When did you realise it was time to upgrade to a £1000+ bik

martylaa

As above when and how did you make the decision to upgrade your bike to say a £1000+ upwards road bike, I see a lot of people on here talking about spending £2-3 grand on a bike.

fleshtuxedo

When I could afford it

anto164

I decided it was time to upgrade when firstly i got sick of Shimano Sora, and secondly i got a much better paying job.

anto164

I decided it was time to upgrade when firstly i got sick of Shimano Sora, and secondly i got a much better paying job.

FSR_XC

When I was faster than a lot of my mates & they all had shinier bikes :shock:

kingrollo

I hope this doesn't sound arrogant - I ain't a rich bloke but:-

£1000 bike

Keep it for 3 or 4 years - thats £250 or £300 a year on a hobby and keeping fit ?

Some people spend that on fags and booze or putting a car through MOT !

mowflow

Got a free road bike 18 months ago and use it more than my mountain bike. Got the cyclescheme at work so thought I'd take advantage.

Wirral_paul

I also bought my bike through the cycle to work scheme - although i went for a £2k bike (Financial Advisers so we have a consumer credit licence to allow it).

As for when you make the decission - well i'd suggest when a) you can afford it. b) when you feel that you'll enjoy your cycling even more on a better quality bike.

So, if you can afford it and know you'll enjoy it - treat yourself and most importantly - enjoy!! 8)

exlaser

half way up mont ventoux!!!!!!!!!!!!

Evil Laugh

When I rode one.

Bozman

Upgrade as you can afford it .
I bought a Bianchi 928 a good few years back, good frame but poor Fulcrum wheels etc, swapped the wheels and tyres at first and then gradually swapped the rest of the crap out as offers appeared on components(20% off etc), i sold the old components on Ebay to over eager buyers.
12mths later and bored of the Bianchi i sold the frame and purchased a Look frame, i transfered everything over and ended up with a great frame, top of the range components. At the time i would never have been able to afford that Look frame with the level of kit fitted.

BillyMansell

When my local PCT gave me money to spend on cycling.

Having been ill for several years, I put together a three year plan that began with losing 5 1/2 stone in the first half of last year. As a reward for losing the weight, I bought an £1,100 bike from PX. I continued with my plan hitting all the targets I'd set myself.

At the end of the first year, I presented my plan and achievements to a panel at the PCT who accepted my plan and proposals for the next two years and agreed to invest some money in what is preventative healthcare.

I would say the bike now has a replacement value of £2,500 but that's irrelevant other than for insurance purposes - It's the pleasure that comes from riding it and being able to ride 50 miles in well under three hours in relative comfort compared to 18 months ago I struggled to walk more than a few miles.

richk

I havent (yet).

Road bike was £400 (Be-one Storm). TT bike is a converted BTwin Sport2 (£270 + £100 to convert) - was my first road bike. Commuter (currently mangled, about £400 - Revolution Courier).

My first choice would be a nicer TT bike though. The oik who mangled my Courier wasnt insured

PhilPub

kingrollo wrote:

I hope this doesn't sound arrogant - I ain't a rich bloke but:-

£1000 bike

Keep it for 3 or 4 years - thats £250 or £300 a year on a hobby and keeping fit ?

Some people spend that on fags and booze or putting a car through MOT !

Exactly. I remember taking delivery of my new £1k bike at work three years ago (still nice and shiny) and when I told one of my younger colleagues how much it cost he looked at me as if I was mental. I asked him how much his annual car insurance costs...

keef66

When I turned fifty and got a decent annual bonus (don't throw anything, I don't work in a bank!)

I realised if I didn't do it then I never would.

jswba

BillyMansell wrote:

When my local PCT gave me money to spend on cycling.

Having been ill for several years, I put together a three year plan that began with losing 5 1/2 stone in the first half of last year. As a reward for losing the weight, I bought an £1,100 bike from PX. I continued with my plan hitting all the targets I'd set myself.

At the end of the first year, I presented my plan and achievements to a panel at the PCT who accepted my plan and proposals for the next two years and agreed to invest some money in what is preventative healthcare.

I would say the bike now has a replacement value of £2,500 but that's irrelevant other than for insurance purposes - It's the pleasure that comes from riding it and being able to ride 50 miles in well under three hours in relative comfort compared to 18 months ago I struggled to walk more than a few miles.

That is superb. Many congrats Billy

spasypaddy

first one was when i got offered the cycle scheme, then the second one was after i saved for a year. however the second one was a tad over £1000...

sloppyschleckonds

jswba wrote:

BillyMansell wrote:

When my local PCT gave me money to spend on cycling.

Having been ill for several years, I put together a three year plan that began with losing 5 1/2 stone in the first half of last year. As a reward for losing the weight, I bought an £1,100 bike from PX. I continued with my plan hitting all the targets I'd set myself.

At the end of the first year, I presented my plan and achievements to a panel at the PCT who accepted my plan and proposals for the next two years and agreed to invest some money in what is preventative healthcare.

I would say the bike now has a replacement value of £2,500 but that's irrelevant other than for insurance purposes - It's the pleasure that comes from riding it and being able to ride 50 miles in well under three hours in relative comfort compared to 18 months ago I struggled to walk more than a few miles.

That is superb. Many congrats Billy

So the Taxpayer paid for your new bike?

Bobbinogs

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

jswba wrote:

BillyMansell wrote:

When my local PCT gave me money to spend on cycling.

