We all know cycling can get expensive. Here are our 10 money saving tips.
1. Take Care of Your Bike Yourself
For major overhauls or big repairs, take your bike to your local bike shop—but do the little stuff yourself. Doing your own bike maintenance can help you save money and develop pride in your most prized two-wheeled possession.
2. Skip Expensive Winter-Specific Riding Gear
Instead of buying a full set-up of winter riding apparel, utilize cold-weather clothing you already own. For instance, wear a pair of running tights over summer-weight bibshorts as a substitute for bibtights. Or use duct tape to cover vent holes in your cycling shoes instead of purchasing shoe covers.
3. Sign Up Early for Races or Events
Avoid late or day-of registration fees for races and events by signing up ahead of time. You’ll have a little extra cash in your pocket—not to mention the extra motivation that comes with making a financial commitment. To save even more, offer to volunteer your time in exchange for a comp entry.
4. Look for Discounted Gear
Newsflash: You don’t have to pay retail for your gear closet; a little online searching can offer up big savings. You can regularly find online discounts on basic items such as tubes, chain lube, bar tape, ride food, and apparel. For secondhand gear, Bikehub, Gumtree and local Facebook trading groups abound. Just make sure you know what you are looking for—and what you’re getting. When in doubt, pay a little extra for the benefit of your local bike shop’s expert advice on a potential purchase.
The best part? When you’re ready to upgrade to a new cycling kit or set of rims, you can sell your old cycling gear, too, and make money to apply toward new toys.
5. Make Your Own Ride Food
No doubt bars and gels are a handy way to get fuel into your body during long rides, but they’re also expensive, and sometimes not very tasty. Instead, balance the grocery budget by making your own on-bike eats. Stuff a PB&J in your jersey pocket, carry a bag of raisins and almonds, or even cook up homemade energy bars. There are lots of good recipes on the Internet. Just remember not to experiment with new food on the day of a race or big event. Nothing wrecks a ride quicker than a grumpy stomach.
6. Organize Your Own Training Camp
We’d all love to get professional coaching during the lead-up to a big race or ride. But you can save some coin by planning your own pre-event preparation with a makeshift training camp. Start by learning everything you can about the demands of your goal event. Then slowly work toward being able to replicate that effort in training. Come race day, you’ll be physically—and mentally—ready for the challenges ahead.
7. Become a Brand Ambassador
Love a certain cycling company’s bikes or gear, but can’t afford to pay retail? Find out if it has a brand ambassador program, where chosen candidates often receive discounts or even free product in exchange for spreading goodwill.
8. Join a Cycling Team or Club
Besides the social benefits of a cycling club (group training rides, post-season parties, skills clinics, caravans to events), members often are availed access to favorable pricing on clothing, gear, and sometimes even complete bikes. Most local bike shops sponsor a team or club. Also check the website of your area’s local racing association to find lists of cycling groups and contact information.
9. Closely Follow Instructions for Cycling Apparel Care
Don’t just toss you cycling kit in the washer and dryer with the rest of your clothes. Instead, get maximum life and performance from your skintight apparel by closely following care instructions, which often recommend using gentle detergent, cold water, and low (or no) dryer heat. Rain jackets will stay waterproof longer. Jerseys and bibshorts will maintain shape. Even socks and caps benefit from a little TLC.
10. Finance your new bike
Yonda Bike provides affordable finance to ease the cash burden of buying a new bike. With bike prices nowadays, our money is under pressure. Financing your bike can ease the strain on your capital, spreading the payments on your new bike. This leaves you money to invest in races, or even other areas of your life. More at http://www.yonda.co.za/