At what point does your improving fitness require a new bike

ianbar

I am sure there is no correct answers for this but it's just a thought. So at what point does a bike need upgrading or time to upgrade your bike fullstop? Like eg someone riding 18mph over 100 miles on a £500 bike? That sounds to me like someone who should have a better bike, I know it's what people can afford just opening the thought really.

PostieJohn

Bit of an odd question, but hey I'll go for it.

It sounds to me like someone either can't judge speed or distance!, that would be mightily impressive times, assuming that's not all downhill

It would certainly not be the time over the distance expected from an entry level bike.
If they were looking for a certain performance level before shelling out 1-2k, I would say it's been reached.

ianbar

sorry my question was rather a babble on my iphone while on break at work in the middle of the night lol. you kind of did answer the question though. i personally have only managed 15mph over 30 miles but have been only riding couple of months really. i was just wondering say i managed that speed for 100 miles or was16-17 miles an hour over say 50 would a bike of £800 be right or time to upgrade?

nmcgann

Bikes get upgraded when people want to and can justify it to themselves, there's no inherent connection with ability/performance.

knownothingbozo

Perhaps a time to upgrade is as follows:
1. When your current bike no longer satisfies you.
2. When you want to.
3. When you can afford it, thus bringing the n+1 and s-1 equations into play.

For my part I've now done about 1700 miles since April on my £600 bike, and now feel like I am learning a lot more about riding, certainly getting fitter but times and average speed gains are marginal. I find myself yearning for a new bike, but ultimately I am still loving the wind in my face feeling and challenge of a good long ride out into the countryside. Therefore item 3 is takining on the most important factor at this time, and I won't be upgrading till I can afford to.
By which time I have fingers crossed that over a year riding good distances on my cheaper bike will show considerable gains when I upgrade to my new one.

ianbar

hmmm i did think it could be more that kind of thing

iplod

I personaly wouldn't set myself a goal before upgrading, i think it's more a case of available funds. If you can afford a shiney new £3k bike and your just a beginner then go for it. Equally if you ride regularly think you're fit and posting good times, and do this while happily sat on budget bike then that's also fine.

Gizmodo

I'm no expert but I would imagine that it's a bit like running shoes (sorry to swear on this open forum).

When should a runner (sorry) upgrade their shoes? Jogging in £15 shoes from George at Asda might be fine for a few miles, but doing a marathon? Well actually yes, there's no reason why, if the shoe fits (pun intended), that you shouldn't run a marathon in them.

OK but run (sorry again) a marathon and come well placed? Put it this way, a fit bloke in £15 shoes is going to pass my body as it collapses gasping for air even if I have £300 Asics. But if you take 2 top runners :oops: who are consistently close in competition, put 1 of them in cheap shoes and another in top class kit - yes you will probably see a difference.

So all that said, it's down what you can afford, you wanting to look/feel good about the kit you use and at what level of competition you're aiming for.

springtide9

When you want a new bike, you buy one.

Giraffoto

Sounds like you want it right now, and are just waiting for someone to tell you you need it! Why not go to your LBS, borrow the shiniest machine they'll let you out of their sight on, and see how it feels. Then you'll know what a new bike can do for you, and decide if you need it

gilesjuk

In the case of road bikes you tend to find that the more you spend the lighter is gets but it will often be less durable.

What is more reliable and cheaper to run, a Ford Fiesta or a Ferrari?

Keith1983

It depends what your goals are. If you're looking at setting blistering times over a given distance then yes a high spec bike will help. If you're looking to enjoy cycling and get fit or lose some weight then stick with what you have.

Ofcourse this theory goes completely out the window if you have money and want a new bike, in which case get out there and buy one!

CiB

gilesjuk wrote:

In the case of road bikes you tend to find that the more you spend the lighter is gets but it will often be less durable.

What is more reliable and cheaper to run, a Ford Fiesta or a Ferrari?

This. Sorry to disagree, but what utter nonsense. I commute on a carbon + ultegra road rocket. 4500 mls last year on it, 3000 this and it's hardly missed a beat. It gets looked after but it's not a bike of straw that's always letting me down. Rather than the Fiesta / Ferrari analogy, how about it being a Fiesta v top spec Mondeo? Nicer to drive, better place to be but not a huge difference in top end performance. Probably.

Anyway. When to buy a better bike? When you want to. Save your dosh for a while, set your budget, have a look about and then throw all sense to the wind and buy the bike that lights your candle for you regardless of whether it costs another £99 or whatever. You'll never regret spending a bit too much on a bike. Never.

Mad Roadie

springtide9 wrote:

When you want a new bike, you buy one.

agree - buy a new bike, be delighted with it for 6 months, then spend 6 months choosing and buying the next, then repeat!!

works for me

apreading

It doesnt matter what the reason is - better performance, reward for effort/achievement, the lust for something shiny and new, whatever.

When you are asking the question it is time as you already (subconsciously at least) want a new bike and are not fully sated by the one you have at the moment. You will find yourself scanning magazines and forums etc wondering how good they are and building a greater and greater desire.

You may have to start planning your strategy to get agreement from your other half. If/when you can get them to agree then it is time to buy - quickly, before they change their mind!

Alibran

The time to upgrade is when your current bike/components doesn't satisfy you any more, and you have the money to do something about it.

Personally, I'm quite happy with my entry level bike and have been for the last 3 years. I enjoy "window shopping" and admiring all the bling available if you have the money to buy it, but I have other things to spend my money on. But if you've got the money and you want to spend it on a new bike, then go for it.

