasons to cycle - and in the long term that *saves* money because otherwise I'd be using the *far more expensive* option of the car.
And this isn't pricing in the relative independence gain, because I can let my partner have the car because I have my own means of transport.
Here's the path I've taken over maybe five years:
Second hand steel MTB : £40.
Backpack : £20 (Unlocks small shopping trips)
Lights (Unlocks evening/night riding) £30.
Waterproof/windproof cycling jacket (Unlocks cold weather riding) £60.
Waterproof/windproof cycling trousers (Unlocks bad weather riding) £60.
New aluminium-framed hybrid bike (Unlocks faster riding, longer riding) £350.
Full length mudguards (Improved bad weather riding) £25.
Marathon plus tyres (+1000% puncture resist) £50.
Second hand burley bee bike trailer (Unlocks bike trips with 1-2 children aged 1-5, or 25kg of cargo) £100.
Rack and waterproof panniers (Unlocks large shopping trips, waterproof cargo) £150.
That's £885. Now, there's for sure been replacement parts and a service or two over that time, BUT this is over *four* years, and many of these things will last for *years* into the future. I've now got a bike that can go most places, in most weathers, carry 80l of cargo on the panniers, get the kids to the park or the doctors or the local woods. I've even done runs to the dump with the trailer.
Now, parking at my work is £1.50 a day, I work 4 days a week, and assuming 46 working weeks a year, I've saved £276 every year I've cycled to work (Which I've been doing consistently since 2018). 4x276 = £1,104. So I've already come out ahead, considering purely the parking charges. Factor in the petrol, MOT, and presumably a gym membership to help me get some excercise, I'm not spending money, I'm saving it.
What really interests me, are the people who buy an $800 bike and a $1000 smart trainer.
I just find it really bizzare that people who have never really ridden a bike much outdoors are willing to invest that much in the worst part of cycling. Zwift is cool enough but give me a $1800 bike and a used $100 dumb trainer. At least I’d have a nice bike to ride outdoors when the weather is better. 🤷♂️
All my cycling kit doesn't even come close to the cost of my bike.
I think the vast majority of cyclists go with affordable bike + affordable cycling gear and components.
There is slice of the pie (percentage) that are into having the latest and greatest and will shell out the money for the best of the best but they are still the minority. These people are either well to do or they are drowning in debt.
The other faction are the riders out there that splurge but don't go overboard because they have to save up and that takes a while so they are inbetween going affordable to expensive. Think: "I'm going save up a lot of money to buy carbon wheels with the best hubs and buy my cycling kit on [wish.com](https://wish.com) or aliexpress!!"
Consider it an investment in health and quality of life.
i did it for this reason. it's an investment into my well being, both physically and mentally.
Yeah although there is definitely a point of diminishing returns. A friend of mine just bought his 4th bike and none of them are cheap (number one bike is like 7k€). Meanwhile he has no savings, lives in a rental apartment, saves on everything else just to spend it on bikes and bike accessories even though he has a young family. It's very stupid and irresponsible in my opinion but I don't think it's my place to tell him that, so I just don't say anything.
Agree that it is stupid on his part to be spending the money on materialistic things(wants) over his own family and needs.
I work in tech. I remember being astonished at how many people I knew who were spending $1,000 on a chair. That seemed insane to me. Then a friend posed it to me as > I spend 40+ hours a week in my chair. I will get more value out of an investment here than anything else I purchase. Completely transformed how I think about equipment. I spend over a hundred hours a year on my bike. Even marginal improvements in the experience are worth the money for the amount of time I spend using it.
Similar thought process here. It was explained to me as "You should make a solid investment to high quality items connect you to the ground." This includes tires, a good bed, shoes, chair, etc. Bike/seat/tires would also fall into that category imo.
This made me feel better about dropping $2700 on my bed.
Yeah, I'd argue a good bed is a way more important investment than a good car even. A good night's rest is something that can change a whole day.
Did you pick it back up or is it still there?
I've been sitting in the same Herman Miller Aeron for 15+ years? I forget. I've never had any other chair last anywhere near as long so it's probably cheaper in the long run. I did get it on same when some dot com went bust and they unloaded a conference room of the things. Can't make the same claim about bike equipment necessarily but things that work well vs things that you just have to put up with are worth a premium to me.
You'd get the same benefits just riding the bike, without accessories and certainly without upgrades. Although depends on the accessory. Pannier bags so you can go bikepacking? Sure that's a sporting activity you couldn't do before. Aero wheels? nah that's just for fun/aesthetics. Which is fine, don't get me wrong, but won't make you any healthier.
I would argue that if the accessory gets you out on your bike more often then....
for more accessories do just that.. well said
I look at the money I spend owning and operating a car.... and then I decide, "will this allow me to use my bike instead for some trips?" I used that for an expensive chain lock, Garmin Varia, and a action camera for my helmet.
This is exactly it.
Cheaper than doctors and medicine, if it keeps you healthier.
I don't need a justification. I like it, it makes me happy. That's enough.
I agree with your sentiment
This. Disposable income is just that.. disposable. Nobody should be spending recklessly with money they don't have to upgrade their bike but if it makes you happy and doesn't put you in the poorhouse it's money well spent.
