"The True Cost of Commuting"
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Stuff
Annual service costs?
(37 posts)-
Posted 12 years ago #
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"How much money (and time) does cycling to work actually save you?"
Posted 12 years ago # -
"Does anyone calculate their cost of cycling?"
Posted 12 years ago # -
I don't want to know. I especially don't want the missus to know.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Two difficulties are non-wear replacements (upgradeitis) and use of the bike for non-commuting duties (which, as well as adding to the mileage, also makes upgrading seem falsely attractive, for the purposes of the discussion).
I'm lucky enough to have a commute-only bike, although the service history is short (currently £0 for the first quarter however...)
I'd expect to replace the tyres at most annually (sub £30) and the chain annually (around £5).
I'm still on the same bottle of chain oil I've had for the last few years, but say "some lube" and a couple of inner tubes and a patch kit too (max £10).
I'd also re-cable annually, as I only have two cables that's sub-£20 too.
I don't expect the wheels ever to wear out, but I got ~10,000 miles off the last 1/8th drivetrain I had (without it looking worn) so that would be at most quadrennially at current mileage- £3 for a new sprocket, say £20 for a new ring.
That comes to around £70pa. Obviously there may be crash damage or something, but ditto a car.
At 23.4p/mile marginal cost only, I could drive for 300 miles instead, or 8.6% of the year. If the car didn't depreciate and didn't need to be taxed or insured or MOT'd!
Posted 12 years ago # -
wingpig - the tyres are Continental Gatorskins, now approaching legendary status on CCE I think. I've only changed them once in about 6 years, covering 2000 miles plus a year in all weathers.
Posted 12 years ago # -
HMMM. I'll maybe try one on the front when my current Armadillo wears out. Armadilloes only last seven or eight months on the rear before wearing down to the fabric.
Posted 12 years ago #
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