What's the most efficient way of solving this problem?

barrybridges

I've had my trusty Trek road bike since 2004 and I love it, but I've worn it down and it's really getting clunky, due mostly to me not looking after it properly. I've ridden it in a few Surrey Leagues, but really it's seen better days. It was the old USPS training bike - but it's so old I don't know the model. I think it's about the equivalent of the 1.2 series:

http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/road/1_series/12e/

What I want to do is equip myself with a better road bike for racing this year, but also get a cheap-ish (£300) mountain bike to play with off-road.

At the same time, I love the geometry and frame of my Trek - and having looked around, there aren't many bikes out there that take my fancy (although I do like the look of the Pinarello FP2). Everything looks a bit...well...UGLY....lots of oversized frames and slanted top-tubes...and in the places I've looked I'd have to pay around £800 to get a bike that matches the spec of the trek.

Here's the conundrum for you to solve:

I've just joined a new company, so I have £1k cycle-to-work allowance available.
I've got spare cash.
I've also got my Trek, which although battered and bruised, could be stripped down.

I'm not sure what the best use of resource is so that I end up with:

- a throwabout MTB
- a bike that's decent enough to race on

Can anyone help?

Option One:

MTB = £300
New Road bike = £700
Old Road bike = turbo training bike

Pros = fits everything into £1k CTW scheme
Cons = the new bike won't be a great spec or better than what I had

Option Two:

MTB = £300
Strip down old road bike and replace with new groupset, completely rebuild with better components, upgrade wheels, stem, bars etc = £700

Pros = I have a better specced road bike and I keep the geometry I like
Pros = I don't ride enough to warrant a separate training/racing bike
Cons = I have two bikes, not three

Option Three

MTB = £300
Get better road bike = £1000 and buy the MTB outside CTW scheme

Pros = Get better road bike
Cons = End up paying more

I really don't know what to do. Part of me thinks that a new road bike is better because that way you get better value for money that buying parts and upgrading yourself, but the bikes I've looked at all seem quite expensive in spec compared to 5/10 years ago. But maybe I'm not looking in the right places.

chriskempton

Definitely option 3 out of those.

There's lots of threads asking the same question so have a look at thoseusing the search function. The 3 answers that always come up are Boardman Team Carbon, Planet X SL carbon and Cannondale CAAD9. Think you'll find the spec on those a step up from what you have. I'd try the Boardman myself.

RonB

+1 with Chris and option3. As you say MTB = throwabout, and you're looking for a decent road bike, I would max out on the road bike via the scheme and use your cash for the MTB.

I know what you mean about the expense, but if you think about the quality of frames and groupsets which are now available in this price range these days it still represents good value (& plenty of choice).

barrybridges

Sorry, should also have said that my CTW scheme is with Evans Cycles, so Boardman is off-limits?

STEFANOS4784

I would go with option 2, maybe just upgrade the wheels, then next year the groupset then after that the frame, then, after a few years, you will end up with a great road bike and have enough spare parts to build another bike to sell or use on the turbo trainer. But then that's just me.