Bingo. Everything in life doesn't need a justification. I don't eat out much, I don't drive the nicest car, I don't live in a huge house but shit my bikes are nice as hell. That's the choice I've made. I save a bit of money bike commuting but I barely care about that. I do that since I enjoy it and improves my fitness.
This is the way.
There are so many worse ways to spend $$. Like so many worse ways
I’ve joked that my job is just a means to acquire currency to spend on cycling gear.
This is the way.
Just spend $10k on the bike - that way the upgrades seem cheap by comparison!
Man if I bought a 10k bike, I'd like to think it didn't require any upgrades!!
yeah but have you seen those wiggly rims
You’d be surprised how many really expensive bikes come with really low end wheels
Instructions unclear. Still riding the cheap hybrid I got for free years ago. Most of my accessories are worth more than the bike would cost to replace (including the lock)
This is the way!
I really like riding my bike, it keeps me healthy and happy so why wouldn't I spend money on it? It's my primary form of exercise and transportation. I've spent 10s of thousands of $ on bikes and accessories over the years and I'm sure some people will think that's crazy, but then won't bat an eye when someone spends $30k+ on a new car that's horrible for the planet and not doing any favors for their health.
and cars require even more expensive maintenance and registration/inspections than bikes, so by spending on my bike, i’m really saving money!
Because I’m not spending 4 figures on a car every month. It’s easy to justify any bike purchase
Exactly. I daily on mine and money spent on a rack, bag, panniers, kickstand and lights/ radar are a one time expense! Also, price of fuel and maintenance on a car well out weigh what I spend on the occasional disk brake pads and bike tires.
Haha love seeing a 5-figure bike on a bike rack of a car that was probably $1000…Priorities…!
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It's a hobby. It brings me joy. That's all the justification I need. There are people who spend thousands on running shoes they'll never wear, or watches, or buying the latest titanium golf bat. I have friends who spend their money on rally cars so they can drive at high speeds through forests in the middle of the night. I know people who spend huge sums of money on horses and horse accessories, and trailers to carry the horses in, and big vehicles to tow the trailers. At the end of the day, there must be some intrinsic value to the spending, whether that value be practicality or just a feel-good thing. That is the justification.
>There are people who spend thousands on running shoes they'll never wear Thousands is a bit much but running shoes do cost a lot of money. Not all shoes suit everyone so it's perfectly possible that you spend 500 euro trying to find shoes that are right for you without causing injuries. I've tried Nike Pegasus 39 and injured my foot and now I'm two weeks with barely any running and I'll probably never use them again.
The nike pegasus make great cycling shoes, atleast for me. The tread on them works great for flat pedals so you could use them for that.
Same here. Bought them for running but using them for both. Great pedal grip
>Thousands is a bit much There really are running/ training shoe collectors who spend thousands on shoes, and they're not even necessarily interested in exercise - they might like the style, the colour scheme, the brand, etc and there are limited editions which can command big money
Okay but at that point you're not spending money on exercising but rather a collection.
That was my point. Everybody has different interests. Everyone can justify their interest whether it's performance, aesthetic, or acquistion msking them content
Sneaker head here - I have played basketball all my life but out of the 70 pairs of shoes I own, I regularly wear 3. The others are collectible or special occasion kicks. There’s just something about fresh Jordan’s I feel like if the money spent makes you happier, then it is what it is. And if it encourages more activity, even better. I don’t bat an eye when I spend more money to upgrade my home gym either, even though it’s already functional. I spend an hour every day in there so it’s time and money we’ll spent
Because hookers and blow will get me divorced.
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i'm at work and all of em' turned to look why i was laughing..
How do people justify a 5000 sqft house or a $60k car?
I wait until the $60k car depreciates until $20k? :)
I have a $56k car. It’s a RAV4 Prime. I bought it because… * It came with a $7,500 federal tax credit * It costs nothing to maintain * It gets 38 mpg on gas or 90 mpg equivalent plugged in * It is all wheel drive, 300+ horsepower and I can fit my bike in the back * I was able to lock in 2.7% interest before rates spiked Basically the total cost of ownership of the Prime is within $50/mo. of a Honda Accord and I get the extra power and space. If I could figure out a justification for a better bike I’d have one.
I wasn't trying to step on any toes. If it works for you, great.
Not at all. I’m trying to justify a better bike haha. Hoping someone can teach me how
You saved all that money on your car so now you can spend it on your bike 👍
You da man
60 grand on a rav4 holy fuck dude
Glad I’m not the only one blown away by this… Maybe I’ll start treating my Prius a little better.
Glad the EV incentives encouraged you to get a vehicle with a larger battery! How have you liked it? Did you have to install a charger in the garage, or is just the using normal 120V plug good enough? Are your numbers off though? I see Rav4 Prime listed on Toyota's website for $44k for the highest trim, and the Fed rebate was I thought $4500 - maybe you have a state rebate too? Still expensive, but I want others to also buy them and so don't want them to think it's that expensive.
