Bicycles and frugality seems greatly undermined in the frugal community, no solid comprehensive articles exist in this regard. This thread is an attempt about getting a frugal bicycle and the savings it has on
our lives. I wanted to do this thread for a long time and have been
dealying it. Will slowly do this piece by piece based on the experience I have so far.
By just having a bicycle instead of a car, one can save between 20K to 40K in two years (this is just my rough estimate). Moreover, there are several other advantages to cycling as discussed here:
http://community.stretcher.com/forums/t/807.aspx
In the Book Divorce your Car, the Author describes in great detail
the enormous savings of using a bicycle as opposed to a Car, in the few
instances that a car is needed, one can rent a Can. This situation
however varies for those with children etc., etc., Review of this can be read at Amazon.com
If buying a new Bicycle, buy it towards end of season, where I live this starts around mid july. Plan everything in advance and have backups.
Several who buy bicycles are not sure how to use/maintain them and throw them away or sell them at real low prices. These can be obtained/fixed easily and then profitably used. Here is a site that helps in rebuilding old bicycles:
http://oldroads.com/
Another site on fixing used/vintage Bicycles:
http://www.geocities.com/randyjawa/BicycleRestorationGettingStartedArticle.html
A Whole Bunch of Do It Your Self Bicycle Projects (thanks to bicycling.about.com Guide for this)
http://www.instructables.com/tag/keyword:bicycle/?limit:type:instructable=on&q=bicycle
Frugal Bicycle Touring Article (thanks to bicycling.about.com Guide for this):
http://www.dirtragmag.com/print/article.php?ID=859
Learning Bicycle Mechanics is frugal as these repairs can run more than the cost of the bicycle itself:
http://howtofixbikes.blogspot.com/
Visit a few local bicycle shops and have a few backup plans for repairs that need pros.
Good bicycles are stolen easily. Preventing this is important:
http://howtofixbikes.blogspot.com/2006/08/how-to-prevent-bicycle-theft.html
Bicycle Theft Video:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4237529553314186861&q=bike+steal&hl=en
Several car lubricants can be used for bicycles. For eg.,:
Degreaser, Grease, Chain Lube etc.,
Checkout local library for books on bicycling. Read books on the following topics:
1. General Urban Cycling
2. Long Distance Cycling
3. Bicycle Mechanics
Used Cycle Related Links for reference:
http://charityguide.org/volunteer/fewhours/used-bicycles.htm
http://sheldonbrown.com/diy/index.html
http://sheldonbrown.com/selling.html
http://nbda.com/index.cfm
http://www.cyclingforums.com/t95732.html
http://www.recycledcycles.net/
http://www.nationalbikeregistry.com/proplock.html
http://www.nationalbikeregistry.com/crime.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_infantry
Getting
Tuffy the anti puncture tape, puncture resistant tube/tyre etc., are
all frugal. Flats cost time, energy interms of repair, specially are
not good in remote places, at high sun, rain, on a slope, closer to
dusk etc.,
Having a good basic set of bicycle repair tools, repair stand is frugal.
Some Sites on Bicycle Uses specially in Emergency:
http://www.biketexas.org/content/view/504/71/
http://www.co.gaston.nc.us/GEMSHP/teams/BERT.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_bicycle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_infantry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycling
Join
a local bicycle club, specially one that teaches bicycle repair
courses. Networking with other key cyclists in your area is also frugal.
Good Bicycle Related Links:
http://www.bikely.com/
This site is excellent:
http://www.kenkifer.com/
Dime on the Dollar - Bicycle Trailer
http://www.motherearthnews.com/DIY/1981-07-01/Dime-on-the-Dollar-Bicycle-Trailer.aspx
Usenet Bicycle FAQs
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/bicycles-faq/
Usenet Newsgroups Related to Bicycles:
http://draco.acs.uci.edu/rbfaq/rbnewsgroups.html
Those with experience feel free to add anymore.
Thanks in advance and happy exploration.
Regards,
Vijay
