New Bike Get Hype

[privatevoid]

I haven't had a proper working bike for years. Today I went out and bought a brand new one that I really like (under $400). I'm sure that's a good feeling for many and just wanted to share :)

My car commute is ~20mi each way, so I'd have to work up to that, but that's theoretically bike distance. The first goal is going to be to bike to the grocery store instead of driving (~1.5m each way) .

I have a pretty efficient car already so I don't know that I'm saving a ton of money per mile but I'm sure the health benefits if I ride regularly will pay for themselves.

Edit: I should put this post in "Throwing Down the Gauntlet" really, I have a lot of biking to do.

[Halfsees]

Awesome!:)

[CatamaranSailor]

Congratulations! That's awesome! Pree MMM I'd bought a pricey Trek commuter because I was thinking I'd like to ride to work. After looking through the articles (and Craigslist) I started getting a little mad that I'd spent so much. BUT...I've probably put 2,000 miles on that bike and what it's saved me in gas has paid for it 2 or 3 times over. It's absolutley worth it if you like it and ride it.

[bigalsmith101]

Congratulations! That's awesome! Pree MMM I'd bought a pricey Trek commuter because I was thinking I'd like to ride to work. After looking through the articles (and Craigslist) I started getting a little mad that I'd spent so much. BUT...I've probably put 2,000 miles on that bike and what it's saved me in gas has paid for it 2 or 3 times over. It's absolutley worth it if you like it and ride it.

2000 miles, at 15mpg at $3/gl is only $400... I highly doubt you'd paid for it 2-3 times over.

[CatamaranSailor]

Congratulations! That's awesome! Pree MMM I'd bought a pricey Trek commuter because I was thinking I'd like to ride to work. After looking through the articles (and Craigslist) I started getting a little mad that I'd spent so much. BUT...I've probably put 2,000 miles on that bike and what it's saved me in gas has paid for it 2 or 3 times over. It's absolutley worth it if you like it and ride it.

2000 miles, at 15mpg at $3/gl is only $400... I highly doubt you'd paid for it 2-3 times over.

You can "highly doubt" all you want. The IRS let's you write off .54 a mile (because it's not just the gas). 2000 x .54 = $1,080. Considering I paid $500 out the door (which I would not do now) my off the cuff remark of "2-3 times" is accurate. That doesn't count the health benefits or the fact I was able to lower my insurance. 

I wanted to congratulate the OP on a good decision.

[Icecreamarsenal]

Congratulations! That's awesome! Pree MMM I'd bought a pricey Trek commuter because I was thinking I'd like to ride to work. After looking through the articles (and Craigslist) I started getting a little mad that I'd spent so much. BUT...I've probably put 2,000 miles on that bike and what it's saved me in gas has paid for it 2 or 3 times over. It's absolutley worth it if you like it and ride it.

2000 miles, at 15mpg at $3/gl is only $400... I highly doubt you'd paid for it 2-3 times over.

You can "highly doubt" all you want. The IRS let's you write off .54 a mile (because it's not just the gas). 2000 x .54 = $1,080. Considering I paid $500 out the door (which I would not do now) my off the cuff remark of "2-3 times" is accurate. That doesn't count the health benefits or the fact I was able to lower my insurance. 

I wanted to congratulate the OP on a good decision.

Ugh thank you for this reply!  These negative people really muck up the good vibes around here, douchey signatures and all.  Good on you and OP for the bike choices.  I found this because I'm bike-shopping for my hopefully soon-to-be 5 mile bike commute.  Coming from a 27-mile one-way car commute.

[centdukesfan]

have you guys seen the new ikea bike? It has a chainless drive train - its a rubber one instead? Looks like its heavy, but its all weather for sure!

[justaguy]

have you guys seen the new ikea bike? It has a chainless drive train - its a rubber one instead? Looks like its heavy, but its all weather for sure!

Seen it on Monday - yes, it was heavy.  Looked nice though

[privatevoid]

I ran my first grocery store run on my bike today. ~3 mi round trip. My first haul was, of course, root beer and ice cream. Having put in the effort will make it taste even better :)

[GuitarStv]

Congratulations! That's awesome! Pree MMM I'd bought a pricey Trek commuter because I was thinking I'd like to ride to work. After looking through the articles (and Craigslist) I started getting a little mad that I'd spent so much. BUT...I've probably put 2,000 miles on that bike and what it's saved me in gas has paid for it 2 or 3 times over. It's absolutley worth it if you like it and ride it.

