My stats for 2010

[kevin_cambs_uk]

Well its the end of my first full year of commuting by bike, after having started in July 2009. I have tried to keep a track of all the stats of commuting by bike, and I hope they provide an interesting read, especially the costs !

My commute is generally 17 miles each way but in the summer months I tried cycling a different route along the St Ives guided bus way, but after 3 tyre wall punctures I went back to my normal route.

200 = number of days cycled to work by bike

5 = number of days to work by car (all last January when I was a nancy boy and it was too cold!, I have since toughened up and the coldest I cycled this year was -10 c)

3 = number of days when a colleague drove (all last January when I was a nancy boy and it was too cold!)

3 = number of days where I was at work but at a different location and unable to cycle.

50 = number of days off and bank holidays

The rest were weekend days.

Total Mileage is approximately 6610 miles, which includes 3 weekend rides of 40 and a sportive of 106miles.

Fastest time home from work, 52minutes.
Slowest time from work 1 hr 20.

Cycling Costs


New set of wheels = £550
Tyres = £126
New chain and cassette fitted = £115
High Viz Jacket = £70
Inner Tubes = £56
High Viz Bib Tights = £54
Tools = £42
New chain ring = £25
New SPD pedals = £25
Brake pads = £17
Head set fixing = £10
Wheel re tru = £10
Puncture repair kits and patches = £8
Socks = £8
Oil = £7
Frame Patches = £6
Rim Tape = £4

Total Costs = £1132

Savings

In May I sold my car that I used to go to work in(it was just on the drive doing nothing), as I had hit the kerb in it by mistake in February in a car park and unknown to me had damaged the suspension, so when it went for the MOT it was £650 to fix. So getting rid of it saved me that money and my other car I do not use for work (long story!).

So I was committed to going to work by bike. So I calculated my savings for the year.


Petrol saved =£1197 (£5 or £6 per day saved)
Gym Membership saved = £480(cancelled when started cycling)
Car Tax saved =£210 (sold car)
Car MOT and service = £250(never needed as sold it)
Car repairs =£650 (did not go through with them)
Car insurance =£196 (saved after car sold)

Total saved = £2983

So overall I has saved about £1800 quid going by bike.

Next year I will not need new wheels, or as much equipment, just tyres, chains and stuff like that.

Its been a great year, some great days in the summer, second winter has been tough, but overall glad I have not gone by car since January 2010, and I have had more good motorists than bad.

I have leaned how to take apart my brakes and put them back together, remove the crank and cassettes on wheels, so I am becoming self sufficient in repairs too.

Only one crash with a car which was 50/50 and we both apologised to each other, and only been called a w****r twice by a car, and I am convinced it was the same car on the next day.

Next year I am going to track weather as well as all my other stats!

Happy new year to you all.

 

[vernon]

Your claimed savings are a bit suspect.....

I'd see the gym membership as irrelevant to car ownership and the £650 repair bill as irrelevant as it's a one off expenditure unless wrecking your suspension is an annual event.

it's a bit like the joke:

Person 1: I walked home instead of catching the bus and I saved £2.50
Person 2: If you'd walked home instead of taking a taxi you'd have saved £8.00

It brings your saving down to £800

Well done with your wait loss by the way. That's a great achievement.

 

[Peter10]

I would remove the car repairs for the above reason, but not the gym membership. I know people who go to the gym to do nothing more than use an exercise bike, treadmill or cross-trainer for £35-45 a month. If they started cycling daily (or the amount of days they go to the gym) they probably would quit the gym and call it a saving.

Last year I built a gym at the end of the garden, cost around £700 total including the structure & equipment plus what I already had and quit my gym membership saving £480 a year from then on. I may be at a loss this year, but in the years to come I will have saved a fair amount. I also now have the equipment I want rather than what a "professional" thinks I want.

Sounds to me like the OP has not only saved money, but made a significant lifestyle change. I would love to say I will do the same, but honestly; I couldn't get rid of the car as I work shifts and some days it just isn't feasible to cycle.

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

Thanks for the replies, as for the car repairs, the way I see it is that if I was not cycling to work, then thats 650 quid I would have shelved out, but it was then I decided not too, and commit to the bike 100%, so in my eyes I saved that cash, obviously this year there will be no saving, but if I was not cycling to work, I would probably still be going to the gym, and still paying for my car to be repaired or for new tyres etc,

accounting was never my strong point !!!

 

[400bhp]

Thanks for the replies, as for the car repairs, the way I see it is that if I was not cycling to work, then thats 650 quid I would have shelved out, but it was then I decided not too, and commit to the bike 100%, so in my eyes I saved that cash, obviously this year there will be no saving, but if I was not cycling to work, I would probably still be going to the gym, and still paying for my car to be repaired or for new tyres etc,

accounting was never my strong point !!!

I like keeping stats.

Not that easy to calculate an accurate saving, as many of the costs are somewhat upfront (wheels, tools etc will be good for years), so potentially a greater p.a. saving. Also potentially larger running costs of car ownership (consumables such as tyres etc).

But it's a great effort.

 

[ManiaMuse]

2011 stats

1 = Number of rides
1 = Number of punctures (grr drawing pin...)

 

[Fran143]

Well done you!! On leaving the car and gym membership behind!

 

[Downward]

Not sure If any savings have been met yet ! Last 2 years Bikes have been bought !!!

 

[darth vadar]

Aren't the Government using a similar accounting system to make their savings?

"We need to save money so we'll get rid of 500,000 public sector workers, that will save us £x billion pounds"

"Great idea George, well done"



But then everyone seems to forget that these unemployed people now have to be paid benefits.

 

[photography27]

i think your stats are awesome, well done for taking the time to put them down for all to see, massive savings you have made, but the main saving is on your health, think of all the fresh oxygen thats gone through your body for all them miles you've done.
keep up all the good work.
God bless
mik

 

[itboffin]

Simply cool all round esp the weight loss. I have a bit of a thing for stats

Chapeau

 

[potsy]

I daren't add up all the money I have spent in the 20 months I've been cycling, but I know it's a lot more than I've saved so far.
This year should see the savings as I doubt I'll be buying another bike just yet, will be doing my own repairs where possible, and hopefully continue to cycle in on average 3-4 times per week.

 

[Bayerd]

Aren't the Government using a similar accounting system to make their savings?

"We need to save money so we'll get rid of 500,000 public sector workers, that will save us £x billion pounds"

"Great idea George, well done"



But then everyone seems to forget that these unemployed people now have to be paid benefits.

Has this thread been moved to P&L?

 

[Keith Oates]

It's good to see the stats, not everyone interprets them the same way but it's fair to say that there was a cash advantage from riding the bike. However there can be no accurate cash assessment of the advantage you have gained by losing weight and also for the absolute pleasure of riding the bike plus of course personal satisfaction achieving your goal of commuting to work. One thing however is for sure, you are the winner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

Thanks for the replies people!

Heres to another year on the bike and all the good it brings

Happy cycling everyone