15 Ways To Spend Less On Mountain Biking

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Mountain biking is not cheap. You’ll never ‘save’ money as a mountain biker. But you can stop a lot of avoidable spending if you’re canny.

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Author Profile Picture
Hannah Dobson

Managing Editor

I came to Singletrack having decided there must be more to life than meetings. I like all bikes, but especially unusual ones. More than bikes, I like what bikes do. I think that they link people and places; that cycling creates a connection between us and our environment; bikes create communities; deliver freedom; bring joy; and improve fitness. They're environmentally friendly and create friendly environments. I try to write about all these things in the hope that others might discover the joy of bikes too.

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Home › Forums › 15 Ways To Spend Less On Mountain Biking

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Viewing 13 posts - 41 through 53 (of 53 total)
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  • 15 Ways To Spend Less On Mountain Biking
  • 2
    ayjaydoubleyou
    Full Member

    Indeed. And on those occasions they do review stuff from decathlon or the like those who moan still point out they ride in waterproofs made from old carrier bags they collected before the charge came in then sellotaped together and they’re just as good as the decathlon & gore kit in the review, and how come ST don’t review homebrew waterproofs that everyone actually wears.

    clothes! what a waste of money. Youre falling for the industry’s narrative.

    I ride naked with a single aldi sausage roll up my bum to provide warmth at the start, and then a mid-ride snack.

    Posted 1 year ago
    Bez
    Full Member

    I have to say, I never get this advice, you spend a fortune on a bike and yet ride a piece of s*it in the winter

    I don’t get it either. But then I just ride a piece of shit and that’s fine by me. I may not be the target audience here.

    Posted 1 year ago
    whatyadoinsucka
    Free Member

    buy a pinion winter hardtail, big upfront cost but think of all those times you left your bike dirty and chain or BB rusted and no more bent/snapped derailleurs.
    although my mate says the grips are expensive.

    Posted 1 year ago
    1
    LAT
    Full Member

    I’ve noticed an odd arms race – a desire to ride tougher trails (or the same trails but faster) and then an equal and opposite desire to buy ‘trail crushing’ bigger and burlier bikes to pacify them back to the same level of technicality to make them accessible to mere mortals level of rideability

    riding a modern bike fast/on harder trails is safer than old bikes slowly on easy trails, while generating more adrenaline and less terror. they are a sensible purchase

     

    Posted 1 year ago
    1
    LAT
    Full Member

    my suggestion for saving money would be to buy a true single pivot frame. only one pair of bearings to replace and you probably aren’t good enough to need a fancy multi-pivot design.

    (this is intended as lighthearted, btw)

    Posted 1 year ago
    2
    pictonroad
    Full Member

    I’m adamant that it’s washing bikes that kills them quicker. Brush the lumps off, oil the chain and be done.

    Squirting cold water into all the cracks and gaps in components just makes the situation worse. Especially if you’re using a detergent that reduces the surface water tension so it can really properly penetrate. The bikes usually get left in a cold shed with limited draught after washing.

    Not for me. I ride a rigid singlespeed in winter too but I’m old and miserable already.

    Posted 1 year ago
    2
    squirrelking
    Free Member

    riding a modern bike fast/on harder trails is safer than old bikes slowly on easy trails, while generating more adrenaline and less terror. they are a sensible purchase

    If you say so.

    I mean check out the “rack for a Passat” thread. I’ve got a £30 Halfords rack from the 90s that still carries 2 or 3 full sus bikes adequately when needed, but people WANT to spend upwards of a grand getting roof-bars, tow balls, light bars and fancy name branded racks hanging off their cars.

    Way to miss the point, another one that can’t actually read and just spouts whatever shite falls out.

    Posted 1 year ago
    powerbenny
    Full Member

    I wish someone had warned me about the cost of children before I went and had TWO of them <facepalm> What’s even worse than the financial cost of children is the time cost of them. I had to wait until they were five years old before I could enter them into an MTB race and then COVID struck and we missed a load. Just contemplating the 2023 season and working out how to fit in bike races around their Sunday league football that has taken root in their lives. I hate football.

    Posted 1 year ago
    hooli
    Full Member

    +1 for not opening PSA threads.

    Another is don’t pop into your friendly LBS for inner tubes/chain lube etc, I normally leave with anything from a new set of brakes to a whole bike!

    Posted 1 year ago
    kimbers
    Full Member

    car share if you are driving to a location is an obvious one, a trip away for the weekend to wales or scotland the biggest cost is fuel

    Posted 1 year ago
    tobif
    Free Member

    I actually rotate / Swap multiple chains per bike.
    By doing that, I have multiple chains, which work on a “mid-work-out” cassette, A new chain would not work.
    Doing this, I wear out all 2-3 chains, swapping them constantly, and getting 10000km or more out of a cassette on a regular basis

    Posted 1 year ago
    0range5
    Full Member

    I have to say, I never get this advice, you spend a fortune on a bike and yet ride a piece of s*it in the winter leaving your expensive, perfect for winter bike depreciating away in the shed. They’re not an investment, you bought it, just ride and enjoy the damn thing. Maybe buy a cheap £30 bearing press set off ebay so you can freshen up your bike for the dryer months.

    #19: Changing frame bearings is really easy. You can get a bearing press sets off ebay for £30ish that is more than adequate for home mechanics like myself and will make the job of pushing in bearings REALLY easy. It will probably take you the same amount of time to do the job as it’d take to drop your bike to and from the bike shop. You’ll save a wedge of cash and have the satisfaction of working on your own bike. Plus, you don’t need to have a second “winter” bike taking up space. Look at youtube, people have posted great videos re every possible maintenance job.

    Yes!

    Posted 1 year ago
    tall_martin
    Full Member

    Doing this, I wear out all 2-3 chains, swapping them constantly, and getting 10000km or more out of a cassette on a regular basis

    How far do you ride a year? I’ve ridden about 4,000km for the last 3 years spread over 6 bikes.

    I don’t think I’ve got to 10,000km on a bike, never mind a cassette. They have broken, been stolen, sold or retired.

    Posted 1 year ago
Viewing 13 posts - 41 through 53 (of 53 total)
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