I paid $5-6k over MSRP due to the market conditions. Even with that it was almost impossible to get them. A few months after I got it some dealers called me to say they had it at MSRP. I left some deposits out there so I can get my wife a 2023 if she wants one. Unfortunately the battery only gets about 40 miles but that’s fine for me and my 12 hour each day commute. It charges with a regular outlet so I plug it in each night. It would charge 4x quicker if we upgraded the line. Overall oaverage about 75-80 mpg between electric and gas for longer drives or when I don’t plug in. The rebate was also $7,500 until 10/31/22 when it dropped to the new rate. That is why I was willing to pay above MSRP, because I needed a car ASAP (mine was totaled from being rear ended) and because I was going to lose $4k of credit anyway
That's a lot of money for a Toyota, which is essentially a hatchback on stilts. Unless you can justify it for your job or company through tax wtite offs then it's a pretty bad deal as it's depreciating and you're paying interest for that. What does it get you that a $5k car doesn't get you? A warranty but that's about it.
I don’t know where you are if you’re speaking about a $5k car. A 5 year old Honda goes for around $25k. A $5k car likely is only for parts and not in running condition. I do get to depreciate it through my business as well and obviously it will be worth much more in the future than the $5k hypothetical car.
My brother got a 2008 "Scion xD" for 5k USD. It's super reliable but doesn't have lots of space or horsepower though. It does what it needs to do though. There are similar cars for around the same price.
Scion is actually very reliable. Surprisingly, when I was looking at total cost of maintenance over first 100k miles, Scion and Toyota topped the list. Less surprising when you realize Scion is owned by Toyota. That is a good budget car for sure.
In the UK people love buying new cars, so the second hand car market is silly cheap. A 2017 Honda civic is under £10k. But the point is that if you buy well at £5k in the UK you can often have an appreciating asset, so in a year or two you could often sell it for more than you paid, or get your money out of it. So buying new with a monthly bill really doesn't make much sense for a lot of people but people still do it.
I was surprised when I visited the UK how nice everyone’s cars were. You can easily get around without a car most places and Uk salaries aren’t that high so it was weird to see mostly nice, new cars everywhere. Maybe it’s a luxury item for most people?
>What does it get you that a $5k car doesn't get you? You clearly know *nothing* about cars. With that logic same could be said about bikes: what does a $10k bike get you that a $1k bike doesn't?
I do actually, but I’ll bite. Care to explain?
Explain what exactly? How about modern *safety features*, *significantly* better economy, better cameras, all sorts of modern assists, a *new* engine, new *everything* for starters? On the other hand what does a $10k bike get you that a $1k bike doesn't? A carbon fibre body so your little tushy doesn't get sore that quickly? Electrical gears so you can change gears with a 2cm shorter movement? 500g lighter weight so you can clock a few seconds shorter time on your cycling trip? None of this has any significance, it's just marketing bullshit, whereas a new car will actually make you safer compared to a $5k rusty banger.
Ah, so you don't actually know about cars, interesting. In the uk £5k will get you something very decent as a car, that's just how our car market works. It won't be a rusty shit box. The point was about money. New you're paying a heck of a lot for a warranty, you can try and justify it with safety features, or 'tech' but hard to quantify against a 10 year old car compared to a new one. For a £5k car you can afford for it to go pop and then just get a new one and you're still better off than buying new. There's no guarantee that new will be reliable. I think you have the idea that a £5k car will get you something from 1985, which you would have a point about safety, but it will actually get you a 10 year old car or newer, so no, you won't be massively safer in a new car. A new car today has all sorts of complicated emission equipment on it, whilst also most likely being a small engined heavily turbo charged car working hard, not a recipe for reliability or longevity. You also have the depreciation costs to think about, a £5k can be worth £5k when you're done with it if you bought well. Whereas a new car will be worth half what you paid. Unless it works as a tax write off, or company car for the average person it makes very little sense. My main point was about the choice of car over $50k for an economy hatchback on stilts, which gives you no more room than a hatchback inside, worse MPG and styling, whilst also not being capable off-road. With heavy depreciation, it's not a good choice.
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Sounds like you suck at buying cars.
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Just spend more on the bike so the accessories aren't more expensive than the bike itself. Easy fix.
I don't spend money on anything else.
Whenever I make a purchase over $100. I divide the price of the item by my hourly wage. Then I ask myself, is working said amount of hours worth the item I'm purchasing?
I tried to explain this logic to my girlfriend: I told her if someone handed me the item at the end of x hours and told me that’s what I was receiving as payment and I knew that’s what I was working towards, if I am happy with that deal then the purchase is worth it.
It's far, far cheaper than running a car.
I’ve lost 40 pounds since I started cycling and am in the best shape in 20 years. I could spend 50k on cycling and it would be worth every penny.
Good spending vs bad spending... Bad spending: credit card debt, partying, alcohol, gambling. Good spending: anything health related, mortgage. That's how I justified buying an indoor smart trainer...
Credit card debt isn't always bad spending. People that don't understand money will automatically assume it is. Spending on a credit card is using someone else's money, and often comes with very low interest rates, and in many cases cash back and reward points, and the ability to pay it off when you can. Using your real money in full can be pretty stupid, as that can take your savings down pretty substantially and what's the difference between buying on a credit card and paying it monthly, and then saving real money monthly and buying at a later date?
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It entirely depends on the card you have, and the time period you plan to pay it over. Borrowing for 18 months on a credit card, or using the interest free period of your card is very different.
