Andre the Giant

7/6/2018


Hello Reader,


Thank you again for stopping by! Today I wanted to go into detail on how much I have spent on buying a bicycle and getting it ready for commuting to work.


First of all let me introduce you to "Andre the Giant". It's a Giant Yukon 19.5 inch frame, with road tires.

I picked it up on Offer Up for $60. The first thing that I had to do was get a helmet, and a tire pump; picked up from Walmart for $40. Then I got fenders and luggage rack for $20 off of Offer Up. Bought panniers from Back Country for $65. Needing a whole new gearset I decided to try to change ratios, but I found that clearance for the larger front gears is an issue (however I guess it doesn't matter that much for now, I can't even stay in my highest gear on relatively flat ground). The lower bracket bearing didn't spin freely, so I bought one of those and the tool to go with it; $40. Chain was stretched out, New chain:$15. Went to Recycled Cycles in Seattle and found a used gearset that will work: $10. Chain link pliers $15.

Cost of getting this bike ready to commute 100 miles/week:

Used bicycle off of Offer Up:        $60

Tire pump & helmet:        $40

Used Fenders and Luggage Rack:        $20

New Panniers from Backcountry:        $65

Used front gearset:        $10

Lower bracket bearing and tool:        $40

New Chain and chain pliers:        $30

Total Cost of starter bike:      $265

    If I wanted to get started for cheaper I could have continued to use a backpack and cut out the luxury panniers, fenders, luggage rack and the fancy new tire pump and a used helmet. The total would have been closer to $140.

    Through a few videos on Youtube and some elbow grease I now have a commuting bicycle. The first 200 miles over the last couple of weeks have proven this set up to being reliable.

Hopefully this helps out someone trying to figure out what it would really take to start commuting to work equipment and price point wise.

Until next time keep the rubber side down,

The Diesel Cyclist