2000 miles, at 15mpg at $3/gl is only $400... I highly doubt you'd paid for it 2-3 times over.

You can "highly doubt" all you want. The IRS let's you write off .54 a mile (because it's not just the gas). 2000 x .54 = $1,080. Considering I paid $500 out the door (which I would not do now) my off the cuff remark of "2-3 times" is accurate. That doesn't count the health benefits or the fact I was able to lower my insurance. 

I wanted to congratulate the OP on a good decision.

Ugh thank you for this reply!  These negative people really muck up the good vibes around here, douchey signatures and all.  Good on you and OP for the bike choices.  I found this because I'm bike-shopping for my hopefully soon-to-be 5 mile bike commute.  Coming from a 27-mile one-way car commute.

It's also common to forget the health related dividends.  The obvious physical benefits aside, I am tremendously happier and in a better mood when regularly commuting by bike rather than slogging through stop n' go traffic every day.

[The Money Monk]

Congratulations! That's awesome! Pree MMM I'd bought a pricey Trek commuter because I was thinking I'd like to ride to work. After looking through the articles (and Craigslist) I started getting a little mad that I'd spent so much. BUT...I've probably put 2,000 miles on that bike and what it's saved me in gas has paid for it 2 or 3 times over. It's absolutley worth it if you like it and ride it.

2000 miles, at 15mpg at $3/gl is only $400... I highly doubt you'd paid for it 2-3 times over.

You can "highly doubt" all you want. The IRS let's you write off .54 a mile (because it's not just the gas). 2000 x .54 = $1,080. Considering I paid $500 out the door (which I would not do now) my off the cuff remark of "2-3 times" is accurate. That doesn't count the health benefits or the fact I was able to lower my insurance. 

I wanted to congratulate the OP on a good decision.

you wrote "what it's saved me in gas has paid for it 2 or 3 times over".  So why are you saying "its not just the gas"  now? Was the guy being pedantic? sure. But he was also right, and you were wrong. Get over it.

[Ironfist]

Congratulations! That's awesome! Pree MMM I'd bought a pricey Trek commuter because I was thinking I'd like to ride to work. After looking through the articles (and Craigslist) I started getting a little mad that I'd spent so much. BUT...I've probably put 2,000 miles on that bike and what it's saved me in gas has paid for it 2 or 3 times over. It's absolutley worth it if you like it and ride it.

2000 miles, at 15mpg at $3/gl is only $400... I highly doubt you'd paid for it 2-3 times over.

You can "highly doubt" all you want. The IRS let's you write off .54 a mile (because it's not just the gas). 2000 x .54 = $1,080. Considering I paid $500 out the door (which I would not do now) my off the cuff remark of "2-3 times" is accurate. That doesn't count the health benefits or the fact I was able to lower my insurance. 

I wanted to congratulate the OP on a good decision.

Bicycles aren't free to operate either.  Tires wear out, your drive components wear out, etc. etc.

[GuitarStv]

Congratulations! That's awesome! Pree MMM I'd bought a pricey Trek commuter because I was thinking I'd like to ride to work. After looking through the articles (and Craigslist) I started getting a little mad that I'd spent so much. BUT...I've probably put 2,000 miles on that bike and what it's saved me in gas has paid for it 2 or 3 times over. It's absolutley worth it if you like it and ride it.

2000 miles, at 15mpg at $3/gl is only $400... I highly doubt you'd paid for it 2-3 times over.

You can "highly doubt" all you want. The IRS let's you write off .54 a mile (because it's not just the gas). 2000 x .54 = $1,080. Considering I paid $500 out the door (which I would not do now) my off the cuff remark of "2-3 times" is accurate. That doesn't count the health benefits or the fact I was able to lower my insurance. 

I wanted to congratulate the OP on a good decision.

Bicycles aren't free to operate either.  Tires wear out, your drive components wear out, etc. etc.

Bikes aren't free to operate.  Just about every part of a bike will eventually wear out.  That said, parts are very reasonably priced.

A decent set of tires cost 30 - 40$ each and will last me somewhere in the range of 5-6000 km.  Chains are around 3500 km (I ride in rain regularly and am a big guy) and a decent 8 speed chain can be had for around 10$ . . . even my fancy 10 speed chains are only about 20$.  Cassettes get around 7000 km and cost 20 - 30$.