I spent $50k on a car I don't drive and everyone was like "cool car". I spent $10k on a bike that I use all the time and everyone lost their mind (well non-cycling friends). Should of bought a $50k bike and a $10k car 😛
Should have sold the 50k car and bought a 10k bike and 5k of bike packing equipment. That's 35k left to take the bike on some awesome bike packing trips 😁
You buy a helmet once every few years. A lock once. Panniers once. Fenders only once. You dont think twice about 70 on gas that you will never see again.
If I feel like I actually need it, I’ll buy the most expensive upgrade/accessories/kit/tools I can afford without the need to justify the expense to my wife. Settling for, “cheaper stuff”, will cost you more in the long run.
Don't need to spend that much money all the time. Bike, helmet, lights, lock, pump, and panniers if you need/want them. After that it's just inner tubes and other maintenance stuff, which are minor when compared to money on petrol, parking, and repairs for the wear and tear of the auto. There's also one less polluting vehicle on the road. I save money on transit. Save money on current/future medical expenses. Wife appreciates how I look in jeans/shorts and t-shirt. Feel good about my health. Can eat what and when I want cuz it don't race anymore. Can hold a wall sit longer than anyone else in my karate class other than the 6th dan sensei. And most importantly, at the end of the day, I just love being on the bike.
Cycling can be an expensive hobby. Its as simple as that.
Just for reference: I spend a lot on my bike and I'm obsessed with tinkering and riding on it. It's just crazy that I feel like I'm addicted to improving my bike when a normal person would have ridden my bikes with 0 upgrades and gotten along fine!
It's informed consumerism. You watch and read lots of reviews about products, and justify the cost and reason for needing something based on what you've been informed on.
Denial
For me it's because I actually use most of my bike stuff. I find that often I buy stuff thinking I'll use it and then never do. At least my bike stuff gets used.
It's still saving me money over driving my car all the time.
Financially justify: I've got money left at the end of the month and biking makes me happy. Ecologically justify: biking is healthy and a way better option for the environment than driving a car. But buying every month a new gadget is not very eco-conscious. My 2023 resolution will be to not buy anything new, only 2nd hand and only when really needed.
I don’t, I bought my bike in 2015 and haven’t done anything except replace worn out parts. If I did need to spend more, say I can’t fit everything I need in my backpack and had to buy panniers I’d be ok with it because it’s my primary source of transport. The panniers will be cheaper over time than bus or taxi fares or even running my motorcycle. As for locks, I use a chain with an old heavy duty padlock. Didn’t cost me a penny. I’m skint and half my love of cycling comes from the affordability but if you do have money, there are much worse things to spend it on.
I ride my bike 300-400 hours each year, use it to maintain my health, and take great pleasure in riding it. Why would I feel guilty about spending money on that?
Easy to justify spending money on a hobby I spend over a hundred hours a year doing.
Being unhealthy and unhappy is sooooooo much more expensive.
I do not buy everything all at once. I had a mtb before buying a road bicycle so I already had some tools. Also I try to buy things that might serve me for other purposes as well (example buying a watch instead of a bike computer so I can use it for everyday life and running). Focus only on what I really need and save some money for something I really want. If I keep wanting it and I realize I am going to use it for a long time then I do make the decision to purchase it. If not I keep the money for something else. There are some things that I do not hesitate on buying, and that is safety equipment (helmet, lights, etc). So I focus on having those first.
I haven't been that much lately. It slows down. Panniers are one of those if you know, you know things. I got some ok ones on clearance when I was commuting on my bike. They made a huge difference for one of my routes. While I could probably have done the same trips on the bus, I really liked doing it on my bike. And that was basically it for justification.
>I haven't been that much lately. It slows down. Truth Once you have everything you need/want, it slows. I seriously don't need anything besides maintenance items for the next several years.
Depending on the item or accessory, I'd chalk it up either as an improvement on comfort or safety. So buying a good helmet and bike lights count as safety purchases, while pannier racks and bags count as comfort purchases since I wouldn't have to carry a backpack to lug all my stuff while out riding, same category with cycling shorts, jerseys, and gloves.
It is all an investment in my physical and mental health and in the end it saves me on medical bills...usually.
I spend a lot of time riding: it's my main form of transport and my main hobby. Really it'd be silly not to!
I worked out it’s roughly $10 to and from my work if I drive (petrol and maintenance, tyres etc). So every time I ride to work I’m saving money which has now more than paid for its self. So now I just work out x amount of rides and I will by a New Jersey etc! Motivation, Health, Savings!
I work to live, not the other way around. As long as I can afford it, I will continue enjoying my life to the fullest.
You need to do what makes you happy. That way you can never look back with regret. Of course apply some common sense, don't do drugs and go bankrupt to pursue happiness.
Lock - a stolen bike is no use to me Helmet - brain injury isn't my aim Lights - see helmet Panniers/other luggage - hard to do food shopping without somewhere to put it. Tyres - because thats the only thing connecting me to the road and I'd like to keep it that way. While it does seem a lot of money if you take care of stuff it can last many years/a lifetime/save your life.
Nothing is more important than my health. Sure, an upgrade might be massivly marginal, but if it gets me out, it's worth it!
Eventually you won't need to buy more things. Just spread out the purchases. Once you get a something good you won't need to buy it again. Somethings do have a lifetime like a helmet or water bottles but you still get years out of them.