Do remember, though, that the largest part of speed increase comes from improving fitness and technique, with the bike coming somewhere behind those, so don't be disappointed if you do buy a more expensive bike and don't immediately see the dramatically faster times you were hoping for.

rodgers73

Better bikes tend to sell on two points - weight and quality of components. You could easily keep your existing bike and gradually upgrade the components, and lose weight off yourself instead of the bike. Just a thought.

Gizmodo

rodgers73 wrote:

Better bikes tend to sell on two points - weight and quality of components. You could easily keep your existing bike and gradually upgrade the components, and lose weight off yourself instead of the bike. Just a thought.

I agree, I could spend thousands on a new bike to save 2 or 3kg. Or I could diet and loose the 10kg that I need to loose.

But a shiny new bike vs. a diet, no competition

indjke

I decided to replace my first roadie recently, after the race. Though I commuted on it with pleasure and have never got a seriuos minds about upgrade, in really tough windy and high-speed conditions I realized that my handlebars are too high, and I can't achieve really aggressive "aero" posture though my back allowed it with no problems. Also I couldn't reach low enough position on my clip-on TT bars. So decision was easy and come fast, especially when I found a nice offer of CAAD10 Ultegra (with headtube 3cm lower than on my Trek 1.9).

nhoj

ianbar wrote:

I am sure there is no correct answers for this but it's just a thought. So at what point does a bike need upgrading or time to upgrade your bike fullstop? Like eg someone riding 18mph over 100 miles on a £500 bike? That sounds to me like someone who should have a better bike, I know it's what people can afford just opening the thought really.

There certainly are people doing 100 miles at 18 mph on £500 bikes, and I see nothing wrong or unusual with that. I agree with the chap who said that it depends what you can justify. I have a £500 bike (down from £600, mind you) and at the moment I couldn't afford to replace it with the same let alone a more expensive model. But even if I could afford it, there's nothing wrong with the bike I have. It suits my purposes. I've had if for three years. It's kept in good nick. Feels like new every time I go out. Is a £1000 bike really going to make that much difference? I'll be racing next season, probably mostly time trials, and I'm sure a dedicated time trial bike would make a difference, but I'm still going to ride my £500 road bike. I can say to myself that if I forked out for the TT machine, I'd have done better, but it's all for fun. I won't be riding the Tour de France. Maybe the year after.

markos1963

PostieJohn wrote:

Bit of an odd question, but hey I'll go for it.

It sounds to me like someone either can't judge speed or distance!, that would be mightily impressive times, assuming that's not all downhill

It would certainly not be the time over the distance expected from an entry level bike.
If they were looking for a certain performance level before shelling out 1-2k, I would say it's been reached.

!8mph or more over 100miles is perfectly doable on any road bike regardless of cost. Me and my club mates have no problem maintaining that sort of pace on a whole host of bikes cost far less than £500, several of them being winter single speeders.
Buy a better bike because you want one and can afford it because it's nice to ride something of quality but don't fall into the trap of thinking that a better bike will cover up any riding weakness's that you have.

marcusjb

As others have said, the differences between a £500 and a £3000 bike are marginal in terms of performance gain compared to getting out there and getting yourself fit.

We've all passed some unfit bloater on a £3K Pinarello looking like they are about to barf up their lungs on that 5% ascent - equally we've all been passed by some skinny whippet on a beat-up old steel racer.

The engine is everything and no amount of money can make that work any better.

Clearly, there is nothing stopping anyone buying a new, blingier bike at all - it will make a difference, a lot of psychologically as you get the boost from knowing you're sat on a really nice bike etc. But it won't suddenly unlock your potential as the next TdF winner!

I love buying bikes and bits - and treat myself far too often - but I am under no illusions that a new bike will make me noticeably quicker - small gains for sure, but nothing huge. Only hard work will make me lots faster!

Buy the best you can afford, enjoy it!

PostieJohn

markos1963 wrote:

PostieJohn wrote:

Bit of an odd question, but hey I'll go for it.

It sounds to me like someone either can't judge speed or distance!, that would be mightily impressive times, assuming that's not all downhill

It would certainly not be the time over the distance expected from an entry level bike.
If they were looking for a certain performance level before shelling out 1-2k, I would say it's been reached.

!8mph or more over 100miles is perfectly doable on any road bike regardless of cost. Me and my club mates have no problem maintaining that sort of pace on a whole host of bikes cost far less than £500, several of them being winter single speeders.
Buy a better bike because you want one and can afford it because it's nice to ride something of quality but don't fall into the trap of thinking that a better bike will cover up any riding weakness's that you have.

You're quite right, I was coming at it from an entry level/first bike/first few rides standpoint, although didn't make myself clear, t'was early!.

TanukiRider

If the bike in the shop window is SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINIER than yours, its time to upgrade

ZoomZoom

I suggest link the buying a new bike to a milestone that takes you towards your longer term goals, eg fitness, weight loss, promotion at work etc. so as you say if you do achieve 100 miles at 18 mph then by all means go for it! I'm a couple of weeks away from hitting mine and am already window shopping for the next one!

ddraver

There is a, probably apocrophal, tale of a young junior asking his wise old coach how much money he needs to spend on a bike to make him go faster. The coach replied "Son, the day you need an expensive bike to make you go faster, will be the day people give them to you for free!"

ianbar

well my budget may now be reduced to £700 max (may stretch to 725 for a defy 2) i want an extra wheel to be my turbo trainer wheel anyway so might be my plan.