Who can afford this

[DDH]

Okay, I don't mean to whine or complain, but my goodness! I was looking online today to try to find some biking shorts and good lord most are 50 dollars or more.
I still have some of my old ones I use to wear when we rode many years ago, but not sure they fit.
Thought I would buy some new ones to start my new start in getting healty but don't think that is happening. Not right now anyway. I am a SAHM and my husband works lots of overtime now to help make ends meet and have a little extra. Dont' think he is going to go for me spending that kind of money on exercise apperal ecspecially not just starting out.

How do you girls afford to buy these things. I mean the shirts and stuff, I can just wear my t-shirts, but the shorts with the padding are almost just essential. Ecspecially for a big girl like me. I don't want to get started trying to lose weight and then get chaffed or sore and then not want to go anymore.
Okay, enough complaining. I'll just have to deal with what I have.
If any of you know of somewhere you can get this stuff used or something that would be great. I live in a small town with only 1 little bike shop and they dont have a lot of extra's just bikes, helmets and things, not much clothing.
While I am asking. Do they make a helmet you can put your pony tail through so you don't have all that hair up against your neck.

[Kitsune06]

Start-up costs are the worst, and after that... how much you spend depends primarily on your style and needs. Things are just rediculously expensive, though. My plan (which has served fairly well) mostly consists of only buying things that will work for a long period of time, and from there, pretty much making do. Shopping at pricepoint.com helps a lot, and also buying off-season... but besides that, some of the other ladies have some better pointers.

[makbike]

Donna:

Have you checked E-bay for shorts and tops? Might be worth a search.

Marcie (makbike)

[witeowl]

One word: froogle. (OK, actually froogle.google.com (http://froogle.google.com). Put in your search term, search, and then the key: select "sort by price: low to high".

(Another key: make sure that the description specifies that the shorts are padded! I found a lot of shorts for under $20, but most didn't mention padding. No thanks!)

Other than that, some people may disagree with me, but I have yet to find a reason to stick with women's cycling shorts. If you find men's cycling shorts on sale, go for it!

[KSH]

www.performancebike.com

Has some shorts on sale. A pair that would have cost me $55 in store were only $40.

It can be expensive starting, but if you can get one good pair, you can keep washing them... one pair is enough.

[Kano]

I got some REI brand shorts at REI last year about this time for like $19 on sale -- not fancy by any means, but a good start! They also have some like, bike boxers -- for under other shorts that are like $25. That's a help too!

Karen in Boise

[Brandy]

It's hard when you first start up. I'm a SAHM also and I feel some guilt about spending so much money to get started...I'm finally to the point where I don't think I have anything else to buy for the moment. No advice, just commiseration.

[Bad JuJu]

Also check out Sierra Trading Post--I've gotten some terrific bargains there!

[KnottedYet]

When I started cycling and buying cycling clothes I got EVERYTHING from Nashbar. They clearance a lot of their house brand for very very cheap, and the rest of their stuff is pretty reasonably priced.

Just opened to the first page of the women's clothes in the latest catalog and on this page are 2 pair of $19.99 padded shorts and a pair of $16.99 padded shorts. The most expensive shorts on this page are $34.99.

www.nashbar.com

[eclectic]

To feed my cycling habit I do odd jobs or sell unneeded items and dedicate the money to whatever I need.

I teach full time to pay the bills but being a single parent w/ 2 college age kids there isn't a lot of discresionary income

My Spare income raisers:
-I teach 8 week session night classes for 3 hours per week a few times a year
-I do supervised visitation monitoring randomly for 2 hours at a shot (usually 1 or 2 per month)
-Take inventory for a variety of retail outlets (I just let the inventory company know when I am available and see if there is any thing open) hours on this one varies alot

I then spend this money as I please.

I can understand it is harder with kids at home because then babysitting fees come into play. However, I can think of different things I would do as a stay home mom to raise a little change for things.

A couple of ideas:

-tutor for regular students or english as a second language
-shopper for the elderly (do this when you do your own)
-Emergency babysitter (when the sitter backs out at the last minute) I guess laws do vary on this from state to state - here you don't have to be licensed
-Data input for online programs (college)

Just some suggestions, hope you can get the gear you need (and not feel guilty about it):) AND Christmas will be here! and birthday and mothers day, get your list out there :D

[Rai Sue]

i always check the sale racks. I got, for example, a pearl izumi rain jacket at my pricey LBS for $20 marked down from 100. (maybe b/c it's the summer and it's not that rainy right now in California)

i don't usually like to get stuff like this online, b/c i like to try stuff on. I did, however, just get some nice Boure pants off of their own discount site. Stuff changes, so it's good to check (they have a total return policy, too): http://boure.com/wadesworld/stuff.html

[RoadRaven]

The only pair of shorts we have bought at full price have been the local club shorts we needed for a competition.

ALL other shorts we have not bought from local shops, but rather from the internet when the sales are on.
Of course, being in Middle Earth we have an advantage.
Three of the major internet-shops we use are based in America or England... so when their summer sales are on... its summer here, right when we need new shorts and short sleeved jerseys... and in winter sales we buy just as we begin our winter.