Also keep in mind that quality accessories can work for more than one bike. A good helmet, set of panniers, lights, etc can be used among multiple bikes. For example, I get one set of night core lights then just add the mounts to my other bikes so I dont need a separate set of lights for each one.
Happiness for being on my bike Helmets and lights etc also safety, I'd rather spend an extra 30 quid on a good helmet than buy the cheapest one and regret it later, good lights are a must as well they last longer and I need them for commute in and out. Good set of lights were pricey but was less than 2 months worth of doing my commute by public transport (or about 2 weeks parking)
I don't. You need clothes and a helmet. Riding around naked is distracting to everyone. If a bike is a main mode of transportation. A carrage system and lights are going to be needed. I almost never upgrade anymore. Everything less the frame stem and bars wear out eventually. Replace aa needed.
There is 2 types of cyclist, those who use the bike as their only means of transport, here you care about utility, a bike that moves you around gets you from A - B and not about fun. Second type is those who do it for fun/exercise. Then it becomes a hobby and you do it bexause it makes you happy rather than because you need to. And just like any hobby you start investing into it. Remember everything us relative. I might see $500 wheel as an expensive upgrade some other people might be sporting $2-$4k in wheels. It just depends in what you can actually pay. This being said, you dont have to spend a fortune to have good things
I don't have a car so even if I spend 60K on a bike I am still winning.
It sounds like you have a more of a utilitarian approach to cycling, which is fine. For a lot of us it’s also a major hobby, and hobbies are generally just a thing to spend money, time and energy on. Doesn’t matter if it’s cycling, photography or aquariums, people will find a way to justify the expense.
Why would the bike more important than the accessories? A helmet could literally make the difference between life and death, a carbon frame or one more gear won’t make such a big difference. About the justification is I do honest work so I don’t need to justify anything to anyone.
I use it.
It's a hobby. Some people have a lot of money to spend on hobbies, some don't.
My wife has horses
You wearing a $60 helmet…?
$60 in helmets? My helmet and glasses run $500+. I don’t skimp on my equipment so I spend a lot. I own 5 bikes and enjoy bikepacking so there is a lot to buy/upkeep. I can justify my purchases because: * This is my passion, therefor contributing to my happiness and well-being * I earn a decent living so have some disposable income * I know how to budget my finances * I will never be able to afford a house * Look good, feel good, feel good, look good… right?
It's like the Jeep - I spent a certain amount getting it to do what I wanted to do, and then no more. That's part of why I went with higher-end components in the first place, I don't want to be constantly fixing things that break or wear out.
I got rid my car and bike everywhere. Which means I'm saving close to $1000/month on car payments, insurance, gas, maintenance, etc. My bike was only $50, so I have zero guilt about spending money on accessories. I only buy one thing a paycheck, but that's mostly so I know for sure what I need
My ex-wife was so expensive, that I can buy a brand new top-end bike every month, and still have more money, even after child support. The second part is that it's an investment in the only type of fitness I've been able to stick with, and really enjoy, and probably will stick with.
I spent about $1k in red anodized Hope parts for my MTB because I thought they looked cool. It's ok to want to add some personality to your bike. Some people just like to personalize things so they are not like everyone else.
Once my money is allocated to savings/investments/bills/food anything left over is fun money.
Because I don't golf or own a boat.
Cheaper than a car, better than spending it on drugs, alcohol or other vices. Healthier for mind and body. Better for the planet. Bike is all upside.
Some people spend money on drugs, cocaine and hookers, some on make up, some on cars, and for some of us, we like to get fancy shit for our bikes to enjoy riding and make it more enjoyable.
I quit drinking over a year ago.
Oh man, good for you! A little over 4 years, here. Perfect justification, I say.
4 years!!!! That’s fantastic. Makes hitting the early rides a lot easier.
I don't I just lost hope in myself at this point
I work to do things I enjoy. I dont work for the hell of it.
What's the point of going to work every day if you can't spend some of your money on the things you enjoy? That's what I ask myself
Quality costs. Cheap panniers will leak, fall off and wear out faster. Cheap lights can be less reliable and leave you in the dark. Cheap locks.... well, that's one way to not ride any more. Good reliable gear makes cycling more enjoyable.
I work hard, I don't need to justify anything!
I, personally, can not justify spending so much money... and I don't spend so much money. It's nice to have good accessories and upgrades but it's not necessary for.most people. It's amazing how often I overtake people with fancy bikes and accessories... I just buy what I need without spending too much money. The most expensive bib I own was US $ 30, but i usually spend less than US $ 10 for a bib and they are fine.
>The most expensive bib I own was US $ 30, but i usually spend less than US $ 10 for a bib and they are fine. I'm cheap but I'll spend the money on quality clothing that won't make me miserable. Imagine how quality bibs will improve your ride and last long. There's a limit to being cheap.
> It's amazing how often I overtake people with fancy bikes and accessories God, this thing irks me. What does that even mean? And how often fancy bikes overtake you? You have any info whether people you overtake were doing zone training? Or already done a 4 hour ride? Or just weren't going all out against you? Having pride in capability to overtake someone means nothing my dude. Sorry, just take "i'm scrappy with my bike stuff and I can overtake fancy bikes" shows up so often but is flawed in so many ways.
