Poor Cyclist

[fikustree]

I am kind of struggling with the cycling world. I am poor. I wanted to start riding for exercise and to commute to work. I didn't realize how much fun it was going to be! Now I want to learn all sorts of things about cycling but everything seems very geared towards buying things, taking your bike to get tuned, having computers etc.

Are there any other poor cyclists out there who got a bike from a garage sale and are trying to figure out where to buy cheap cycling shorts? I almost got sick when I went into a bike shop and saw how much they cost. I was thinking maybe I could afford 20$ :eek:

Any tips would be so appreciated. I feel alone.

[Tuckervill]

Depending on where you live, you should be able to find a bike for cheap. It doesn't really matter what you buy--if you want to ride, you can make it work.

Garage sales are the best place to find cheap bikes, IMO. I'm sure you can find something. Where DO you live?

Karen

[mimitabby]

hey Fikustree

I just bought a pair of used bike shorts for 25 bucks including postage.
you need to shop around. in the meantime, check craigslist and garage sales for bikes.
We all savor a good bargain. You're right, a lot of us are putting $$$ into bicycles, but some of us don't have much money and are still riding bikes and having a great time.
Must have: a helmet/ gloves.
gloves were on sale at Performance bike the other day for 10 dollars.
Helmets can be gotten fairly cheaply too.
And bikes? my son found one last year that was marked "FREE" and he rode it home!

[Popoki_Nui]

Value Village, Salvation Army, Goodwill. This morning I did my monthly circuit of these stores. On other outings I've seen bike shorts, tights, helmets, and occasionally even some decent bikes. It pays to be persistent; keep going and you're bound to find much of the goodies you need/

[Trek420]

...bike swap meets are my favorite way to save a buck or two.

Check your local cycling club. I've gotten wonderful deals. Stick around here and you'll learn ways to make the sport affordable and welcome to TE. :D

[teigyr]

Take it slow and buy things as you need them. You don't need a computer, especially right away. The shorts? See how far you start riding. Could be you can get by with what you're wearing until the distance is such that you are uncomfortable. Check with local cycling clubs to see if there are swap meets around where you are.

You need gloves, a helmet, a multi-tool, tire levers, and tubes/patch kit. Oh and you need a pump. After that, just see how far you go with it!

I've seen bikes listed for very reasonably. There was somebody in Washington from TE who had a whole bunch of bikes she was selling for about $100/ea +/-.

You can do it :D

[singletrackmind]

We have a used bike store in our town that sometimes has bargains....another place to look. My first road bike was a Flandria for $60 at a garage sale. I rode it for 16 years before the mountain bike bug hit me. I wore regular shorts on all my rides and while I admit there's a plus to bike shorts, I was ok with what I had.

Familiarize yourself with good and bad components if you haven't already, so you can sort the difference between good cheap and bad cheap. Stamped steel brakes come to mind. Flat and you could prolly bend 'em with your hand. :eek:

[Python]

I bought my bike for £18 ($36). Tyre repair kit which included tyre levers - 98p (under $1). My helmet cost more than the bike £26.99 ($52). Cycling shorts were £14.99 ($30) and cycling shirt £11.99 ($24) - both items were sale prices. I'd a couple of pairs of tracksuit bottoms - what you call tights lurking in my wardrobe. They cost me £2.99 ($6) just over a year ago when the local sports shop had a sale on. They're not cycling tights but are fine for my 2 1/2 mile commute to and from work. You don't really need any special clothing if you're only going short distances. Normal T-shirts are fine:)

[dex]

I was wandering through Target this afternoon and saw padded cycling shorts for $25. I don't know how good (or not) they are, but they might be worth a look. I've also occasionally seen used ones for cheap ($8-10) at various thrift stores.

