New best bike or upgrade and new commuter?

Slow Downcp

My wife's offered to buy me a new bike for my upcoming 40th, and has increased the budget having seen this:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Pinar ... 360046768/

At the moment I have a Kuota Kharma (which she bought me for Xmas 4 years ago so can't really sell this on), and an Enigma Etape for wet weather, both Centaur equipped with Kysrium Elite wheels. My commute bike is a 20 year old Raleigh Triathlon 531c with 12 speed 105 groupset and downtube shifters. I don't race, only pleasure cycling, mainly country lanes, and may do the odd sportive this year.

I know I should snatch her hand off and order it (seen one for £2,500 - if anyone knows cheaper, please let me know), but my head tells me I don't need this bike. I can't help but feel I'd be better upgrading the Kuota groupset and wheels and then looking around for a cheaper frameset similar to the Colnago Wiggle were selling last week.

Should I listen to heart (Pinarello and use the Kuota for the commutem turn Raleigh into full time fixie), or head (new commuter and upgrade)?

hopper1

Hmmmm.... Difficult.
As you say, you need to keep the Kuota for sentimental reasons.
I'd get the Pinarello, and relegate the Kuota to a very nice commuter. Also to be used as back up if new 'best' bike is in the LBS for any reason.
Fixie project to be completed during Summer, ready for the winter rides.

Slow Downcp

hopper1 wrote:

Hmmmm.... Difficult.
As you say, you need to keep the Kuota for sentimental reasons.
I'd get the Pinarello, and relegate the Kuota to a very nice commuter. Also to be used as back up if new 'best' bike is in the LBS for any reason.
Fixie project to be completed during Summer, ready for the winter rides.

Just been to look at a couple of Pinarello's - little bit disappointed with the finish to be honest :shock: There was a number of places where there were 'dinks' in the frame, a little like stone chips, and then painted over. I know it won't affect the ride any, but it just spoils the finish. They did offer to measure me up there and then, put the bike they had on a turbo and set up for test ride etc as it's the same size as my Kuota, but managed to resist for now. Also considering Colnago CLX now.

The Raleigh is already a part time fixie, so only needs an hour to swap chainset and rear wheel over so that's all sorted.