Bike Update

I haven't talked about my bike for a few months. Not because I haven't wanted to! Here is my bike again:

OKINAWA TRIP
I went on my first trip ever this last winter with my GF to Okinawa. We biked from Naha to around Mt. Onna. Unfortunately I am still a complete novice at biking and didn't know what warning signs to look for before taking a big road trip. The tread on my rear tire worn off to the point that the tire was bald. This led to a flat tire. I didn't have any spares (a mistake I will NEVER make again) but did have a patch kit. I had successfully patched the tube however I ripped it when pumping up my tire. We had to abandon the bikes and use a bus for a few days until we could come across a bike shop. We eventually recovered our bikes and made our way back to Naha (only to have our flight canceled) and returned safe and sound.

Our path we took on our bikes

I learned a lot on this trip. For example we need to schedule more time. When you bike for four to six hours you don't really feel like going out sight seeing that same day. A few extra days to buffer the riding would have been great. Of course I also learned to be more prepared. ALWAYS bring extra tubes with you and a patch kit.

BIKE FINANCIALS

Of course it's fun to ride on a bike I've also spoken a lot about the financial advantages of owning a bike. The last time I wrote about how my bike will actually pay for itself creating a bicycle that figuratively spits dividends from it's spinning wheels. How is this going? Well, I've had to invest more into some tools for the bike but I think I am still on track to a zero financial cost.

Expenses as of last update:
Bike $ 1,000.00
Lock $ 360.00
Pump $ 37.50
Pedals $ 20.00
Handle Bar Bag $ 126.73
Fenders $ 60.64
Lights $ 40.00
Breaks $ 62.50
Transportation $ 10.50

New expenses:
Knog Lights $ 100.00
Bike Bag $ 162.00
Map Case $ 30.00
Break Cleaner $ 3.65
Chain Cleaner $ 12.00
Brushes $ 5.00
Lube $ 8.00
Tire $ 40.00
Tubes $ 50.00

This is a table of all bike related expenditures up to this point. They add up to $2128.52. As of the last posting I had received payments of $377.50 in transportation reimbursement. In addition I have received two $10 payments from Gympact totaling $20.00. This puts me at $397.50 my bike has made me and another $1731.02 until I reach the break even point on this investment.



Some of the new expenses included brighter lights so that I can be seen at night, travel bags so we can take our bikes on trains and planes, cleaning tools and lube, as well as new tubes and spare tubes just in case.  I estimate that I will also pick up a rack and other kinds of funky bags to hang off of those racks at same time in the future.



My time line is 2 years to have this investment break even.  I'm pretty excited!