How much money are you willing to spend on cycling

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Mburton1993

Senior Member
Location
Stalybridge
As my frame and forks cost £60 my rule is no other components for more than that. I’ve added up the various bits and pieces (on a very slow work day) and the whole comes to a cost of around £500ish. That'd be my limit.
 

SkipdiverJohn

Deplorable Brexiteer
Location
London
There are about £7000 worth of bikes alone in my collection at cost price, my actual spend last year though would only have been a couple of hundred though,

Not massively different to my fleet, when I think about it, but my stuff is obviously rather more "vintage" than yours. I've got four 531 framed machines from the 80's, which would equate to around £3k if not more in today's money if you adjust for inflation what they cost the original buyer new. Then I've got my lesser quality stuff, probably another £2k originally at the minimum. The major difference is all bar one of mine was bought secondhand, at around 5p or less in the £ of their new price. I certainly do cycling on the cheap, but it's not all cheap cycling in quality terms. I have machinery now that I could never have afforded as a youngster and I'm making the most of it.
 

Nebulous

Guru
Location
Aberdeen
I’m not sure I admit that, even to myself. I sometimes tell friends that I have a strict budget for cycling, and I’ll stay within it as long as I don’t buy anything else until August 2025.

When thinking about this I was feeling virtuous as I can’t remember buying anything for the bike this year. I bought about £100 worth of chains in early summer, and most of them were for other people.

Then I remembered the bibs, tights, merino jersey and new gloves I bought in the last three months. Then there was a new fan last week for my turbo.
 

Johnno260

Veteran
Location
East Sussex
Depends I needed/wanted new wheels, mass produced vs handmade so I went with a local wheel builder I don’t regret it.
Gadgets I like and my Garmin lights are fantastic so is the radar for a solo rider, it doesn’t replace a shoulder check but it’s a very nice aid.
My next target is a Ti frame, which I will save for and make a choice about when the time is right, seems to be a nice frame builder in Brighton I may use.
 
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Anonymous1502

Well-Known Member
I’m not sure I admit that, even to myself. I sometimes tell friends that I have a strict budget for cycling, and I’ll stay within it as long as I don’t buy anything else until August 2025.

When thinking about this I was feeling virtuous as I can’t remember buying anything for the bike this year. I bought about £100 worth of chains in early summer, and most of them were for other people.

Then I remembered the bibs, tights, merino jersey and new gloves I bought in the last three months. Then there was a new fan last week for my turbo.
For me the biggest expense is definitely cycling clothing. I don't really know much about bike mechanics so don't really buy things to upgrade my bike.
 

Nebulous

Guru
Location
Aberdeen
For me the biggest expense is definitely cycling clothing. I don't really know much about bike mechanics so don't really buy things to upgrade my bike.

Many of my bike parts are replacements / general maintenance rather than upgrades. I bought new wheels with a dynamo hub, and lights for long-distance overnight riding and a longer rear derailleur and bigger cassette to get a broader range of gearing on hills, but need replacement chains / tyres / cleats / brake pads more often than I upgrade.

I started off reluctant to buy expensive clothing and have gradually moved up the price ranges. Initially I bought some Aldi / Lidl stuff, but then i have really appreciated key items. Decent bibs are worth it if you are spending all day on a bike. My Gore jacket really blew me away. I was reluctant to pay for it, even in a sale, but cannot believe how good it is.
 

keithmac

Guru
I'm in the buy right or buy twice camp.

Same as with my tools, I don't mind spending for a quality well built item.

A new ebike may be on the horizon next year, Carbon Belt, Hub gearing and Mid drive (if such a bike exists!).
 

pjd57

Veteran
Location
Glasgow
I spend a lot less than I used to spend on petrol.
I'm happy to spend money on my bikes and keeping them in a decent state as I know it's buttons compared to what it used to cost to run a car.
 
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Johnno260

Veteran
Location
East Sussex
Many of my bike parts are replacements / general maintenance rather than upgrades. I bought new wheels with a dynamo hub, and lights for long-distance overnight riding and a longer rear derailleur and bigger cassette to get a broader range of gearing on hills, but need replacement chains / tyres / cleats / brake pads more often than I upgrade.

I started off reluctant to buy expensive clothing and have gradually moved up the price ranges. Initially I bought some Aldi / Lidl stuff, but then i have really appreciated key items. Decent bibs are worth it if you are spending all day on a bike. My Gore jacket really blew me away. I was reluctant to pay for it, even in a sale, but cannot believe how good it is.

I mostly pick up Endura stuff in out of season sales, I don't care if the colours are 1-2 seasons out, the clothing seems a nice compromise with price and quality.

D2D cycling as well, cheaper than Endura but the bibs are comfortable and a decent price point, also when I had a zip failure I sent them a picture and they replaced the item with utterly no hassle, I don't mind if I have issues that are dealt with in a fair manner for all.

I have some D2D base layer tops as well, I like them as much as the Endura stuff.
 

fossyant

Ride It Like You Stole It!
Location
South Manchester
Maintenance needs doing when needed so sometimes it's not much cost, other times it's a lot. This year has been quite costly for the full suspension, but all just wear and tear - tyres, two new chainrings, cassette, chain, frame bearings, wheel and freehub bearings.

I don't tend to buy new bikes often, and 3 of the 4 are 30 years old (had since new) and the latest is 4 years old.

clothing - I've got loads from over the years and just tend to buy if stuff getting worn out.
 

Zanelad

Guru
Location
Aylesbury
I spend whatever I want to. Having said that I don't spend a lot, but I will go for quality (in my eyes) over cost. I don't smoke, drink very little and have no expensive hobbies apart from cycling and a couple of ageing motorbikes. The house is paid for, the kids have left home, although they still seem to be a drain on our pockets, so what else is there to spend it on. I am planning a nice titanium framed "last" bike when I retire in a couple of years. Not sure how I'll get that past Mrs Z.... probably lie about the cost and buy her a nice piece of jewellery as usual:smile:
 
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If I had a penny for every time I had spent a penny, I'd be rich, but it would have still cost less than car ownership. Always a no brainer.
 
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