[RolliePollie]

For cycling clothes, gloves, saddle, pedals, etc., I've had great luck with shopping online. Ebay, Sierra Trading Post (my favorite!), and Campmor are great. REI has an online outlet that's pretty good too (and shipping is free is you have it sent to your closest REI store). Also, check out the sales right here on TE. I bought my bike new from my LBS, but I did see some pretty nice used bikes on Craigslist too.

I paid $42.99 for a new Terry Butterfly saddle and $19.99 for a new pair of Pearl Izumi Attack Shorts on ebay. And I picked up some Canari jerseys from Campmor for $19.99. I basically refuse to pay full price for anything if at all possible. Even my cycling shoes...I went out and tried on a bunch of brands and sizes, then checked around online and got a pair of $95 Pearl Izumi's for $24.

You can do it on a budget! Good luck and happy shopping!

[enzed]

Getting back on the bike didn't cost me that much.

After a couple of years walking alot & using public transport, my elderly neighbour offered me a old mountain bike. I had been doing some errands for him & he said I could keep it.

It came with a helmet & a safety vest. I brought a cable lock, a pump & a patch kit - not much $$. I had this bike for 9 months, before I retired it. Though it wasn't flash, it got me back into cycling & gave me alot of freedom.

My next (& current) bike was a Trek 7100fx. In July 2005 I was at my LBS, getting my mountain bike gears adjusted.
I eyed a sleek silver bike in the back & it caught my eye. It was a lightly used bike somebody had traded in, but it hadn't yet been priced for sale.
$220 later, it was mine. I reckon it was fate - we were meant to ride together:)
My old mountain bike was traded in for a good set of bike lights, and has since been serviced and resold to a good home.
The good thing about buying from a LBS, is that the bikes have been serviced & they offer a waranty (in my case it was for 3 months).


My first pair of bike shorts were actually shy shorts brought from my local charity shop but for a few months I rode in normal shorts without too many problems.
I used to ride in normal teeshirts all the time, until I saw a bike top on sale at my LBS. Most of my bike tops were brought for 1/2 price, just like all my bike shorts. I can usually get a good pair of bike shorts for less than $50.

Good luck, the bargains are out there.

[RoadRaven]

Alot of our bike parts... frames, wheels, bars, aeros, pdeals, cleats etc we have bought from the NZ equivilent of EBay... TradeMe.

We have also picked up a few excellent quality bikes at half to two-thirds of the price they would be new.

A great way to save a few bucks

Happy shopping
:)

[Torrilin]

You don't need a ton of specialized gear to enjoy your bike. And you certainly don't need to buy every bit right away.

Make sure you focus on the safety equipment and the maintenance equipment first. A bike shop will charge a fair bit for repairs, and often it will be cheaper to buy the tools and do it yourself. Then the next time it comes up, you have the tools. If you're not sure how to do the repair, check your local library. Ours has a good half dozen books on bike repair on the shelves at any given time. And well, safety equipment is there to prevent expensive medical bills. A bike light or a helmet is a lot cheaper than a hospital stay. Note that a water bottle is safety equipment. Dehydration is dangerous.

If most of your rides are under 10 miles, regular pants or shorts will be fine. I have yet to go farther than that, but it seems like a fair number of people can handle even longer distances in regular clothes.

Oh, and tailor the special equipment to what *you* are doing. If you're in the upper midwest, and the nearest mountains are hundreds of miles away, mountain biking isn't realistic. If you're in Pennsylvania and every trip you take features at least one mountain and normal Pennsylvania roads, racing isn't realistic. Special "sports bars" and "sports drinks" can be useful... if you're doing things like a century race on a regular basis. If you're not, people ate regular foods for millenia. Most people still do. Regular food still works when you bike :).