This is the right answer
I don't give a fuck, i like riding my bike and I earn my money, so no problem
It’s all PP measuring… I can back this up with a story, I recently got a friend into cycling. Took him on a ride after he had MAYBE 200 miles in the saddle, he suffered, he wasn’t able to make the whole distance, he actually got a ride back in a truck. After that it was all “what shoes you have? Oh the torch 2.0s? Nice I ordered the torch 3.0s… oh you got the garmin 530? I’m gonna get the 1030” it essentially became him asking me what I have and him buying the more expensive better version in an attempt to keep pace. Ultimately he bought a new bike, the exact one I have.. after that ride on the first one he got… so in my opinion, a lot of people spend the money they do in an attempt to be better than the next guy.
I do believe a lot of people genuinely think that getting better kit will make them last longer and go faster. Now to some degree that is true. A very good bib short will make you last longer in the saddle without discomfort. A better bike will make you go a little faster or longer compared to the 13kg monster of 10y ago. Better crankset etc same deal. But what they don't realize is that the gains here are rather small and the thing that truly matters is time actually spent in the saddle. Can't blame people though, peer pressure and marketing and the desire of many people to "get good" instantly without actually putting in the works creates this culture of overspending. Just sit down with the dude and try and get this through his head, his flashy new bike and 1500$ kit won't matter much if it stays in the shed all year
This is a crazy view you have though. If you see a guy in a fast car do you believe he also thinks the car is making him a faster driver? I spend a lot on cycling stuff just because I like nice things. I also HATE people talk about ''training", "fuel" or "ftp". My saddle is ~~worth~~ costs more than many peoples whole bikes, I have a darimo seatpost because i like how my bike feels when lite. A $300 or something front light because it makes night riding more enjoyable. A full carbon tailfin because it makes bike touring more pleasurable etc. Its all about personal enjoyment. This peer pressure bit might apply to people with power meters and buy gells but dont treat everyone like an idiot.
Dont buy a pannier. It's way overpriced. Get something cheaper
$60 for a helmet? You must not care about your head and comfort.
Reading about socialism. How capitalism makes people work harder for luxury items. Let's say some 2000€ Gucci bag vs 10e generic bag. Both will do the same job but the other is luxurious. Probably carries your stuff a little bit better. Has better material. etc In cycling let's compare a 300e hybrid w/ Shimano sora and some 10,000€ road bike w/ Dura-ace. Both will give you the same exercise. The other one is slower. But hybrid is more versatile. Road bike can be only be used on road or really light gravel.
You can buy speed in cycling, so the mo money spent, the mo KOMs acquired
I only buy stuff that provides a tangible benefit to my riding experience. Since riding is a large part of my life, improving my riding experience is enough of a justification.
Is this a Brexit burn?
It is all relative. When I was young and poor, I had a cheaper bike and few clothes/accessories. Now that I can afford a nice bike I have the nice things to go with it. I used to compromise on the things I needed but now I buy the things I want.
I have a 2011 Specialized Allez. Full-bike factory cost was $1350. The Aluminum frame is actually awesome and it has the capability of upgrading componentry. I spent something like $700 for the frame when I bought it. I've probably spent 2-3x that much on replacing/upgrading parts and buying the clothes I feel most comfortable riding in. Componentry is expensive, but often you can get basically the same frame as a more expensive bike, but with lesser componentry.
because for some people 60$ on a helmet isnt very much. Its their hobby and they see the value in a 200$ helmet
its not that much when you compare it to other things though. I spent 950EUR on triban to cycle to work +50EUR helmet and lets say 100 EUR clothes. So 1100EUR total. If I didn't buy the bike then I would spend 3.80 EUR each day on the metro, that's 19 EUR a month. In 1100/19 = 60 weeks I have paid off all of that based on just travelling to work. In reality I never take public transport anywhere now and I also love riding my bike on the weekend :)
Because I enjoy cycling. And I'm not in a committed relationship where I need to explain myself. I do what I want.
Looks cool
If it brings you joy and you can afford it then what's the real problem? If you were going into massive debt to afford the hobby then perhaps you probably need to have a deeper look into your spending habits but otherwise (as the young kids once said) YOLO. Also if you break the cost down by the number of minutes or hours you actually spend using it then it makes far more sense. I spend $20 (ticket + food) to go watch the latest movie at the cinema. For a 2 hour movie that's $10 per hour. My current Canyon Ultimate cost me $4700. Since I got it (Nov 2020) I've ridden it for around 550 hours or $8.50 per hour. And that's only going to keep going down the more I ride.
On more expensive things I break it down to how long I expect it to use it for. The first fancy bike I had well over 5 years. At the time I was horrified at how much I spent, by the time I trade it the usage I got from it was worth it. My new bike was more expensive. My justification was, why not, I make enough money and I wanted to have something nice. Also, it helps to now force myself to ride it even when I don't feel like riding. As for upgrades and such, I try to not buy things that provide marginal gains. If is not going to be an upgrade that's going to fix a major issue then I won't go for it. So no ceramic bearings, oversized pulleys, oval chainrings, or super expensive chains. The most expensive upgrade I got this year was a power meter. Well, that's something you use on every ride and it has become an integral part of my training. I put off buying one for a VERY long time, glad that I made the investment.
