Timeline for What is cheaper, to walk or to cycle?
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
16 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
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| Oct 24, 2019 at 16:57 | comment | added | Erik B | @idestlaborum I've read that a cassette should outlast 3 chains and that the chainrings should outlast 3 cassettes. I haven't worn a drivetrain enough to verify if that's true, but the consensus of the internet definitely seem to be that chainrings last longer than cassettes. I just read about a guy that got 12k miles out of his cassette by rotating 4 chains, swapping them every 500 miles. Although that guy was replacing his large chainring at the same time as his cassette. I don't know if that was out of necessity or precaution, though. | |
| Oct 24, 2019 at 15:01 | comment | added | Chris H | @cmaster I've done almost that on marathon plus, but on marathon supreme the inner layer of rubber is thinner. But the latter are much faster and almost as tough against punctures | |
| Oct 24, 2019 at 13:45 | comment | added | cmaster - reinstate monica | @ChrisH That depends on the tire's brand. The puncture proof tires that I use can be ridden down until the protector comes through... | |
| Oct 24, 2019 at 13:45 | comment | added | David D | This guy claims he gets 350 miles out of a pair of hiking socks. keithfoskett.com/gear-test-1000-miles-on-a-pair-of-socks Over 10,000 miles that's 28 pairs of socks (rounding down). At $5/pair that's $140. However - brake pads should be added to the bike side. | |
| Oct 24, 2019 at 13:40 | comment | added | Fing Lixon | Add a bottle or two of lube and some rags to your budget, and I expect you'll get significantly more than 2500mi out of a chain. Also, if you anticipate replacing your cassette because of chain spacing issues then you should also expect to replace your chain rings at the same time. | |
| Oct 24, 2019 at 12:22 | comment | added | Chris H | @cmaster the last tyre I replaced due to wear was pretty slick to start with, but still had some pattern when the threads started puncturing tubes. That took some finding | |
| Oct 24, 2019 at 11:06 | comment | added | cmaster - reinstate monica | @VladimirF Yes, the tread of a road/trecking tire will be completely gone by the time they get too thin from wear. However, tread is largely irrelevant for a road/trecking bike: With tires larger, thinner, containing much more pressure, and running at much lower speeds than car tires, aquaplaning is a non-issue for a bike. Grip while cornering is an issue, but that requires a very fine tread on the flanks of the tire, not water-channeling tread. A good bike tire is made of a rubber that has good grip in corners even without any tread. So, I run my tires down until they are perfect slicks. | |
| Oct 24, 2019 at 10:01 | comment | added | Dan K | If I used the figures that I paid for my cycling equipment then walking would be a lot cheaper, it's an unanswerable question as everyone has individual needs | |
| Oct 24, 2019 at 9:00 | comment | added | Erik B | @mattnz Google suggested 300-500 miles, which is consistent with my own experience. I do not doubt that 1000-1500 miles is attainable with the right shoes, but it wasn't with mine. The price and quality range of shoes is quite wide, so I tried to find a decent average. I was more concerned with the way my shoes looked than what mileage they would give me, but if you don't care about looks and just want to optimise cost, you can definitely walk for much cheaper. On the other hand you can also buy a much cheaper bike. | |
| Oct 24, 2019 at 9:00 | comment | added | Vladimir F Героям слава | @cmaster Many tyres will have their thread worn long before reaching 10k km. Some people will swap front and rear but putting a worn tyre where most breaking happens is asking for trouble. | |
| Oct 24, 2019 at 7:36 | comment | added | cmaster - reinstate monica | @mattnz 10 000 km is the lower boundary I expect my tires to go without puncture, and it's the boundary that I use for replacing some security critical parts. But most parts of a bike can last much much longer. I would never throw away a bike after just 10 000 km. | |
| Oct 24, 2019 at 6:30 | comment | added | Chris H | Overall a good attempt at answering the unanswerable though. And don't forget a decent lock | |
| Oct 24, 2019 at 6:30 | comment | added | Chris H | ... I'd be more concerned with the time cost: bikes are faster but walking a little more reliable (very little with the right tyres). Does this affect your life in any meaningful way, e.g. if you get home a bit earlier so cook instead of getting a takeaway, just once a week, that will dominate the calculation, but if getting home earlier means you go to the pub once a week or will go the other way. | |
| Oct 24, 2019 at 6:27 | comment | added | Chris H | @mattnz it includes the full purchase price of the bike doesn't it? So complete depreciation over the length of the calculations. Considering depreciation would make the 10 mile figure look better as the bike would have resale value then. The difference in cost of capital is negligible if you have enough savings to get started, given interest rates - and if you don't, you can buy a second hand bike. | |
| Oct 24, 2019 at 2:09 | comment | added | mattnz | Failed to account for cost of capital and full depreciation of the bike (A bike that has 10k km is practically worthless no matter how well maintained it is). Should also show where you get the figures for durability of bike components. Walking shows will last 1000 - 1500 miles (drpribut.com/sports/walkingshoe_fit.html) meaning you need pairs 7-10 of shoes ($200- $300 total). | |
| Oct 23, 2019 at 23:38 | history | answered | Erik B | CC BY-SA 4.0 |