I didn't own a car when I bought my bike and I rode it most 10-15 miles most every day for 2 years. Now 5 years later I still ride it at least twice a week, and the only replacements I have needed to do is 1 set of pedals, and the usual tire stuff.
I had a huffy bike (walmart style) that lasted 10 years of heavy riding, before it was stolen. Replaced it with a $200 restored 80's Raleigh road bike that I got by a side-of-the-highway bike shop.
Never really understood the masses that go to a shiny hipster bike shop and pay $700-1000 for a brand-new basic commuter. There are so many used bikes out there that need loving owners.
One of the main advantages of buying used bikes is that people actually used to build bikes properly so they last 43 years with all stock parts.
$200 for a decent bike might be a stretch, but $300 definitely gets you in that range.
They buy them at the little shops.
> and lack of overall consumerism.
Feature, not bug.
It needs front and rear lights, fenders, chain guard, and likely a built-in lock. It also needs to be able to stand up to being outside in the rain for long periods of time.
While a bike in the US, used only for sunny days and by people who aren't wearing office clothes, and which is stored in the garage or basement, doesn't have the same requirements.
I love the trickle down effect in bicycling. I got my 2001 Trek 5200 for ~ $1000. The components are a bit behind, but I'd be happy to ride the carbon-fiber frameset for the next 10 years!
I wear my helmet mostly because of safety, but also because it is a bit like having a towel when traveling, police think you are a serious biker and never stop you.
+1 funny
I've never heard of chains slipping teeth, most notably because it would need to slip all teeth in contact at once (8-20 of them).
If you are having your chain slip off, you need to adjust your deraileur.
I have experience with this. Changed a freewheel on a bike, but not the chain, which was stretched. 11 months (!) later, the freewheel was garbage.
Measure your chain with an old style American ruler (with 'inches'). Twenty links should be exactly 10 'inches'. [0] If it's 1/8" 'inch' longer, replace the chain. If it's 3/16 'inch' longer, replace the rear cogs and the chain both. Consider replacing the front chain rings, too, especially if the chain is longer or they're made of aluminium.
A stretched chain ruins gears. Ruined gears will ruin a new chain, too. Proper maintenance fixes both problems. New quality chains cost about US$10-15.
[0] Wikipedia says one 'inch' is 2.54 centimeters, if you believe that.
My most recent experience with new-chain/old-cluster was that the chain skipped a tooth three times per pedal revolution! Replaced gears, problem solved.
To go buy the new gears, I first had to temporarily put back the old chain, to make the bike ridable. :)
Adjusting the derailleur can help; in particular the "B tension" adjustment to get the jockey wheel to track the gear cluster more closely for more wrap. However, if it's that bad, it won't help.
I have decent experience adjusting derailleurs. Even taking apart the non-adjustable ones and drilling holes in new places to change spring tensions.
> 8-20 of them
You're not going to get 8 teeth of contact on an 11 tooth cog, nor 20 teeth of contact on a 26 tooth ring.
I still wouldn't consider a cassette something you should change as a matter of regular maintenance. Certainly not as often as a chain. I've had cassettes last through multiple wheelsets.
Other than Reddit style white knighting why did you say this?
You are basically defaulting to the OP is to stupid to know helmets are one use only, which is common knowledge.
This is a post intended to tell people to wear helmets in the first place. I don't think the target audience is likely to be aware of that tidbit either.
Personally I'm a firm believe people who assume others are stupid without proof are the real stupid ones.
It was white knight style, lets get karma and pretend OP is to dumb to look after themselves, I'll be the hero and give them condensing advice.
No mention of helmet reuse was in the original post at all.
Completeness is a Good Thing, it's unclear why you're bent out of shape about it.
Also, get a better bicycle for commuting; chains should not break after a few weeks. This shows that the bicycle had been heavily used, or is an ancient rust bucket, and may be a "bicycle shaped object" to begin with.
I carry a Park chain linkpin press tool for opening and closing chain links. Though occasions for using that on the road are rare if the chain is well-maintained and replaced regularly, not long ago I had a fairly new chain derail off the front ring, and by some unfortunate combination of events get itself into a tight kink which jammed and caused a link to bend severely. Having the tool, I was able to splice out and discard the bent link, and be on my merry way. I also carry a short piece of chain that was left over from the original chain installation, because there is only so many links you can throw away before the chain gets too short.
When you get a new chain, the rear gear cluster should be changed at the same time, since they wear together. A new chain can slip on old sprockets even if the old chain didn't. The front rings have to be changed maybe once every three chain changes.