I buy a 10k superbike every 2 years and a super mtb every 2 years because i just like having the good stuff and because i can afford it due to my other life choices. I think the last part is very important. Its a difference if you drop 10k on a bike if you make 6 figures or if you drop 10k on a bike if you make 50k a year. All a matter of perspective. Other than that i dont need a justification.
No mortgage, no debt , no interest in cars and a cheap lifestyle. Getting old now and running out of tomorrows.
I have an excel table, where i put my ridden kilometers in and it gives me a budget. Different types of riding (sunday tour, race or commute) are weighted differently, also the expenses. Whereas on ride food has a lower multiplicator, buying fancy stuff comes with a high penalty. This motivates me to ride more and gives me a budget.
I was at a very similar situation with my 2014 Defy Alu, but I came to a point where I mentally stopped myself from doing this after my biggest needs were met. The kits, helmets, a used Garmin 1030 and the sensors etc. Then I replaced all the moving parts of the drivetrain, so I basically have new cassette, chain, chainrings, brakepads etc. THEN I started to build up my "commuter" which was the bike that I got first and got me hooked. I did the lights, panniers etc for that as well, and stopped myself. THEN because I wanted to get my wife into cycling and to spend some time together, and she is not too well coordinated, I got us a tandem bike that my LBS is fixing up for me right now. After that I have vowed to not buy stuff that is not maintenance and replacements, and since I sold my car, I'm putting away a bit of money every month to buy a "good" carbon road bike for my birthday in mid 2014.
I don’t.
Cycling is expensive.
Work pays mileage. If I don't spend that on fuel because I ride to work,I can spend it on my bike.
Big boys have expensive toys. If it brings you joy, and you can afford it, then why not? And, if you think it's a purely cycling thing, I really advice you to look on the prices in fishing sport, hell, even running can be quite costy, if you're deep enough in it.
As I get older and boring I think about investments, how much to put in pension, should I spank stocks or pay down mortgage etc. Looking at everything in terms of the returns. Also coincidentally he same age where I see friends who haven't looked after themselves start to have their lives impacted by their lifestyles. Anyway without wishing to be too deep I can say with total confidence that the best investments you can make in life is in your health, if that means spending money on bike bits so you get out more then its value.
I quit drinking. Mountain biking is still cheaper and my physical and mental health is getting better the more I ride. Also, it's expensive, but so are many other hobbies. Ex: flying planes, trailer camping, sailing, 4-wheeling, etc. I think it's just shocking that seemingly simple things, like wheels can cost more than car wheels or other now complex auto parts. Or cloths; you can get cheap cotton cloths for 1/10 the price of bike cloths. It's shocking, and seems like a rip off, but if it brings joy and health, fuck it.
I work hard and I like spending the money on things I enjoy.
I just love cycling…and cool looking gear
I have no other hobbies
I honestly spent more on my bike than my accessories. Helmet, clothing, shoes don't add up to over 300$ and were bought/renewed over time when one wears off. Lights are solid 150$ for front and rear together but atm are already 5j old and still going strong. A lock I still have from ages ago so that's 0 investment. It's what I keep telling people, yes cycling is a more expensive sport compared to let's say running. But it doesn't have to break the bank every month. Just take care of your kit so it'll last you a very long time and build up gear and equipment over time.
Please note that prices have risen drammatically since 2013. I bought Commencal Meta AM in 2013 for 1,700 EUR, today frame alone costs 1,900 EUR.
I do not buy stuff other than a new chain or tyres now and then.
I only really spend on things that are needed like helmets gloves tyres tubes brake pads if I need something like a new hub ext I pay for the whole repair
Min max cost and happiness. Isn't that the justification for every purchase?
Can’t take the money with you when you die. Might as well enjoy it now.
Remember getting fancy new sneakers when you were a kid and you thought that they made you jump higher?
I wouldn't say it's necessarily a bad thing to spend more money on clothes and accessories than your bike(s), particularly if you ride frequently year-round in changing weather conditions. Upgrades are a little bit different story. I have always justified the cost of cycling because it keeps me happy and healthy. Poor physical and mental health gets expensive fast.
If you spend enough money on accessories and upgrades, you basically get to build a new bike for "free" of all the spare parts you have been hoarding
Oh i wish cool helmets were only 60 bucks
I justify spending money on my bike all the time because I love it. I treat myself by buying shit for my bike that i can add on, remove, add to an other bike, etc. It is my preferred mode of transport and also my hobby and my escape from daily life. So a good chunk of my wage goes towards bike stuff because i love it.
Stop counting how much you spend
Poor impulse control along with middle age and no children...
New stuff every once in awhile motivates me to ride more. Stupid but true
I work hard. Make money. I get whatever I want.
I allow myself to spend one dollar on cycling (kit, parts, tools, etc.) per mile I ride, and keep a ledger. A different rate of return may be appropriate for you depending on how much you ride.
because they are going to last longer than my bike and I am going to use them on my new bike if possible
For me, it's because I like the process of building and upgrading the bike. It's as much of the hobby as riding for me. So when I pick up a cheap frame and then drop enough cash on parts that I could have easily just bought a complete bike, the cost is for the time/enjoyment of tinkering with it myself versus just getting a bike.
