I like bicycle rides and travelling. Yet, my bicycle is a typical “toy” K-mart mountain bike from when I was a teen. Now, as a young adult I want to get honest in this area biking and work towards touring.
How much would it cost to buy a bike? bicycle clothing, excellent helmet, shoes? Bags and other accessories?
And what would be the total cost? I’m looking for entry level feature products, that is products that are “honest” but not top of the line expensive.
Can I buy everything I need for my first tour for around $1000?
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The least expensive new bike that you can buy that can withstand honest touring would go for around $1100US. That would be a Surly Long Haul Trucker, that is really quite a deal. You could find a used 1980’s steel frame mountain bike and fix it up for this function and save some money. I reckon that even going with used equipment you are going to be hard pressed to get all your equipment for under $2000. Any comfortable helmet will work for you and will probably cost you in this area $50, used really isn’t an selection here. You can use fixed shoes and flat pedals for touring so you don’t need to spend a whole lot of money there. Used panniers might not be a excellent thought either since you really don’t want to be sewing them up on tour, probably $300. Wheels are vital and a place where you shouldn’t skimp, handmade wheels are going to cost you numerous hundreds of dollars, don’t go low-cost there. Excellent tires $100. Tent, sleeping bags, cooking gear, and clothes are probably going to cost you over $500. I would plot on at least $3000. I am not a particularly frugal person. I would rather spend money to eliminate problems down the road. I have probably spent more than that just to do overnighters.
Take your K-mart bike to a shop. Some shops take trade in’s and that could cut down on your cost.
Most entry level road bikes start at 650ish.
These are all “average” prices.
1 jersey: $55
1 spandex small: $35-45
1 helment: $45-55
1 pair of gloves (hand road rash hurts): $15
1 bike computer: $30-35
1 floor pump: $25
1 set of clipless pedals (if you want to go this route): $80-99
1 pair of clipless shoes: $99
Total: Roughly $1000.
But reckon in this area this…if you are considering getting honest in this area this…then you may want to shove out some more money for a more then entry level bike. Most shops offer financing. Because if you get the most basic entry level components you will so tire and want something better and to upgrade your entry level bike would cost you more then if you just bought the next step up in the first place..
Excellent luck! Pleased Riding!
Those are all the really pertient things, also you can add in the cost of any other small things…
The small answer is that it is not possible to buy all of the gear you need for under $1000.00.
How much more you really need to spend depends on the type of touring you want to do.
For example, if you want to be able to go on self-sufficient tours you are going to need a very different kit than to do what some people call credit card tours (pulling out the plastic to stay in hotels and eat in restraunts.)
For self-sufficient touring, you pretty much need it all and you want it light. As you probably know, light and inexpensive are fundmentally incompatible. In any case, you are going to want super, frivolous, backpacking style tent, sleeping bag, stove, cook kit, etc. You’ll need tools, spare tubes, a spare tire, etc. You’ll need changes of clothes, towel, toiletries, etc. Of course, you’ll be hauling food, as well. So, you’ll also want front and rear racks and front and rear panniers to haul your stuff. With this kind of load on your bike, you’ll also want a strong, but frivolous bike…
Staying in hotels and eating prepared food on a credit card tour requires a lot less stuff. No doubt, though, you’ll still have clothes, tools and some food to carry around. Thus, at the very least, you’ll need a rear rack and panniers.
Regardless of the type of touring you want to do, I can say with some certainty you aren’t going to want a K-Mart style mountain bike. Mountain bikes, in general, don’t provide adequate numbers of hand positions. This will lead to fatigue over a multi-day tour. You’ll be much better off with a road type machine with drop bars. A touring rig will have bosses for mounting racks and fenders. Unlike a race oriented bike, it will also have “gentle” geometry that leads to a very stable ride.
I woud expect to budget $2000.00 for a decent feature bike.
Front and rear racks $100-$200.
Front and rear panniers $200-$400.
Helmet $50-$100.
Multi-tool $25.
Tire Irons $5.
Pump $25.
Flashlight $25.
Shorts $50 – $100 each
Jersey $50 – $100 each
Socks $10 each
Rain suit $100.
Backpacking tent $200-$400.
Ground Pad $50-$150.
Backpacking sleeping bag $150-$300.
Backpacking stove and fuel: $100-$200
Cooking/eating gear $25.
Mountain biking shoes (unlike road shoes, these are simple to walk in and are better for touring.) $75-$300.
Mountain biking pedals $50-100.
and, so on…
Keep in mind, many people are willing to lend out camping/backpacking stuff as long as you are responsible and they know you’ll bring it back in excellent shape. So, you don’t have to get everything right now. Also, if you keep an eye on Craigslist you may be able to pick up some excellent used equipment.
Hope this helps.
A Surley Long Haul Trucker runs $985 new, but you know, start hitting the rummage sales and Craigslist for an older steel frame or cromoly bike, and if you do some research and learn your bikes, you might be able to pick up a excellent deal used for $400 or less.
My husband and I long distance tour all the time–we live in Chicagoland and are plotting on a touring trip through northern California–next month.
First time we went touring though, we didn’t have any special clothes or gear or anything, mainly because we originally had just set out on an afternoon ride and just kept going. A few days shortly we’d ridden across the state to the Mississippi River. Over again, no gear, just plastic. My husband did have a seat post rack and bag with a repair kit and couple small items, but you know, you wash out your clothes in the hotel sink at night, roll them in towels and sit on them for a while to help dry them out, and then hang and hope they’re dry sufficient to wear comfortably for the next morning’s ride.
Sometimes we carry a trailer and camp, but frequently we just “credit card camp”, whipping out our plastic when we stop at a hotel for the night. We also naturally preplan our tour, and fedex clean clothes to the hotel in advance, shipping the dirty ones back home.
For your first tour, depending on how far and how many days, credit card camping might be a more cost effective way to go, especially when you consider that if you plot on staying at campgrounds, well, a site now usually costs a minimum of $20, while you can usually find a cheapee hotel room for just a few dollars more–where you’re be assured of a cozy, dry roof, hot shower, towels and comfy bed with actual sheets! All kind of nice after a grueling day’s ride.
This way you’d also be able to better determine whether you delight in touring sufficient for it to be worth the money investing in the proper panniers, camping gear, including feature tent, sleeping bag, pad, cook stove, mess kit, etc.
Seatpost rack and bag would probably hold sufficient for a change of clothes and some rain gear and emergency repair tools–all of which probably wouldn’t set you back more than $100. Riding clothes will run a small more, but you might want to check e-bay or other on-line stores. Nearly any helmet will do, but the more expensive ones weigh less and have better air flow, which really does make a difference when it’s been on your head for 8 hours in 100+ degree weather.
For a full touring kit, including panniers and camping gear, $2,000 is probably more realistic, although you can easily spend far more. And at the same time, you can tour with very small as well.
Hope to see you on the road!