upgrade or replace...

optimisticbiker

OK I need a new saddle (splitting) and wheels (rims worn down) for my 2007 Pinnacle that was £500 new then and weighs 15kg (with blackburn rack and SKS mudguards - thats about 1kg - so 14kg for the basic bike). As its done some 11,000 miles since new the Vero FSA chainset is starting to show signs of wear (Tiagra 9-speed chain/cassette/rear mech replaced 18mo ago after the hanger broke). Looking in Evans and elsewhere I'm guessing £250 for a decent set of wheels, saddle, chainset...

SO... rather than replace/upgrade, I'm convincing myself I need a new commuting bike at that price point or maybe a couple of hundred more... so £500 - £700

While i like the upright position of the hybrid in traffic I would prefer something faster/more aero with drop bars but with a more relaxed geometry than my road bike so thinking CX style...

Looked at (but not test ridden yet)
- Boardman CXTeam (little outside budget)
- Kona Jake / Jake Snake
- Fuji 3.0 2011
- Spesh Tricross Road

I guess all these come in around the 10-11kg mark weight wise and are better spec'd. I'm happy with either a triple 9speed or a compact 10speed.

The big question - would i feel the need to upgrade them any time soon? what are the downsides of each (and I dont mean buying from Halfrauds lol)

Any other bike I should consider?

davis

This one's simple:

Do you want a different bike?


(no amount of navel-gazing on our part will answer this) If the answer's yes, then get one. If not, then upgrade your current one.

You do want a new bike, yes, yes you do. I suggest looking at a tourer.

If you need more convincing, then I think you're probably being optimistic with your budget of 250 GBP for wheels, saddle, and chainset. I'd look at that budget for wheels alone, considering you're commuting properly

optimisticbiker

@davis... I don't really need convincing aboput a new bike... but I'll spend the next 6mo faffing about the choice...

you may be right about the cost of wheels.. i based that on a mid-range spec that are lighter than what I have today (Alex16 rims)... the question is.. will a new bike have better spec'd wheels...

What i need should be lighter/more aero and at least as well spec'd as what I have now...

davis

Riiiiiight.....

So you want a better bike.

Please, don't let us dissuade you :-)

cjcp

I have the Kona Jake. Love it. It's very comfy, great fun to ride and more than holds its own on the commute. But...

I don't like canti brakes. I really don't like the lack of braking power of the Avid Shortys, particularly in the wet, so look at some Tektros instead (there was a thread on those brakes in Commuting General). Disc brakes would be better.

suzyb

OptimisticBiker wrote:

@davis... I don't really need convincing aboput a new bike... but I'll spend the next 6mo faffing about the choice..

It's not just me that does that then.

Blue Meanie

Hmm, £250 for a nice set of wheels.
105 hubs, DT Comp and Open Pro's with £50 left for beer.
Well, that's got me thinking about revamping my commuter, thanks

cougie

Sounds like you've earned a new bike to me.

Aguila

Audax bike:

Condor Fratello.

Buy.

joelsim

Cycle2Work?

Confusedboy

You need to upgrade and buy a new bike.

optimisticbiker

@cjcp - yes, not so sure about the cantis either, but none of those AFAIK have V-brakes or disks... not sure going to get disks at this price point

@suzyb - ummmm, yes... took me 25min to buy a house, and less than 2hr to buy a car... but bikes need special consideration

@Agulia - nice, but I think £600 for just the frameset is a tad outside budget! Maybe could find a s/hand one but I really would prefer a new bike

@joelsim - already done C2W for my road bike this year :roll: , so this is going to be direct out of pocket (well on the bottomless credit card pit)

@confusedboy - errr.. yes but 2 new bikes and an upgrade in under 6mo is likely to stretch the incredulity and/or patience of Mrs OB... we are already close to the S-1* parameter

8 posts so far and only one directly related to my original dilemma lol...


*see "n+1" for details

cjcp

Have a look on Merlin and CRC for discounted chainsets. I have an Ultegra chainset with a worn 53 if you want it - you would need to replace the 53 though. Have a look on eBay for a saddle.

Check out Parker International for the cost of wheelbuilds. I have a wheelbuilder mate if you're interested.

I know this isn't as much fun as buying a new bike, but you did ask

optimisticbiker

Convinced myself that there's little point in upgrading the current bike cos I'll still end up with a heavy frame however good the new wheels might be...

so back to looking for something suitable. decided I dont want a pannier rack this time, will get a seatpost rack a la topeak RX or similar with a laptop carrier for when I need to take the laptop home...

still not entirely convinced by my own CX argument and the canti brakes issue worries me a little as good brakes are essential for commuting and I've had canti's before and they didnt fill me with confidence, prefer a V-brake or caliper...

iandennis

Looking at the spec then the Boardman CX Team comes with Discs ??

http://www.boardmanbikes.com/cx/cx_team.html

Whyte has just announced three new cross bikes, I'm waiting to see what they look like then either boardman cx or Saxon cross

optimisticbiker

iandennis wrote:

Looking at the spec then the Boardman CX Team comes with Discs ??

http://www.boardmanbikes.com/cx/cx_team.html

Whyte has just announced three new cross bikes, I'm waiting to see what they look like then either boardman cx or Saxon cross

Yes, but its £200 outside the budget too... nevertheless i do like the look of the Boardmans...

essex-commuter

OptimisticBiker wrote:

Yes, but its £200 outside the budget too... nevertheless i do like the look of the Boardmans...

Got mine for £810...that's a bit closer.