Wait for the sales or buy now

gez1104
gez1104 Posts: 8
edited August 2009 in Road beginners
Hi

I am going to buy my first road bike and I am having a bit of a dilema. Do I buy now or wait until January and hope the LBS has a sale in order to try and get more for my money??

My budget will be around £1500 so any ideas for bikes would be appreciated, the shop I have had the best advice from sell Trek, Orbea and Ridley.

Please Help me

Thank you

Comments

  • Takis61
    Takis61 Posts: 239
    Difficult - the sales can save you a packet, and in many shops they have started already - on the other hand, you may be limited to what is left in stock & end up compromising ?
    £1500 is a lot, so why not choose your bike, then haggle on the basis of it is a 2009 bike, soon to be old stock, and you could always wait until 2010 ?
    My knees hurt !
  • cjw
    cjw Posts: 1,889
    Thought many of the sales were on around now (they were for my Focus and I've seen Scotts coming down) as they are about to release the TdF steeds (some are already out.

    Why wait and miss the last of the lovely summer :?
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  • Slow Liam
    Slow Liam Posts: 19
    I'd try and find a 2009 bike and haggle a discount ASAP. The sales will be shite this time round, as 2010 bikes are gonna be much lower spec than 2009 equivalents so will be in demand. Many 2009 bikes won't be discounted, but if you haggle you might find a good deal. But these bikes will be in short supply as road bikes are selling like hot cakes atm.
    '07 Specialized Tricross Sport

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  • gez1104
    gez1104 Posts: 8
    Hi

    Why will thee 2010 spec not be as good as the 09 spec?
  • Monkeypump
    Monkeypump Posts: 1,528
    January is a long way off, and you might already struggle to find 2009 stock. There are deals out there, but with 2010 prices higher and/or specs lower, if you don't buy now you might be disappointed later...
  • Mothyman
    Mothyman Posts: 655
    buy now... you wont regret it
    dont be shy to name a price and see what the shop says (10% off at least)
  • Tenkfeet
    Tenkfeet Posts: 46
    If you hunt around there are 2008 bikes still kicking about. I am a short arse though .
  • bobtbuilder
    bobtbuilder Posts: 1,537
    Bike sales tend to be now rather than January, so that bike shops can get the new 2010 range in at this time of year.

    Start looking pronto.
  • bikerZA
    bikerZA Posts: 314
    The sales are already upon us.. The big banners dotted around the forum aren't that discrete...
    cyclecomparison.com
  • MattC59
    MattC59 Posts: 5,408
    Buy now !
    2009 bikes will probably be marginally cheaper than 2010 bikes, and many of the specs will be the same.

    I bought a Trek 1.9 with full Ultegra, which I love (first road bike in 20 years!). IIRC, the new Trek 1 Series stops at the 1.7 now, with 105 kit. There is now the 2 Series which have carbon seat stays (full rear triangle ? correct me if I'm wrong) which goes up to Ultegra. Obviously the 2 series costs a little more, but I have a feeling there's one within your bugget.

    To be honest, the 1.7 would have probably been fine for me, but I know damn well that I'd have wanted to upgrade the wheels immediatley (prob still will :lol: ) and just 'wanted' the better groupset.

    Think about your prioroties. How will you be riding in 18 months ? Do you need a carbon frame ? Do you want a quality groupset ?

    You can get a good carbon frame with a reasonable groupset..... or......
    You can get a not so good carbon frame with a great groupset..... or... if you're lucky....
    You can get a good carbon frame with a great groupset....... or..........
    You can get a great Alu frame with a great groupset..........

    You pays yer money........

    I bought in July, knowing full well that in a couple of months the 2010 bikes would be out. I just wanted to get out and ride.......... :D
    Science adjusts it’s beliefs based on what’s observed.
    Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved
  • heathy_76
    heathy_76 Posts: 213
    Monkeypump wrote:
    January is a long way off, and you might already struggle to find 2009 stock. There are deals out there, but with 2010 prices higher and/or specs lower, if you don't buy now you might be disappointed later...

    These were my thoughts exactly last week when I bought a new bike.
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  • HamishD
    HamishD Posts: 538
    gez1104 wrote:
    Hi

    Why will thee 2010 spec not be as good as the 09 spec?

    Hi,

    Two reasons:

    The bike firms want to hit certain retail pricepoints with their bikes and not make the jump in price so radical. The retailers are also reluctant to decrease their % margin.

    In the last year, a) components base cost of goods has gone up big time and b) sterling has gone through the floor. Double whammy.

    The result is an increase in price for a worse specced bike.

    Example: 2009 Spesh Roubaix Expert vs 2010.
    The 2010 has an identical frame, worse groupset, worse saddle, worse wheels and is at least 250 quid more . . .

    In other words, get an 09 bike (or an 08 if there any left) while you can.

    Cheers

    Hamish
  • kingrollo
    kingrollo Posts: 3,198
    Depends how much you have a bike in mind. If theres 2 or 3 candidates - then just wait for a good deal on any. If it just one - they you may have to ensure you don't miss out.

    I had the combination of cycle to work, and some good offer upgrades from the shop - my plan was always to wait until sept - but a good offer came so I took it. I d just wait and see.
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    Seems like just about everything has been on sale here in the States. I'm buying now because I think prices will go up once the economy turns around a bit. I know that doesn't help you "over there", but, just throwing in my 2 cents worth.

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