Jeff Says: Recycle a Bicycle

OK, so everybody knows that bicycling is good for the environment and great for your health. And with a gallon of gas now costing more than a gallon of my favorite box wine, bicycling can definitely save you some major dinero.

So, living in the uber consumer society that we do, hordes of Americans are now racing off to their local bike shop to drop a few hundred--or in some cases a few thousand--on a shiny new bicycle. Now, don't get me wrong, new bicycles are terrific. And if that's the only way you're going to motivate yourself to let up on the gas pedal and start pushing down on the bike pedals, go for it! But why not double-down on both the financial and enviro-savings, and recycle a quality used bicycle from a local thrift store or yard sale?

That's the storyline of a "$aving Green by Living Green" segment of mine that recently aired on G Word. I walked away from that shoot with a vintage-but-barely-used Raleigh ten-speed that I paid only $20 for at my favorite thrift store. That same bike retailed for about $200 when it was manufactured in the 1970's, which means that in inflation adjusted dollars it would be an $800-$900 bicycle today. Even if I end up putting $50 or $100 into it for parts and repairs, I still saved a boatload of dead presidents that day.

Every year in the U.S. about 15 million new bikes are sold, which means that a similar number end up in landfills. Some of them, though, make a brief encore appearance at thrifts stores, garage sales, or used bike shops, and that's where you can really save some green, particularly if you know what you're looking for. Here are some tips:

• Be Realistic About Your Needs: Fantasies of being the next Lance Armstrong are why top-end bikes are one of the fastest growing segments of the new bike market. But if you're only going to ride a couple of miles at a time, most any bike will do. If you're looking at longer trips of ten miles or more, then a road bike (a.k.a. a "skinny tire bike") is probably best. If you're commuting over city streets with curbs and potholes to contend with, then a fat-tire cruiser or a mountain bike is the answer.


• Find a Frame That Fits: Getting the correct size frame is the most important factor when it comes to comfortable and efficient cycling. The most common is a diamond shaped frame or a "boy's bike" as we called them when I was a kid (I later learned that bike frames don't really have sex, although bike riders often do). The proper size of a diamond frame is determined by standing over the crossbar of the bike (like before you get ready to start pedaling) with your feet flat on the ground; you should only be able to lift the bike about an inch off the ground before it causes discomfort in the crotch region. That's the correct frame size for you!


• Look for Vintage Brands: Particularly if you're looking for a used road bike, there are a lot of high-quality 20-30 year old (and older) bikes showing up in thrift stores, yard sales and the classified ads these days, like the Raleigh I found. Almost any European brand from that era, along with some Japanese makes, are likely to be treasures with a lot more life left in them.


• Check for Major Damage: When shopping for a used bike, the main thing to look for is a quality frame that's not bent, broken, or too rusty, and secondarily wheels that are more or less intact. Other parts can be repaired or replaced relatively cheaply, and even new wheels cost under $50 apiece.


• Don't Get Caught in the Gears: People seem to think the more gears or "speeds" they have on their bicycle, the more they'll use them. False. For around town, a three speed is generally fine, and five or ten speeds should be sufficient for most riders. (FYI, I've bicycled more than 85,000 miles during my lifetime, and I've never owned more than a ten speed.)


• ...And Whenever Shopping for Anything at a Thrift Store, Remember: Prices are often negotiable (as they are at garage sales and in the classified ads, too), and many thrift stores have special sale days every week when they markdown entire departments of merchandise. Also, for the best selection try shopping early in the week, following donations from clean-out-the-garage weekends.

All told, it costs almost $1 per mile to drive the average car down the road when you factor in the cost of the car, financing, gas, repairs, insurance, parking, traffic tickets, etc. With a quality recycled cycle, you're cutting your cost to just pennies a mile and reducing your carbon footprint from a Sasquatch size one to a fly speck. And man, you can buy a whole lot of box wine with that kind of savings. Ride on!

Stay Cheap!
-Jeff Yeager
The Ultimate Cheapskate

Jeff Yeager is a freelance writer and broadcast journalist specializing in an offbeat blend of original humor and practical advice for enjoying life more by spending and consuming less. He is the author of the book The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches (Broadway Books / Random House 2008) and creator of the website, Ultimate Cheapskate. In addition to appearing on G-Word, Yeager is an occasional guest correspondent on the NBC Today Show. Earlier in his career, Yeager spent 25 years as a CEO and senior executive with national nonprofit environmental organizations in the Washington, DC area.