[margo49]

The first thing to remember is that whatever road or distance you ride on your bike has already been ridden by a woman on a Raleigh Sports with 3-speed Sturmey-Archer gearing in the 1930's. If she could do it, so can we. There is also a story here on the boards somewhere of a TE girl riding up a steep hill in Pennsylvania being overtaken by a traditionally-dressed Amish lass on a Dutch bike!
I agree that gloves and helmet are essential. Shorts you can wait till you are uncomfortable . I did all my youthful long-distance touring and messengering in regular Cut-offs. You do not say your age but my experience is that the Female Nether Regions are Never Quite The Same Again after the children, so if you are a mother you might need them straight away.
In our intimate relationships (of whatever combination of ages and genders), most of us started out with not very much "stuff" and gradually put together a Good Home; and even looking back remember how happy we were with so little.
Same with biking (another Intimate Relationship if ever there was one!!). You do need a bike, but it doesn't have to be the latest or fanciest. You will always love your first bike the most anyway, whatever you end up riding!

Stick around, nobody here ever puts anybody down because of their equipment, accessories or lack of them. The Women here have so much experience and knowledge and stories to share. We don't have time to engage in negative comparisons (in between biking, the rest of our lives and the TE forums!)

[rij73]

nashbar.com and performancebike.com are both really good places if you are on a budget. I never buy anything unless it's at least 50% off...

[Trek420]

but if you need bike socks, and these are in your size, right now www.Steepandcheap.com has Sock Guy bikes socks at 72% off.

woops, now they are gone but don't forget the TE closeout pricing, some great deals here.

For example, NOW they have my favorite jacket at 50% off

www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=17474

[fikustree]

Thank you so much everyone! When I posted yesterday I was just feeling so overwhelmed. I got a bike on Craig's list for really cheap but all the other stuff seemed a lot harder to find. I really want the shorts for my ride to work because it is really hot and the next day after riding I feel almost too sore to ride again, but I do.

Do you get a bum callus after awhile?

I was a little hesitant about buying used shorts because of the eww factor but now I see that that is an option. Thanks for all the links, time to go shopping :D

[mimitabby]

fikus, some of us are more uh.. sensitive than others.. You won't get a callus on your bum, but if the saddle isn't an instrument of torture, you'll get used to riding it. If it is excruciating, it could be that it isn't going to fit... or you might just need the saddle lowered or raised or tilted.

some people will not buy used shorts, but I've done it and i'm not the only one.
happy hunting!

[fikustree]

I doesn't hurt when I am riding, it hurts the next day when I get back on. I took a free spinning class and that was even worse. I couldn't ride my bike for the next 3 days :eek: I have tried different seat heights and I think I found the sweet spot but I think I might need one of those saddles with the middle cut out.

[Jenn]

I am kind of struggling with the cycling world. I am poor. I wanted to start riding for exercise and to commute to work. I didn't realize how much fun it was going to be! Now I want to learn all sorts of things about cycling but everything seems very geared towards buying things, taking your bike to get tuned, having computers etc.

Are there any other poor cyclists out there who got a bike from a garage sale and are trying to figure out where to buy cheap cycling shorts? I almost got sick when I went into a bike shop and saw how much they cost. I was thinking maybe I could afford 20$ :eek:

Any tips would be so appreciated. I feel alone.
I thought I was alone in the "cycling" world because I buy used stuff off ebay! I'm a stay at home mom that is living on Military pay....(need I say more) Anyway, I rode my husbands bike for MONTHS along with my spinning trainer my MIL got for nothing....But the clothes....OUCH....yea, it's an expensive sport....we finally bought my bike in March on sale w/a military discount and it was still over $700. It hurts initially but, once you have the basics you are good............until.........you say...hmmmmmmm wow....that looks good!!!!! It's all over!!!

[Xrayted]

The first thing to remember is that whatever road or distance you ride on your bike has already been ridden by a woman on a Raleigh Sports with 3-speed Sturmey-Archer gearing in the 1930's. If she could do it, so can we. There is also a story here on the boards somewhere of a TE girl riding up a steep hill in Pennsylvania being overtaken by a traditionally-dressed Amish lass on a Dutch bike!


