Gravel Cycling on a Budget

As much as we love it, cycling can be an expensive hobby….especially if you’re just getting started. There are ways to avoid the sticker shock and build out everything you need on a budget.

Start with the basics

It’s easy to get caught up in all of the stuff you ‘need’ for cycling and feel overwhelmed. Instead, start with the basics. Here’s what you need to get out and ride.

A bike

Obviously. If you’re just experimenting with gravel cycling, you may want to borrow or rent. You can try out gravel without a huge investment.

Ideally, your bike will have water bottle holders on it. Those don’t come with a new bike, so if you are buying a bike, go ahead and get at least one put on the bike before you leave the shop.

A good helmet

This is where you don’t want to skimp. Even though all helmets that you’ll purchase in the US, must meet the minimum standards, not all helmets are created equally. Don't buy used. Helmet padding breaks down with exposure and sweat and most helmets should be replaced every 2-3 years. I like going to a bike shop to try on helmets because the fit is key. You’ll want something that fits snuggly but is also comfortable.

Something to carry your stuff

Water, snacks, and a flat repair kit should go with you on every ride but you don’t need a fancy bag to get started. I’ve been known to roll out with my fanny pack on many occasions.

If you don’t have a water bottle holder on the bike, carry a small backpack with water and of course, snacks.

That’s all you need to get started. As you progress, you can add more to your gear collection.

Once you’ve invested in the basics, how can you find deals on everything else?

Used Gear

A few years ago we started a used gear sale at a local bike shop. The number of used shoes, bike shorts, jerseys, gloves, and everything else for the bike that rolled in the door was unbelievable. Most of the stuff was lightly worn or just needed a good clean-up. Often, people get into cycling, get addicted and upgrade their equipment within the first year or two. They find favorite brands that they exclusively wear. All of their unused gear ends up in a drawer just waiting for you!

There are bike gear-specific buy and sell groups where you can find deals on used gear. Another option is for you to list what you’re looking for in a group.

Discounted Gear

Amazon also has some affordable deals on bike gear. The quality has gotten mixed reviews on our Facebook group, but it can be a great place to get some starter gear.

Another brand that’s specifically creating lower-cost gear is The Black Bibs. They have cycling shorts and bibs starting at $40. I had the opportunity to test their adventure bibs and although they aren’t my favorite, I’m impressed with the quality and wear them often. Warning, you do have to do a bit of digging to find their women’s stuff and they seem to have limited sizing.

Velocio, a favorite in our Facebook community, also has a renewed line. They take their returned products, refresh them and sell them at a discount.

Understand the annual sales cycles

A brand typically sets the sales cycle for its product, whether that product is sold in a retail store or online. Online you’ll find certain times of the year that brands are offering sales and those most often translate to in-store sales as well. (Read Navigating the Bike Shop)

Most often, brands will be offering discounts sometime in January, before their new lines come out for the spring. That means you can often find discount codes on already marked-down items.

Brands usually like to offer big discounts around Memorial Day, 4th of July, sometimes Labor Day, and Thanksgiving/Black Friday.

You can also score some great deals at the bike shop on previous year's inventory. Although bike shops have to honor the sales cycle set by the brand, they'll often create custom lines or have inventory from previous years that they can discount even more deeply.

This applies mostly to clothing and gear. Bikes rarely get marked down. In the past, the best time to find a bike deal was when the new models were arriving (similar to a car dealership), but with the bike shortage and supply chain issues, that’s probably not the case.

The final way to make cycling more affordable is to take good care of your equipment, especially when you ride off-road. Bike gear is made to be durable. If you keep it clean, dry, and stored well, it can last for years.