Anyway, I'd claim that it doesn't have to be. As an example, I'd like to catalogue the bicycle-related stuff that I've bought over the four years that I've claimed to be a bicyclist. (Three of which haven't been very active.)
First, there's the long-term investments. They include stuff that you can't really go in for bicycling without, like, well, the bicycle. And of course you need real bicycling clothes to be a real bicyclist. You don't want to be mistaken for a commuter. Then there are accessories and sports equipment. These investments should be good for a long time, from a couple of years to forever.
Bike & components:
| 1988 Peugeot Aravis 12 vitesses bicycle | Free |
| SPD-SL pedals (Shimano) | 55 € |
| SPD-SL shoes (Shimano) | 95 € |
| Saddle (Selle Italia X0) | 25 € |
Clothing:
| Cycling shorts (Newline) | 50 € |
| Kraftwerk cycling jersey | 45 € |
| Cycling jersey (Craft) | 30 € |
| Arm & leg warmers (Campagnolo) | 80 € |
| Cycling/running socks | 11 € |
| Helmet (Lazer) | 50 € |
| Cycling goggles (Biltema) | 6 € |
Accessories:
| Beverage holder & drink bottles (3) | 20 € |
| Tool bag (Biltema) | 5 € |
| Bike computer (Pro) | 30 € |
| Pump | 22 € |
| Various tools | 30 € |
| Heart rate monitor (Polar, bought from a flea market) | 7 € |
| Lock | 30 € |
| Backpack (Deuter, from a flea market) | 6 € |
| Category total | 591 € |
The other category consists of consumables, stuff that you need to keep spending money on continuously (or every year). Here I've roughly estimated what the basic stuff costs in a season (from spring to autumn).
Spare parts & maintenance:
| Tires (2) | 40 € |
| Inner tubes (2) | 16 € |
| Handlebar tape | 3 € |
| Brake pads (2 pairs) | 20 € |
| Maintenance (cheap bike shop) | 60 € |
Sports nutrition:
| Sports drink | 24 € |
| Recovery drink | 26 € |
| Energy gels | 40 € |
| Muesli bars | 16 € |
Other costs:
| TdH entrance fee (incl. T-shirt) | 30 € |
| Helsinki Cyclists membership fee (one year) | 10 € |
| Transport by bus | 17 € |
| Category total: | 302 € |
That's not too bad, eh? The long-term investments total to about 600 €. When divided by four years, the sum per year comes down to a measly 150 €. And the cost just keeps getting lower the longer the equipment is used. The yearly consumables cost no more than, say, yearly membership fees of a gym.
Ok, I got off cheap, because I got my bike for free, as a graduation gift. However, older bikes can be bought for a few hundred euros. You don't have to get a 3000 € carbon fibre racer to become a road cyclist. In fact, I wouldn't want one because there's nowhere I could store it. I don't have a garage, it would get stolen from the bike storage room of the apartment building and my wife won't let me bring the bike to the bedroom, for some reason unclear to me. I think it's better to have a reasonably priced bike, so you can ride it without having to worry about *gasp* scratching the paint all the time.
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