Heh. That was me in Strasburg, PA on my new-to-me road bike and she blew my doors in like I was sitting still. :o She had a rusted out little single speed bike that was probably handed down across generations. I know it had to weigh more than 35 lbs or so but there she went, right up that hill and I was struggling to catch my breath. It just made me more determined to get out and ride. I bought my bike from a doctor I worked with when I was an xray student last year. It was a fantastic bargain compared to new and she had only taken it out a few times before she got bored. (she is easily bored so many of us students got great stuff from her) My helmet I got on Ebay as well as my shoes. All of my shorts/shirts/gear are from there or various sales at local/online stores. I hate paying full price.

The question was raised above... where do you live? We have TE ladies from all over who could give you specific places to check in your area. Craig's list is a great resource as well as your local re-use-it or pawn shop. As for the shorts and jerseys, clipless pedals, computers... those can wait if you are doing shorter rides. The safety gear can't. Get a spare tube, a pump that mounts on the bike, small tool kit, a water bottle, helmet and gloves and some blinky lights so you will be seen. Also, wear the brightest colors you can. And the most overlooked safety precaution is to check your local bike traffic laws to make sure you are riding in a proper/safe/legal manner before you get out there.

Good luck and let us know how you make out. If you need anything, the TE ladies are here for you.

~X.

[Trek420]

I doesn't hurt when I am riding, it hurts the next day when I get back on. I took a free spinning class and that was even worse. I couldn't ride my bike for the next 3 days :eek: I have tried different seat heights and I think I found the sweet spot but I think I might need one of those saddles with the middle cut out.

Like one of these for sale by a TE'er?

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?p=205601#post205601

[DrBadger]

www.sierratradingpost.com has a HUGE sale going on right now... everything that is on clearence is 70-80% off the retail price, and they have a bunch of bike shorts and some jerseys for $20 or less.... definately worth a look.

Keep a look out and you can get some pretty good deals.

[fikustree]

I live in Austin TX :o

[surgtech1956]

Ebay - I was afraid to ask who buys off Ebay - glad I'm not the only one. There are some excellent bargains on Ebay. I also shop Performance Bicycle, Bike Nashbar, Sierra Trading Post, and REI. I never pay full price.

[mimitabby]

Ebay! that's how I got my bike! and my first pair of shorts.

and LOTS of other stuff.

[madisongrrl]

You can buy a cycling liner short for about $20. They kind of look like boxers with a chamois pad and then you can wear shorts or pants over them. Very comfortable, versatile and economical.

[missymaya]

Ebay Ebay Ebay, that's how I get and sell a lot of my stuff and I'm living on a very small budget. Also, talk to some local riders in your area and they might be able to hook you up with stuff.
Another thing, and I know this is gonna sound kinda silly, but if your birthday comes around or something like that and people ask what you want, go for gift certificates to the LBS that you like. It helped me get some new tires and shorts:)
The people here on this forum are very knowledgeable and can send you to sites that give good deals. Don't be afraid to ask and welcome to the riding world!

[madisongrrl]

Also http://www.bestwebbuys.com/bikes/index.html

[bruiser]

First post- wahoo!

I totally started out buying stuff from REI -other outdoorsy/climbing purchases there made me feel comfortable with being a cycling newbie. Now that I am not so intimidated I have switched more to my LBS. I got my bike on sale for less than $500, and its doing double duty as transportation and recreation :D

I say go for the shorts first. They have saved my butt... Plus, I feel pretty cool wearing them. Definitely boosts my confidence. The last things for me to purchase were jerseys, gloves, and energy thinga-ma-jigs. However, I do wish I had bought the gloves first off (didn't think I could justify them until I started riding more than 10 miles at a time- I was so wrong)!

I say don't sweat the clothes. Who cares what you look like as long as you're having fun and feeling good? You can always upgrade parts/clothes later on, too. I prioritized by fixing the trouble sports (head/helmet!, shorts, shoes/pedals).

I now upgrade after saving up for months!

~V

[Starfish]

Also, really use the For Sale forum right here on TE. Proactively ask for the things you want/need, and let folks know your price range.