Having been ill for several years, I put together a three year plan that began with losing 5 1/2 stone in the first half of last year. As a reward for losing the weight, I bought an £1,100 bike from PX. I continued with my plan hitting all the targets I'd set myself.

At the end of the first year, I presented my plan and achievements to a panel at the PCT who accepted my plan and proposals for the next two years and agreed to invest some money in what is preventative healthcare.

I would say the bike now has a replacement value of £2,500 but that's irrelevant other than for insurance purposes - It's the pleasure that comes from riding it and being able to ride 50 miles in well under three hours in relative comfort compared to 18 months ago I struggled to walk more than a few miles.

That is superb. Many congrats Billy

So the Taxpayer paid for your new bike?

Looks like his new bike actually saved the tax payer money. The PCT panel would have looked at the business plan and weighed up the cost of treatment vs the cost of a new bike. So good on ya Billy for sticking to the plan and making it a worthwhile investment from the government (if only we could say that about the other things they throw money at...new aircraft anyone).

The taxpayer has paid for a lot of folks' new bikes (C2W) which my company also does but I am ineligible due to having a car allowance (which is fair enough).

brettjmcc

kingrollo wrote:

I hope this doesn't sound arrogant - I ain't a rich bloke but:-

£1000 bike

Keep it for 3 or 4 years - thats £250 or £300 a year on a hobby and keeping fit ?

Some people spend that on fags and booze or putting a car through MOT !

+1 I gave up my gym membership to keep one of the Dragons away from my money. It is saving me £720 a year and I am actually fitter now...

I already had some free weights at home, so just bought a bench on Nectar points.

I am now building up bike number 2. Interesting I have used the following equation with the wife: Gym savings + hobby money = bike spend 8)

Bobbinogs

brettjmcc wrote:

kingrollo wrote:

I hope this doesn't sound arrogant - I ain't a rich bloke but:-

£1000 bike

Keep it for 3 or 4 years - thats £250 or £300 a year on a hobby and keeping fit ?

Some people spend that on fags and booze or putting a car through MOT !

+1 I gave up my gym membership to keep one of the Dragons away from my money. It is saving me £720 a year and I am actually fitter now...

I already had some free weights at home, so just bought a bench on Nectar points.

I am now building up bike number 2. Interesting I have used the following equation with the wife: Gym savings + hobby money = bike spend that I admit to 8)

Fixed that for you

brettjmcc

Bobbinogs wrote:

brettjmcc wrote:

kingrollo wrote:

I hope this doesn't sound arrogant - I ain't a rich bloke but:-

£1000 bike

Keep it for 3 or 4 years - thats £250 or £300 a year on a hobby and keeping fit ?

Some people spend that on fags and booze or putting a car through MOT !

+1 I gave up my gym membership to keep one of the Dragons away from my money. It is saving me £720 a year and I am actually fitter now...

I already had some free weights at home, so just bought a bench on Nectar points.

I am now building up bike number 2. Interesting I have used the following equation with the wife: Gym savings + hobby money = bike spend that I admit to 8)

Fixed that for you

Sssh she might read this.... LOL - Did you know you can buy SRAM Red chainsets for only £80 if you know where to look

BillyMansell

Bobbinogs wrote:

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

jswba wrote:

BillyMansell wrote:

When my local PCT gave me money to spend on cycling.

Having been ill for several years, I put together a three year plan that began with losing 5 1/2 stone in the first half of last year. As a reward for losing the weight, I bought an £1,100 bike from PX. I continued with my plan hitting all the targets I'd set myself.

At the end of the first year, I presented my plan and achievements to a panel at the PCT who accepted my plan and proposals for the next two years and agreed to invest some money in what is preventative healthcare.

I would say the bike now has a replacement value of £2,500 but that's irrelevant other than for insurance purposes - It's the pleasure that comes from riding it and being able to ride 50 miles in well under three hours in relative comfort compared to 18 months ago I struggled to walk more than a few miles.

That is superb. Many congrats Billy

So the Taxpayer paid for your new bike?

Looks like his new bike actually saved the tax payer money. The PCT panel would have looked at the business plan and weighed up the cost of treatment vs the cost of a new bike. So good on ya Billy for sticking to the plan and making it a worthwhile investment from the government (if only we could say that about the other things they throw money at...new aircraft anyone).

The taxpayer has paid for a lot of folks' new bikes (C2W) which my company also does but I am ineligible due to having a car allowance (which is fair enough).

Spot on Bobbinogs. Any plan has to be at least cost neutral, or zero sum, and at best saving money, which mine does.

Another example could have been the saddle I ride that cost £120, which was an upgrade I bought myself for health reasons, but compare that one-off cost to the long-term cost of prescriptions, referrals to neuropathic specialists and lumber injections, all of which would only have continued to mask the problem that the saddle has resolved.

As for the Daily Mail's wailing and gnashing of teeth in defense of "The Taxpayer", I understand the money came from a social fund and not PCT coffers. I'm involved in the development of Personal Health Budgets and we're well prepared for the faux outrage of the Daily Mail and Tax Payers Alliance at the notion of giving people health money even if, as all the evidence from the pilot shows so far, it saves publc money.

wruds

After I got knocked off my bike last year, my Orbea Aqua TTG was written off and I was laid up for 3 months.. I decided that I would add a bit to the insurance value of my damaged bike and upgrade to al lovely Kuota Kharma.
A significant difference to the Orbea!

zippypablo

By your rationale Billy we should all be given free bikes! Can you sort that out for us please? Cheers