Hobo moments

DonDaddyD

This month I forked out around £500 fixing my car and a little more on top going to a mates wedding. Needless to say I had to postpone any tyre upgrades on the Kharma and fixing my commuter.

Things have gotten so desperate that I'm down to my last spare inner tube and instead of using it and buying a new one I decided to cannibalise the tube from my other bike (my commuter) and use it on my Kharma.

I then thought more on this and instead of buying my much wanted Attack/Force tyres, I simply salvaged my 4 season rear tyre and GP4000s front tyre from my commuter and put them on my Kharma to create my very own budget Attack/Force tyre set up (thicker back tyre, thinner front).

Never have I been so skint in a month and so resourceful… the result however was amazing, its amazing how a good set of tyres can improve a bike, even if they are used and the thread is starting to wear away…

So what hobo moments have you had with your bikes when the costs have gotten too much?

il_principe

DonDaddyD wrote:

So what hobo moments have you had with your bikes when the costs have gotten too much?

None as I'm not daft enough to own a car - living as I do in Central London. Streetcar or hiring works out far cheaper for me leaving cash to lavish on my bikes.

Cafewanda

Harsh

gtvlusso

My life has just turned Hobo with the arrival of another sprog in February.....No more bikes and 1 old sh1t car (although we could buy a new one, I refuse to on principle that it should last 250,000 miles)

Cafewanda

but think of the years of joy sprog will bring you. Far superior to bike surely?

and remember sprog gets to choose your nursing home :twisted:

UndercoverElephant

gtvlusso wrote:

My life has just turned Hobo with the arrival of another sprog in February.....No more bikes and 1 old sh1t car (although we could buy a new one, I refuse to on principle that it should last 250,000 miles)

Please tell me it's not an Alfa you're hoping will reach a quarter of a million? :shock:

gtvlusso

All Alfa's are now gone - BMW....better reach 250k!

My other sprogs (don't ask!) can pay for the nursing home!

PinkPedal

Last winter I looked like an actual hobo on my bike as I was on a super strict budget saving for 3 holidays (Rome, New York and 2 weeks boarding in Canada = £££££) and I didn't have any winter cycling specific clothes other than the hi viz rain jacket.

So, I wore: random 'outdoor' trousers which had been in the charity shop donations bag over my cycling shorts tucked into socks (pink natch) or snowboard socks sometimes with a pair of tights underneath with my trainers and my summer gloves with a normal pair of woolly winter gloves over them. On top, combination of camping fleeces and snowboarding thermals. Stylish :shock: :shock: :oops:

I used to cycle home from uni late at night past a soup kitchen and am suprised I didn't often get offered a bowl!

Still cost for winter bike clothes = nil. I commuted virtually everyday in this combo.

This year I am eyeing up some nice 2XU compression tights and anticipate being fully coordinated (tarted?) for winter.

itboffin

Well there was this one time back when I was young...

Oh wait you said hobo

Carry one

Simon the Pieman

A hobo once sang the theme tune to byker grove as I went past him. When I say sing I of course mean shouted the words BYKER GROVE BYKER GROVE BYKER GROVE in a very loud manner whilst pointing at me. He did look at bit like Spuggy as well.

Bugly

Cafewanda wrote:

but think of the years of joy sprog will bring you. Far superior to bike surely?

and remember sprog gets to choose your nursing home :twisted:

Cant ride a sprog mate

desweller

DonDaddyD wrote:

Things have gotten so desperate that I'm down to my last spare inner tube and instead of using it and buying a new one I decided to cannibalise the tube from my other bike (my commuter) and use it on my Kharma.

I patch my tubes.

I guess that makes me a hobo judging by this!

cyberknight

Permanent Hobo mode for the last 6 months and for another 6 the way things are £400 a month short in wages due to short time .

have been skanking stuff off freecycle to sell at carboots so we have money for food by the end of the month.Cant afford to pay the mortgage so we are on interest only and relatives had to pay the car loan off ( the wife uses the car as we have a 2 year old ) .

Game i play online instead of watching tv cost me £8 a month , kindly paid for by a friend from the game who i do not know IRL.

Mrs cuts my hair ie skinhead buzz cut to save money at the barbers

As for bikes hobo moments i scavenged parts off 2 bikes i got on freecycle for brake pads and inner tubes and eyeing up the wheels as emergency spares :P


Do i qualify ? :P

Bhima

DesWeller wrote:

DonDaddyD wrote:

Things have gotten so desperate that I'm down to my last spare inner tube and instead of using it and buying a new one I decided to cannibalise the tube from my other bike (my commuter) and use it on my Kharma.

I patch my tubes.

+1

One of my innterubes has been patched about 20 times now. In theory, it's stronger than a new one. I just keep patching until the valve becomes weak and breaks - even then, it's sometimes possible to fix them!