Frugal Bicycle Thread

[rvijay]

This thread comes with approx 3k investment in bicycles/related stuff
and a lot of time learning things. By reading all the links above,
several things are greatly simplified for those following this path.
Bicycles and frugality seems greatly undermined in the frugal
community, no solid comprehensive articles exist in this regard. This
thread is an attempt about getting a frugal bicycle and the savings it
has on our lives. I wanted to do this thread for a long time and have
been dealying it. Will slowly do this piece by piece based on the
experience I have so far.
By just having a bicycle instead of a car, one can save between 20K to
40K in two years (this is just my rough estimate). Moreover, there are
several other advantages to cycling as discussed here:
http://community.stretcher.com/forums/t/807.aspx


In the Book Divorce your Car, the Author describes in great detail the
enormous savings of using a bicycle as opposed to a Car, in the few
instances that a car is needed, one can rent a Can. This situation
however varies for those with children etc., etc., Review of this can
be read at Amazon.com


If buying a new Bicycle, buy it towards end of season, where I live
this starts around mid july. Plan everything in advance and have
backups.


Several who buy bicycles are not sure how to use/maintain them and
throw them away or sell them at real low prices. These can be obtained/
fixed easily and then profitably used. Here is a site that helps in
rebuilding old bicycles:
http://oldroads.com/
Another site on fixing used/vintage Bicycles:
http://www.geocities.com/randyjawa/BicycleRestorationGettingStartedAr...


A Whole Bunch of Do It Your Self Bicycle Projects (thanks to
bicycling.about.com Guide for this)
http://www.instructables.com/tag/keyword:bicycle/?limit:type:instruct...


Frugal Bicycle Touring Article (thanks to bicycling.about.com Guide
for this):
http://www.dirtragmag.com/print/article.php?ID=859


Learning Bicycle Mechanics is frugal as these repairs can run more
than the cost of the bicycle itself:
http://howtofixbikes.blogspot.com/


Visit a few local bicycle shops and have a few backup plans for
repairs that need pros.


Good bicycles are stolen easily. Preventing this is important:
http://howtofixbikes.blogspot.com/2006/08/how-to-prevent-bicycle-thef...


Bicycle Theft Video:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4237529553314186861&q=bike+s...


Several car lubricants can be used for bicycles. For eg.,:
Degreaser, Grease, Chain Lube etc.,


Checkout local library for books on bicycling. Read books on the
following topics:
1. General Urban Cycling
2. Long Distance Cycling
3. Bicycle Mechanics


Used Cycle Related Links for reference:
http://charityguide.org/volunteer/f...ed-bicycles.htm
http://sheldonbrown.com/diy/index.html
http://sheldonbrown.com/selling.html
http://nbda.com/index.cfm
http://www.cyclingforums.com/t95732.html
http://www.recycledcycles.net/
http://www.nationalbikeregistry.com/proplock.html
http://www.nationalbikeregistry.com/crime.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_infantry


Getting Tuffy the anti puncture tape, puncture resistant tube/tyre
etc., are all frugal. Flats cost time, energy interms of repair,
specially are not good in remote places, at high sun, rain, on a
slope, closer to dusk etc.,


Having a good basic set of bicycle repair tools, repair stand is
frugal.


Some Sites on Bicycle Uses specially in Emergency:
http://www.biketexas.org/content/view/504/71/
http://www.co.gaston.nc.us/GEMSHP/teams/BERT.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_bicycle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_infantry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycling


Join a local bicycle club, specially one that teaches bicycle repair
courses. Networking with other key cyclists in your area is also
frugal.


Good Bicycle Related Links:
http://www.bikely.com/


This site is excellent:
http://www.kenkifer.com/


Dime on the Dollar - Bicycle Trailer
http://www.motherearthnews.com/DIY/1981-07-01/Dime-on-the-Dollar-Bicy...


Usenet Bicycle FAQs
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/bicycles-faq/


Usenet Newsgroups Related to Bicycles:
http://draco.acs.uci.edu/rbfaq/rbnewsgroups.html


Learning about Bicycling can lead to related careers:
1. Bicycle Mechanic
2. Bicycle Tour Guide
3. Bicycle Salesperson
4. Bicycle Messenger etc.,
5. Bicycle Sports
6. Writing bicycle related articles/books


Several Tips here such as what to do in case of an accident etc.,
apply to bicycles also:
http://www.mopedarmy.com/resources/.../survivalguide/


A Great Bicycling Online Community:
http://www.cyclingforums.com/


Winter Bicycle Riding:
http://www.thebicyclepost.com/winter-bike-riding.html
http://bikewinter.org/tipsAndResour...wintercycle.php

Car Free Cities:
http://www.carfree.com/

Those with experience feel free to add anymore.


Thanks in advance and happy exploration.


Regards,


Vijay


Source:
http://community.stretcher.com/foru.../9547.aspx#9547

[Bof]

Good idea for a thread. I'm overhauling my bikes with a view to start riding again, inspired by the TDF. :)
BTW - The bicycle trailer link doesn't seem to work.

And I'm narky that you've been veg for a year longer than I!:furious:

[froggythefrog]

Thanks for these links. I know there aren't many responses, but I want to reassure you that the information you've provided is not going unused.

[Skylark]

Thank you. I'll keep note of this thread in the event I get a job that does not require me to have and use a car.

[SyrLinus]

You can get a Burley trailer or a Wike trailer or perhaps this one (http://www.tonystrailers.com/). Although I've never heard of Tony's Trailers. Also, just because you have a bicycle doesn't mean you can't do a move by bicycle (if it's within relatively close area -- I won't be able to do it from Toronto to NYC).

Example of moving by bicycle: http://michaelbluejay.com/bikemove/