I have 2 bikes: a road bike that I used for triathlons in 2008/2009, and a mountain bike for commuting (with road slicks).
Road Bike Costs (3 years)
- Initial purchase (second hand): $600
- Initial upgrades: $600
- Servicing, tyres, cables, brakes, innertubes, puncture kits: $460
- Value if sold: -$400
- Total Costs: $1200
Kilometres travelled:
- 9 months x 100km/week = 4,000 km
Cost per kilometre:
- $1200/4000 = 30c/km
Mountain Bike Costs (6 years)
- Initial purchase (new): $500
- Lights, night gear: $300
- Tyres: $80 x 6 = $480
- Innertubes, puncture kits: $10 x 16 = $160
- Servicing, cables, brakes: $400
- Value if sold: -$100
- Total: $1440
Kilometres travelled:
- 3 years commuting = 50 weeks x 4 days/week x 15km/day = 3000km
- 3 years casual = 150 weeks x 5 days/week x 6km/day = 4000km
- Total: 7000km
Cost per kilometre:
- $1440/7000 = 20.6c/km
Conclusion
- The bicycle running costs overall are $2640/11,000 = 24c per kilometre