Commuting by bike: what does it save you?
Discussion
We're having a quiet morning here so a few colleagues and me totalled up our commuting costs 
. I'm just glad it came out significantly in favour of the bike...
Car:
9 miles per day = 45 miles per week = 2250 miles per year (50 weeks)
£0.20 per mile (fuel, extra for insurance for higher miles, wear and tear)
TOTAL = £450 per year
Bike:
9 miles per day = 45 miles per week = 2250 miles per year
1 x chain per year @ £8
1 x cassette every 2 years @ £30 (£15 per year)
2 x chainrings every 2 years @ £30 (£15 per year)
1 x pair tyres every year @ £25
1 x replacement bar tapes every year @ £10
2 x pairs replacement brake pads every year @ £10
2 x replacement rims every 4 years @ £50 (£12.50 per year)
Light batteries every year @ £10
TOTAL = £105.50 per year
I don’t include clothing, etc as I wear the same stuff I do for MTBing (which I do lots of anyway so already have loads of kit). I don’t include maintenance costs for the bike as I do it all myself (including the wheel rebuilding). Timewise there's nothing in it for me due to the traffic I'd sit in if I used the car, possibly in favour of the bike a lot of the time.
So, basically that’s £350 or so I can spend on petrol for more hoonage, that’s how I look at it
. But there’s the unmeasureable added health benefits and the plain enjoyment I get from commuting – well, apart from the motorists hell-bent on trying to kill me...
What about eveyone else? Do you have good financial benefits from commuting in by bike?
. I'm just glad it came out significantly in favour of the bike...Car:
9 miles per day = 45 miles per week = 2250 miles per year (50 weeks)
£0.20 per mile (fuel, extra for insurance for higher miles, wear and tear)
TOTAL = £450 per year
Bike:
9 miles per day = 45 miles per week = 2250 miles per year
1 x chain per year @ £8
1 x cassette every 2 years @ £30 (£15 per year)
2 x chainrings every 2 years @ £30 (£15 per year)
1 x pair tyres every year @ £25
1 x replacement bar tapes every year @ £10
2 x pairs replacement brake pads every year @ £10
2 x replacement rims every 4 years @ £50 (£12.50 per year)
Light batteries every year @ £10
TOTAL = £105.50 per year
I don’t include clothing, etc as I wear the same stuff I do for MTBing (which I do lots of anyway so already have loads of kit). I don’t include maintenance costs for the bike as I do it all myself (including the wheel rebuilding). Timewise there's nothing in it for me due to the traffic I'd sit in if I used the car, possibly in favour of the bike a lot of the time.
So, basically that’s £350 or so I can spend on petrol for more hoonage, that’s how I look at it
. But there’s the unmeasureable added health benefits and the plain enjoyment I get from commuting – well, apart from the motorists hell-bent on trying to kill me...What about eveyone else? Do you have good financial benefits from commuting in by bike?
IL_JDM said:
Sorry but 20p per mile running costs? (Tax, depreciation, insurance, wear/tear/maintenance and fuel)?
Do you drive a GWhizz? Cars costs upwards of 30p per mile.
"I don’t include clothing, etc as I wear the same stuff I do for MTBing (which I do lots of anyway so already have loads of kit). "
Wouldn't your colleagues use their car for things other than commuting? That's like ruling out brake pads because they drive to the supermarket.
I'm just really counting the fuel (17p/mile for me) and rounding it up to 20p/mile. The other costs (tax, depreciation, insurance, wear/tear/maintenance) are all relatively fixed costs whether I commute by bike or car: I'm always going to own a car regardless, hence we decided not to include them. Do you drive a GWhizz? Cars costs upwards of 30p per mile.
"I don’t include clothing, etc as I wear the same stuff I do for MTBing (which I do lots of anyway so already have loads of kit). "
Wouldn't your colleagues use their car for things other than commuting? That's like ruling out brake pads because they drive to the supermarket.
Edited by IL_JDM on Monday 23 November 11:54
The detail you could go into with costs could get ridiculous and, well, I'm not that bored. Got to draw a line somewhere
Plus you really should count clothing regardless of what you have mtb.
Mtb/commuting clothing will wear out and tbh if your doing it over the winter months and more regular than you would Mtb, i for one would need to double up on alot of things.
Things that i wouldnt use for Mtb are things like over shoes,waterproof leggins etc... at which point it starts to add up.
But im all up for it, instead of spending £50 at the gym an hour in and back again to work and then your mtb riding would be more benifical.
Mtb/commuting clothing will wear out and tbh if your doing it over the winter months and more regular than you would Mtb, i for one would need to double up on alot of things.
Things that i wouldnt use for Mtb are things like over shoes,waterproof leggins etc... at which point it starts to add up.
But im all up for it, instead of spending £50 at the gym an hour in and back again to work and then your mtb riding would be more benifical.
Well I'm commuting into London most days so simple have to look at train costs.
Monthly travel was around £130pm now about £25 as I get the train sometimes.
Running costs on the bike aren't more than £100 a year, so reckon I'm saving over £1000 a year, plus saving plenty of time as well.
Monthly travel was around £130pm now about £25 as I get the train sometimes.
Running costs on the bike aren't more than £100 a year, so reckon I'm saving over £1000 a year, plus saving plenty of time as well.
Would have to check my spreadsheet for the exact numbers (sad I know), but over the course of 2 years my commuting, not even every day, by bike has paid for (because it currently saves me £6.23 a day and i keep a record of the 'bike fund' I am amassing, which I then spend exclusively on bike stuff)
My commuting bike
£150 Minewt x2 lightset, which I also us MTBing
2 bib tights
3 cycling tops
About 5 rear lights, lots of cables and 4 or so chains, and a cassette
carbon bars
thomson stem
carbon forks
chris king headset
chris king b/b
3 new mtb tyres @ c £25 a pop
new conti 4 seasons road tyres at about £33 a pop
selle italia saddle
control tech carbon seat post
digital mapping software
high viz gilet
3 pairs of short liners
and probably loads of other stuff I haven't even remembered.
The alternative would have to been to give the same money to Shell, the local garage and the train company, so I am happy as larry and none of my clothing has worn out, if you buy decent stuff, its built to last.
Also means I don't have to join a gym or have some kind of artificial exercise regime like wii fit or such nonsense, I am loads stronger when mtb'g or road riding which increases my enjoyment of both no end and I can eat pretty much what I want as it all gets burnt off.
My commuting bike
£150 Minewt x2 lightset, which I also us MTBing
2 bib tights
3 cycling tops
About 5 rear lights, lots of cables and 4 or so chains, and a cassette
carbon bars
thomson stem
carbon forks
chris king headset
chris king b/b
3 new mtb tyres @ c £25 a pop
new conti 4 seasons road tyres at about £33 a pop
selle italia saddle
control tech carbon seat post
digital mapping software
high viz gilet
3 pairs of short liners
and probably loads of other stuff I haven't even remembered.
The alternative would have to been to give the same money to Shell, the local garage and the train company, so I am happy as larry and none of my clothing has worn out, if you buy decent stuff, its built to last.
Also means I don't have to join a gym or have some kind of artificial exercise regime like wii fit or such nonsense, I am loads stronger when mtb'g or road riding which increases my enjoyment of both no end and I can eat pretty much what I want as it all gets burnt off.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff