Running costs

2Phat4Rapha

Ok a lot of this is subjective and 'ymmv' but having taken up cycling only a couple of years ago I wasn't quite prepared for what I might call 'running costs'. I don't mean 'consumables' such as tyres / brake shoes / elastoplasts etc but chains, sprockets and rings and maybe even bearings and freehub. In two years on a hybrid (mongrel?) I've gone through 3 chains, two cassettes and two front rings ( and a rear rim but we won't count that). I'm parhaps a bit fussier than some and change things out when maybe they've got a few more miles in them but so far I've only done around 6K miles and most of that on tarmac.

So I was wondering whether advice to newbies might be to budget x% of the purchase price of the bike per year on running gear. Out of interest I may still spreadsheet the list prices of the main groupsets (sans any street discounts) but I am curious as to whether higher end lasts significantly longer than entry level. I repeat that I appreciate the subjectivity of all this, road conditions, rider's weight, whether he/she has dandruff etc. But what if we could agree some rules of thumb such as a 90kg bloke averaging 5K miles a year on a road bike?

If you were team mechanic and you had to put in a forecast for spares for the next two years, what sort of intervals would you expect for which components.

eg Top end gear

Chains 1K miles
Cassettes 4Kmiles
Rings 8 K miles
Jockey wheels ...
BB .....
etc

Medium range gear ...
etc

Entry level gear ...
etc

I kinda guess that the figure, say 20% of the purchase price, might be quite similar across bikes from most price ranges. If this can be shown to be so, I think it well worth pointing this out to newcomers to this rather addictive pastime.

Many thanks
2P4R

APIII

I change my chain (Campag Chorus) after about 4k miles or so, before it has stretched to 0.75. A new chain really does make a difference.
I just seem to add to my collection of cassettes every now and then (mix of record and chorus), maybe once a year if that. They all get rotated on a couple of sets of wheels/bikes, so I don't really know how many miles they've done. I've still got a record cassette from years ago that must have about 8k on it, but that's kept as an emergency spare now.
Cables might get changed every other year depending on condition.
Never changed a chainring in my life.

I think higher end parts do last longer. That's why I've never undestood the cheap winter bike thing. Surely winter is when you really need durable parts?

2Phat4Rapha

That's why I've never undestood the cheap winter bike thing. Surely winter is when you really need durable parts?

Good point APIII. I'm beginning to think that a detailed guesstimate is probably not worth it. I just think that lbs could (should?) have pointed stuff like this out when I bought the bike. But then maybe I came across as a cocky know-it-all anyway which wouldn't surprise me!

keef66

Up until now I have maintained my bikes and those of the kids on a replce if it's broken or dangerous basis.

Frequently cleaned and lubricated, my more expensive bikes have remained trouble free and in original condition for years. The mtb is still on it's original chain and bb after 11 years! The only thing that's failed has been a front shifter. The road bike is still in showroom condition after a year of riding

Infrequently cleaned and lubricated, the kids cheaper bikes have required a succession of repairs. Several chains and bottom brackets, rear mech, replacement sprockets, broken rear axle etc.

I suspect if you spend more than £400 on a bike, the components should be pretty durable if you take care of the thing. Buy cheap crap and leave it outside in the snow and expect it to disintegrate sooner or later!

zedders

Most people will always spend money on there bikes regardless. Obviously like you say theres aways general wear and tear but everyone just too different to come up with a figure in %.

I have one mate whos always buying something for his bike. A new chain, cassette etc, but my other mate hasn't brought anything in two years. But they have done roughly the same miles in the past couple of years. I'm somewhere in the middle.

What am doing at the moment though is saving £50 to £100 for the Ribble a month regardless. This seems to see me alright for bits and bobs, clothes, energy drinks, and upgrades as and when.

Not Another Hill

I replace stuff when it breaks. I'm on the second chain, chainrings and cassette (just) after 3 years on my MTB which is now ridden daily as my commute bike. My Focus Cayo has all original bits after about 18 months (6000 miles ish).

Always clean and lubricate pretty regularly. Although this could be down to once a fortnight in the dark depths of winter. I find it's my hydraulic discs that need most attention after a winter of commuting.