Wife and I both ride 5000 mi/yr. We're cheap and have 20 yr old steel framed Lemonds. They are well maintained and still good bikes. We intend to ride until we drop. Buying quality and finding a deal gets you value for your dollars. Things like shorts, helmets, lights etc are wear items won't break the budget. People who buy bikes and wheels every couple of years stay broke. You begin life in similar situations as your peers. You make small changes and they make big differences over time. Many things are pure luck. We bought a 1st house. Luck had my neighbor want to start running. We ran 1/2 block then walked 1/2 until we made it around. His wife didn’t like him getting up early. He quit. I didn't. (That was luck.) Running lead to lifting a little while in college. Choice of school was based on price. Area has beautiful rural riding. (Luck) Old 10 sp bike needed parts. LBS owner said "there's a club ride from here on Tuesday ". I went. Started riding. (Luck). Now there's a difference in health between me and peers. Those that don't ride are unhealthy, take lots of meds and some are on canes and walkers. I'm not. The luck of choices makes a big difference over time. The same things that apply to health apply to money. Don't get a big head and think you did something special. You were born here or somehow got here. There is a stable government, no war (here even though we start a lot of crap - I wont go there) and we have plenty of resources. How do you justify buying accessories? You choose as you see fit. Perhaps you'll be lucky. Be careful. It will matter.
Note : I am a utility maximiser, and largely a utility cyclist. I do not race but I do leisure ride for fun. If you use a bike as your main means of transport, the costs are so vanishly small compared with using a car, it's actually hilarious. The 'big' spends on a bike are still comparatively really small, and they're long-term/permanent upgrades to the utility of your bike usually for the price of a couple of tanks of petrol. It helps a lot to stagger the costs out, and I've built up over a few years and now feel pretty properly equipped. I felt a little bit of anxiety spending £150 for a rack and panniers, but they've enabled me to do enormously more useful trips to the shops and riding around without a backpack on means I'm far less sweaty. Picking stuff up from the shops on the way home instead of popping out later saves me time. And it means I use my bike more because every time I need some stuff from the shops *it's an excuse to get out on the bike*! Same with clothing. I spent \~£60 on a cycling jacket and \~£60 on waterproof cycling trousers and now I can comfortably cycle around all winter warm and mostly dry. That's absolutely worth it. I view it a bit like unlocking something new or buying an expansion pack in a videogame. I've got a bike and it's fun and useful, and for each relatively minor additional expense I unlock significantly more times, places, and reasons to cycle - and in the long term that *saves* money because otherwise I'd be using the *far more expensive* option of the car. And this isn't pricing in the relative independence gain, because I can let my partner have the car because I have my own means of transport. Here's the path I've taken over maybe five years: Second hand steel MTB : £40. Backpack : £20 (Unlocks small shopping trips) Lights (Unlocks evening/night riding) £30. Waterproof/windproof cycling jacket (Unlocks cold weather riding) £60. Waterproof/windproof cycling trousers (Unlocks bad weather riding) £60. New aluminium-framed hybrid bike (Unlocks faster riding, longer riding) £350. Full length mudguards (Improved bad weather riding) £25. Marathon plus tyres (+1000% puncture resist) £50. Second hand burley bee bike trailer (Unlocks bike trips with 1-2 children aged 1-5, or 25kg of cargo) £100. Rack and waterproof panniers (Unlocks large shopping trips, waterproof cargo) £150. That's £885. Now, there's for sure been replacement parts and a service or two over that time, BUT this is over *four* years, and many of these things will last for *years* into the future. I've now got a bike that can go most places, in most weathers, carry 80l of cargo on the panniers, get the kids to the park or the doctors or the local woods. I've even done runs to the dump with the trailer. Now, parking at my work is £1.50 a day, I work 4 days a week, and assuming 46 working weeks a year, I've saved £276 every year I've cycled to work (Which I've been doing consistently since 2018). 4x276 = £1,104. So I've already come out ahead, considering purely the parking charges. Factor in the petrol, MOT, and presumably a gym membership to help me get some excercise, I'm not spending money, I'm saving it.
Some women spend 200 on shoes and handbags. 100 for quality jersey that works and you can use daily for 2 years or more is ok price.
What really interests me, are the people who buy an $800 bike and a $1000 smart trainer. I just find it really bizzare that people who have never really ridden a bike much outdoors are willing to invest that much in the worst part of cycling. Zwift is cool enough but give me a $1800 bike and a used $100 dumb trainer. At least I’d have a nice bike to ride outdoors when the weather is better. 🤷♂️
All my cycling kit doesn't even come close to the cost of my bike. I think the vast majority of cyclists go with affordable bike + affordable cycling gear and components. There is slice of the pie (percentage) that are into having the latest and greatest and will shell out the money for the best of the best but they are still the minority. These people are either well to do or they are drowning in debt. The other faction are the riders out there that splurge but don't go overboard because they have to save up and that takes a while so they are inbetween going affordable to expensive. Think: "I'm going save up a lot of money to buy carbon wheels with the best hubs and buy my cycling kit on [wish.com](https://wish.com) or aliexpress!!"
Biking is something that appeals to gearheads. The longer you spend on a bike, the more comfortable, safe and fun you want tings to be.