I just wanted to say that I think that it's actually pretty powerful statement that a lot of y'all are showing that you can be very frugal and use old Bike Tech that's bomb proof and thrive .
So much of the cycling world can be very foreboding to a lot of people because of the perceived High Cost of entry and the maintenance and all the jargon . Much like the ultralight and through hiking community I also see this kind of bleed in of the gear industrial complex where folks think they need the fanciest latest stuff and the social media folks that are pushing these things doesn't help . Not everyone is so lucky to have a professional class job where they can blow $1,000+ on a brand new bicycle .
I've lived mostly moneyless for over a decade spending like $2,000 a year and recently got back into cycling after a 5-year hiatus and eternally grateful for things like Facebook Marketplace and my local cycling Collective for insanely inexpensive gear and bicycles .
Back when I was using money more I bought a $500 brand new specialized Cirrus hybrid bike in 2012. I use this for all kinds of Adventures and Hauling food not bombs donations in Portland for 7 years before I donated it to the Greater Community . The photo I uploaded shows a typical loadout in the Rainy PDX weather .
A couple months ago I bought a trek hybrid from the Corvallis bicycle Collective for $175 , and new Circa 2014 it was like $650 . Something about it though felt too corporate and clean and I also don't like the ergonomics of the kind of upright Dutch Style , so I ended up getting a specialized Rockhopper from 1987 for $180 on Facebook Marketplace, and that will be the ATB that I will eventually live off of and go around and volunteer and be helpful .
So once again you know it's not just fun and rad to revive these old workhorses from the '80s and nineties but it's also a very profound and beautiful expression of frugality .
by DharmaBaller