Not long ago, I posted there asking if anyone had a certain saddle used that they wanted to sell. A TE member contacted me and said I could have it free for the price of shipping. It would have been a $100 saddle new. It is in great shape, and I love it.

Recently, I had two other saddles I wanted to let go. Because of the generosity of that first TE member, I decided to let them go, also just for the price of shipping, in order to "pay it forward" so to speak.

Ask for what you want and need, and who knows what might come to you! :)

[surgtech1956]

Ebay, Ebay, Ebay. I just bought a pair of Bike Nashbar Thermal Tights for $18.00(includes shipping) - they are like brand new. Also, REI and Campmor.

[onimity]

yes, cycling is definitely expensive. You have some great advice for finding things on a budget. I just want to reiterate that it's not the bike or the gear that makes you a cyclist. Get the things that will make you safe (and don't be shy about telling other cyclists you know what you are looking for...many of us have purchased things and then upgraded later and still have the old ___ sitting around).

And remember that riding a bike that is not the newest/fastest/greatest is a good way to get in great shape. I commute a little over 20 (hilly) miles RT on a heavy mountain bike. I was painfully slow at first but now pass bikes of all sorts (including some really expensive ones!) even loaded down with groceries/books/etc. I just got a road bike and feel like the hills just melt under me.

Good luck and most importantly have fun!
Anne

[kjay]

Fikustree, I have a pair of never-worn biking shorts and several (about three) cycling tops that I will never wear, and the tops (short sleeve mostly) are either new or worn once. You are welcome to have them for nothing. Just contact me via email or private message, and I'll send them to you. I would rather send them to a biker than to take them to Goodwill or someplace like that.

Oh, by the way, they're all sized large or extra-large. I hope that doesn't throw a wrench into this.

kjay




I am kind of struggling with the cycling world. I am poor. I wanted to start riding for exercise and to commute to work. I didn't realize how much fun it was going to be! Now I want to learn all sorts of things about cycling but everything seems very geared towards buying things, taking your bike to get tuned, having computers etc.

Are there any other poor cyclists out there who got a bike from a garage sale and are trying to figure out where to buy cheap cycling shorts? I almost got sick when I went into a bike shop and saw how much they cost. I was thinking maybe I could afford 20$ :eek:

Any tips would be so appreciated. I feel alone.

[latelatebloomer]

Here's Long-lost LLB (we finally got DSL in our slice of the boondocks, so it doesn't take forever & a day to read TE now:D) I, too, am a second-hand Rose in the cycling world. My very darling Giant OCR3 was $200, found the first week I put out word that I was hoping to find a road bike to fit both me and my artist's budget. Trekhawk here at TE sent a better saddle and shorts she had "thinned" out of. Spin instructors have handed me water bottles and socks. The LBS owner who sold me my shoes laughed at my expression when I found out that the cleats weren't included with the shoes. He'd already thrown a used pair in the box. I do watch the Terry & TE sites for good sales - being a large rider, I feel I need the best shorts I can find, and I take comfort in the fact that they hold up well. But beware cheaply made stuff. My Terry full-finger gloves fit like they were custom made and will take a beating. I settled for a pair of fingerless Performance gloves to save money - 1 month later, the seams are already falling apart.

I bet you're gettting pm's with offers of goodies. The world of cycling is full of people with good hearts (and great butts.:p )

[fixedgeargirl]

Fikustree, I'm also in ATX ;) .

My best thrift store tip - look in the men's clothing section. That's where I found my pair of Shebeest shorts. You'd think the brand name would be a tip off :rolleyes: .

I think a lot of thrift store sorters assume that all "active wear" belongs in the men's section. I've found tights and an excellent pair of Pearl Izumi shorts w/ the coveted corduroy-type chamois in the men's section. I don't have much luck finding tops there, as I am pretty petite above the waist, except for the girls :rolleyes: , which leaves me out of shopping tops in the kids section too :p .