My Bicycle Cost Me Big Money - Repairs

I have been riding my bicycle very diligently all summer. I've actually put quite a few miles on for pleasure, but also I've done alot of practical riding.

I have gone to the store and done some shopping in other areas of the city when I've needed something. I always take my backpack for when I need to carry things home. I bungee my backpack to my back carrier so that I don't have to carry it on my back.

On Thursday I was going to do some errands, when I went out to the shed to get my bike. I couldn't believe it. I had a flat tire. All of a sudden I was in emergency mode. (I say that tongue in cheek, of course)

I couldn't call CAA for a tow, that would look ridiculous.

I had to take my son's bike over to Canadian Tire and purchase a inner tube. I got the more expensive one, hoping it would last longer.

This bicycle repair cost me.... $9.99!!

And... I used my Canadian Tire MasterCard points to purchase it, so it didn't actually cost me anything!

So far, my bicycle has cost me $7.50 in cash repairs this summer. I must say I'm pretty pleased about that.

Rode to a Business Appointment on my Bicycle
Yesterday I was meeting with some new Joint Venture partners, and I rode to the meeting on my bicycle. I felt kind of sheepish riding up in my bicycle as there were some nice cars and trucks at the meeting.

I was wondering to myself if these people were going to think I was flat broke because I was there with my "Giant brand" mountain bicycle.
I did explain myself a little, but after wards thought that they were wasting too much gas in their big suv's and trucks. Also, I got a good work out by riding to the meeting on bicycle.

With gas prices going through the roof, I'm not feeling bad about riding my bicycle all over town. I'm saving money, getting in shape and losing weight.

I just get a kick that this bicycle has only cost me $7.50 this summer. I don't really worry about the bike breaking down as it's only a year old. But even so.. how much could a bicycle part cost?!!

When my Cadillac CTS got scratched by some vandals, a 2 1/2" gash was going to cost me $950 to get repaired at the autobody shop. The electronic key fob cost $125 to replace. That Cadillac, while a nice car, was very expensive to fix.

That's why I'm chuckling to myself that I spent $7.50 on repairs this summer.
Yep... bicycles are good. They're not popular yet, however they should be.