With four (almost five) racing people in this house, its a matter of necessity as much as anything - if we bought the clothes at full price we would never be able to afford the bikes!

Mak suggested E-bay... worth a look, we use "TadeMe" which is the NZ premium auction site, and we have picked up excellent equipment and clothing at bargain prices.
For example... from TradeMe... I have two pairs of shoes, they cost NZ$12 and NZ$8...
We bought a bundle of shorts and jerseys of assorted sizes and either never worn or barely worn for about NZ$50...

Be a bargain hunter... it means you have more money for upgrading your purty bike and components...

[Nanci]

DDH, I think you'd have to lose a LOT of weight for the shorts to get to the chafing point. Mine fit me (seemingly the same as always) after I lost 35 pounds.

I only have one pair of the $$$ ones- I sure can't afford more. Watch for sales, watch eBay, watch Sierra Trading Post, watch the TE sale page and the Terry clearance pages, shop using Froogle. You can catch the item you want for 50% off sometimes.

Nanci

[crazycanuck]

DDH

Don't think you HAVE to have all the goodies when just starting out. For about a year we only had one pair of mtb shorts, shirt, helmet & shoes.

We still have one pair of shoes & one helmet each.

The main thing is enjoying biking before spending gazillions of dollars on items you won't use. Purchase items you need & at a reasonable price-every couple of months.

C

[DDH]

Well, luckily my shorts still fit me. I have gained but I guess not enough to keep me from being able to get into the bad boy. Thank God for strechy material. LOL The padding is not that great in them anymore. They were getting old before I quit riding before. They will do for now though.
I still have all my old gear for the bike. I have the lights, helmet, gloves and I even have a bag that fits on the back for those days I might want to take longer rides. Of course that is down the road a ways.
I will watch for the sales like you girls suggested. I have looked at a lot of these sites and most of them that I have seen do not have the shorts in a size I need. I use to wear an XL, but according to the size charts I now need an XXL and most of them don't even have that size. ARRRGGGG
Do they think fat people don't ride or what? LOL
Oh, well, I will watch for the XL's to be on sale and by a pair or two and wear them when I lose weight. Hows that for enthusiasm? LOL

[Bikingmomof3]

DDH,
I too am a SAHM. I have 3 teen boys who suck all the extra money out of the house. Their needs come before mine. I am new to biking, which means I have close to nothing by way of equipment. Just the bare essentials. Everything else goes on a wish list. I will be building up quite slowly. I figure this will give me time to learn more about my likes and dislikes, read other reviews on items and practice, practice, practice. Oh, I am also a huge sale shopper.

[Veronica]

I like you tag line, BM3. It gets attributed to both Socrates and Aristotle.

I use a similar phrase with my students about responsibility.

V.

[Bikingmomof3]

Thank you, V.

[luv'nAustin]

No worries about needing a special helmet for pony tails, any helmet should work. I wear a pony tail every time I ride and it just sticks out the bottom of my shell. Sometimes if I get the band up a little high I might have to give it a tug and pull it a little lower so the band is outside of the helmet. It is very comfortable and I get plenty of air on my neck while I ride.

[Bad JuJu]

Thank God for strechy material. LOL

Because of that stretchy fabric, you may find you can already wear some XL size shorts. I routinely find that I wear a size smaller in bike shorts than in my other shorts, so if you go ahead and get a pair of XLs now if you find them on sale, you may be pleasantly surprised. :)

Also, more good news--there's some cycling wisdom that suggests that we should wear the smallest size shorts we can squeeze our patoots into, since that prevents there being any little bit of loose material to snag on the saddle nose or anywhere else. So squeeze away. :D

[Veronica]

You also don't have to have a cycling jersey for riding. I often don't wear an actual cycling jersey. The only difference between a cycling jersey and a fitness top is pockets. And I HATE to have stuff in the pockets!

I have gotten some great fitness tops at LL Bean and Patagonia from their On Sale selections, usually at less than half price. And you can wear them for other things. I wore one to a party the other night because it was black and sleeveless and looked good with my skirt. :p

Fitness tops are more comfortable than cotton Ts because they wick the sweat better.

V.

[Kano]

Also, more good news--there's some cycling wisdom that suggests that we should wear the smallest size shorts we can squeeze our patoots into, since that prevents there being any little bit of loose material to snag on the saddle nose or anywhere else. So squeeze away. :D


Oh I HATE when that happens! I don't know about buying a smaller pair of shorts, though.....

