Cycling on the cheap - ideas please

[Andrew_Culture]

I've been flexing my writing muscles again recently and have been plotting out some ideas for a book called something like 'Shoestring cycling - ideas for thrifty cyclists'.

I have a fair few ideas already, what with being a pauper n all, but I'd love to hear what ideas other folk have. I'll give Cycle Chat a mention in the credits of course

Here's a few to get the ball rolling:

Buying last year's model.
Using salt in fruit squash instead of hydration drinks.
Breakfast / museli bars and jelly babies instead of gels.
Aldi and Lidl!
Learning to Mickle thy chain.
Using old socks to clean bikes.

 

[TVC]

Decathlon kit is a lot cheaper than branded stuff

 

[MarkF]

You must be minted.

Buying last year's model.
Last decade's model, I crossed France on a 12 year old hybrid and I use a 1990's GT MTB for shopping, it cost £50 4 years ago.
Using salt in fruit squash instead of hydration drinks.
I crossed France and Spain on just water and never came close to dying.
Breakfast / museli bars and jelly babies instead of gels.
Magdalenas, .99p for 12!
Aldi and Lidl!
Ebay
Learning to Mickle thy chain.
I use Firestone roofers primer, a couple of drops and every bit of dirt on the chain vanishes on contact. At first I was worried, but that was years ago now...........
Using old socks to clean bikes.
Agree!

 

[Biker Joe]

Visit cycle jumbles.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I think I just about do all of those already.

Reusing tubes when they're past repair. Shims, dampeners, straps, chain guards, that sort of thing.

 

[Venod]

Old socks with a hole cut in for the cleat a cheap alternative to overshoes, (colour of your choice)

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Visit cycle jumbles.

I never knew such a thing existed!

 

[Biker Joe]

Old fashioned maps and a compass instead of GPS.

The trouble with a compass is that it always tells you to travel north and sometimes I want to go in another direction.

 

[Biker Joe]

I never knew such a thing existed!

I love 'em. They are like boot sales but just for biking stuff.
http://www.bikejumbles.co.uk/

 

[4F]

Old inner tubes split in half used under handlebar tape as a cheap alternative to gel pads

 

[4F]

Blocks of jelly, cut into cubes as an alternative to gels

 

[fossyant]

Commuting on Fixed - who needs gears

 

[HorTs]

Budget cycle touring tips here - http://tomsbiketrip.com/how-to-go-cycle-touring-for-the-price-of-a-round-of-drinks-part-1/

 

[Biker Joe]

Commuting on Fixed - who needs gears

Me!

 

[Venod]

Ghetto tubeless inflator

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/ghetto-tubeless-inflator-total-cost-9p