Karen in Boise

[tulip]

Just remember, your body touches your bike in only three places--butt, feet, and hands. I find it a good investment to protect those, in that order. Poorly made, poorly fitting shorts are no fun and not worth the $25 spent on them. I buy one pair of Pearl Izumi shorts per year, and they last 4 years. After 4 years, they get a bit transparent, but I still wear them with regular shorts over them. PI's label indicates the year. When mine get too "showy" I mark them with a laundry pen so I don't mistakenly wear them without regular shorts. The chammy's still good! I buy one pair of good cycling shoes every 10 years--my Shimano shoes lasted 10 years, and I replaced them last year. Gloves are not that big a deal (important, but not expensive)

The other thing I spend money on is a HELMET and I replace it every three years (I ride 30 miles per day commuting, so I sweat alot). I don't look at the price, I just buy the one that fits the best. It happens to be a Bell Ghisallo, which is $100, but if I was happy with the $40 helmet, I would buy it. If I crash, I replace it immediately after the crash. This has only happened once, and the helmet broke in three places--better the helmet than my head. They do make helmets with ponytail holes, but I can't remember the name if it (Bell model, I think).

I don't know how far you are riding, but the essentials for me are a helmet and good shorts. If you don't have clipless pedals, sneakers will work for shorter rides. Gloves can be found for cheap. Invest in the important things and don't fritter away on the non-essentials. Eventually, you will build up a collection by finding out where the deals are to be had.

[Aggie_Ama]

Since your profile says Central Texas.... Try Academy. They usually have the Insport shorts for fairly cheap. I have a mens pair and they aren't anything special, but definitely better than not wearing bike shorts.

You don't have to have a jersey. You could get a moisture wicking shirt at Academy or Target for pretty cheap. It would minimize your costs and maximize your comfort.

[li10up]

I also live in CenTx and I bought my first shorts at Academy. They had Canari shorts for less than $30. Velowear.com has some close-out jerseys for like $20 bucks. Good quality too.

[limewave]

Since we've had to start paying for day care, we've become poor. Not to mention the 70 mile one-way commute to work with the ever rising gas prices. Man, I would LOVE to be able to ride to work . . . but that's another thread.

Anyways, we've become buddies with a local sport store owner and we barter. I do graphic design work for in-store credits. And then his wife needed a road bike and we just happened to have one for sale (not that I condone selling old bikes, but we have 9 bikes for just 2 of us) . . . now we have a burley and a kelty back pack.

I know not everyone can barter, but sometimes a little creative thinking can get you over those financial hurdles.

[roshelleuop]

Hi DDH!!!

Here is my quick 2 cents, it's a GREAT idea to look for clearence and sale items as I am doing it constantly, just do it carefully! Make sure you are really getting a good deal and not a crappy pair of shorts.
:D :D :D :D :D
My lesson learned was when I found a $25 pair of Nike biking shorts. I figured Nike was a pretty good brand, the padding was pretty nice, and they were cheap, so I went with it thinking it was a good deal. After getting them home and wearing them for only a month, I realized the padding was already starting to rip out of the shorts and the waist band had already starting ripping on one side.
:D :D :D :D :D
I then had to go back and buy another pair of shorts. So in the end, I wish I would have just spent the little bit extra money to get the nicer pair. Just last week I found a pair of touring pearl izumi women's shorts on sale for $45. I absolutely LOVE them!!!! and I know they will last me hundreds of miles! Just be patient when looking, it will pay off in the end!!! Happy riding!!!!
:D :D :D :D :D
Roshelle from Wisconsin!!!

[ChainsOflove]

I have some terry xxl's that I don't need anymore, they are too big for me. They are somewhat worn but still plenty usable.

Let me know if you want them. They are made of dryline and not hot at all, they come down just past the knee.

[Bluetree]

Here's a trick I use to get things that are too expensive at the stores...

I sell things on Ebay. Not big things, mind you, but little things that people can use that I no longer have use for. They may be clothes that no longer fit, baby items, past gifts from people that I'd never use, old comic books, baby clothes, etc. They may only net me a few dollars apiece, but I keep it up somewhat regularly.

Every once in a while, I check my PayPal account and lo and behold... I've accumulated a couple hundred dollars! I take that amount and put it right back into shopping on Ebay. I've purchased bike shorts that I would have thought were way to expensive at the retail stores, not to mention handbags, shoes etc.

It may not be a quick fix, but it does add up, and it does clean out the closets!

[spokewench]

Sometimes you can get good discounts on www.sportsbasement.com

[emily_in_nc]

Bluetree, I was just going to post the suggestion about selling on ebay, but you beat me to it. I too use ebay sales to finance my own ebay purchases (often for bike gear and clothing!) I sell clothes that don't fit right or just aren't "me", household items in good condition, gifts that don't suit me, bike gear and apparel that didn't work out (recently made $175 selling a pair of Speedplay Zero titanium pedals I just couldn't get clipped into, and since I am not riding on the road right now, didn't have the incentive to keep trying), stuff of my husband's, etc. It's amazing how much excess stuff most of us have that's so much clutter, but one gal's trash can be another's treasure!

Emily

[winddance]

Too true, Emily. I paid for over half of my bike by selling stuff I don't use on ebay. That's definitely what I'd recommend for anyone who is trying to make some spare cash...especially since you can transfer your PayPal money to your bank account and then go spend it wherever you need/want to!

When I was in college, ebay bought my groceries. ;)