Keep or Sell???

gcwebbyuk

You may remember me from a few years ago, when I was a regular member.

I had a spine injury which caused me to have an operation in Jan 10. I had hoped my recovery would be quicker.

Unfortunately, over two years on I still unable to ride my bike - which is very upsetting.

I spent a long time replacing and tweaking the bike, but then had to stop.

I am now in a conundrum. My bike has not been used for over 2 years now, and is worth a lot of money. It is sat waiting for me for when I am eventually better, but should I sell it now instead of leaving it to wait?

What is the best way to get a rough value for the bike, to help me in making this decision?

Here is the latest photo of it, taken back in August 2009 (around the last time it was ridden).


The spec is as follows (Your MTB Post - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=12609926):
Frame: Specialized Stumpjumper HT M5 Aluminium
Forks: Fox F90 RL
Bars: Ritchey WCS Carbon Rizer
Stem: Thomson Elite X4 90mm 0 degree (Pictures show Race Face Dues XC (110mm)
Headset: Cane Creek S2
Grips: ODI Rogue Lock On

Front Brake Lever assy: Avid Juicy 5 SL
Front Caliper : Avid Juicy SL
Front disc: Hope SP XC3 160mm
Rear Brake Lever assy: Avid Juicy 5 SL
Rear Caliper: Avid Juicy 5 SL
Rear Disc: Hope SP XC3 140mm
Hoses: Avid Juicy

Shifters: SRAM X-0 (Matchmaker Adaptors)
Cables: Gore Ride-On Low Friction Sealed
Front Mech: Shimano XTR
Rear Mech: SRAM X-0

Seat: Charge Spoon Titanium & Leather
Seat Post: Cane Creek Thudbuster LT - also a Thomson set back seat post
Seat Post Clamp: Hope QR

Cranks: Shimano XTR
Chainring(s): Shimano XTR
Chain: SRAM PC-991 Hollowpin
Cassette: Shimano XT
Pedals: Wellgo MG-1
Bottom Bracket: Shimano XTR

Front Wheel: Hope SPXC3
Rim: DT Swiss XR 4.20
Spokes: DT Swiss Super Competition Triple Butted
Hub: Hope Pro III (SPXC3)
Tube: Bontrager Race X-Lite
Tire: Bontrager Mud-X 2.0 TLR
Skewer: Hope QR

Back Wheel: Hope SPXC3
Rim: DT Swiss XR 4.20
Spokes: DT Swiss Super Competition Triple Butted
Hub: Hope Pro III (SPXC3)
Tube: Bontrager Race X-Lite
Tire: Bontrager Mud-X 2.0 TLR
Skewer: Hope QR

Weight: approx 10.5 Kg (23 lb)

So if you were in my position - what would you do? Bare in mind it will be a good 6 months before I am able to ride the bike again, it at all

Chunkers1980

Keep it.

mattv

Keep it. It will not get anything like as much cash as it cost you to build, and you will have to do it all again in 6 months when you can ride again. Looks like an awesome ride!

cooldad

Sell it. It's worth about a tenner, but as I am charitable, and in view of your injury, I'll offer you £20 posted.

gcwebbyuk

cooldad wrote:

Sell it. It's worth about a tenner, but as I am charitable, and in view of your injury, I'll offer you £20 posted.

Sounds like a deal - will have to look out for a box...

cooldad

Get well soon.

supersonic

Welcome back! Keep it!

styxd

If you're going to sell it, split it up and sell all the bits individually - you'll get alot more money back that way

Long_Time_Lurker

It's not going to depreciate that much over 6 months.
Ask the question again in October when you have a better idea about your health.

sloppycowpat

keep it

you will miss it when you are better and hope your riding again asap

bennett_346

That is still a great ride, just keep it unless you really want a new ride.

gcwebbyuk

Thanks for all the responses

I think you are right, keeping it is probably the wisest decision.

I am pretty concerned though that the 6 months might become years. The operation was supposed to have me back to "normal" again after 6 weeks...

My latest MRI scans show that I have a herniated disc in my lower back now, as well as my neck being fixed in kyphosis (loss of natural curvature of the spine due to the replacement discs). Cycling will be a good exercise to do if I can get out of pain, but the muscles in my upper back/neck are in a permanent state of stretch, and those in my chest and front of the neck, are the opposite... Can I get a replacement spine anywhere? :P

diy

A mate bought something fairly similar for £800. I think it was 2010. I'd keep it

DodgeT

If you sell it, it's kind of saying you've given up hope of ever getting back on it again.
So i'd keep it, if nothing else just to polish whilst thinking, i'm going to get back on you one day

Lovely bike btw.

Dirtrider

just out of interest, say you do get back on the bike, wouldnt a full suspension be a better idea anyway?

If you ahve a bad back and it's never going to be 100%, nailing it on the trails all the time on a hardtail doesn't make much sense. I love the bike, i bet it flys around trails. But maybe you would be better considering something with a bit of give if you do manage to start riding again?

gcwebbyuk

Dirtrider wrote:

just out of interest, say you do get back on the bike, wouldnt a full suspension be a better idea anyway?

If you ahve a bad back and it's never going to be 100%, nailing it on the trails all the time on a hardtail doesn't make much sense. I love the bike, i bet it flys around trails. But maybe you would be better considering something with a bit of give if you do manage to start riding again?

This has been my thoughts for quite some time now. The suspension seat post takes quite a lot of the bumps out of the trail.

I won't be riding hard once back on the bike, I will mainly be sticking to roads, and Sustrans trails (designed for road / hybrid bikes). I would probably swap the tyres to semi-slicks for some time to get my fitness back.

gcwebbyuk

DodgeT wrote:

If you sell it, it's kind of saying you've given up hope of ever getting back on it again.
So i'd keep it, if nothing else just to polish whilst thinking, i'm going to get back on you one day

Lovely bike btw.

This is exactly what my wife has been saying to me. She is worried if I sell it, I will be giving up

As for polishing it - I would love to be able to, but my spine is so buggered, even that hurts. I can pat the saddle though and tell the bike I will be back at some point

gcwebbyuk

diy wrote:

A mate bought something fairly similar for £800. I think it was 2010. I'd keep it

For that price, I would definitely keep it - I hate to think how much money I have invested in it over the years...

jfry94

keep it itll be a big moral boost to have something to look foward to i know when i did my knee ligaments that having my bike to look forward to gave me something to be happy about when time's got hard. get well soon

buzz1

My mate fell down a 8 foot walkway on a container ship at work and was out for over a year, when he got back on the bike (HT) he really struggled, so he invested in a FS (problem solved).
My advise - sell the frame and buy a FS frame then transfer all the quality parts you have to that.

Ex0dUs

Id keep it no doubt.

Its always been there with you through everything, and you've always looked at it and known one day you will be back on it, no other bike can hold that value for you, its irreplaceable.

matt581

buzz1 wrote:

My mate fell down a 8 foot walkway on a container ship at work and was out for over a year, when he got back on the bike (HT) he really struggled, so he invested in a FS (problem solved).
My advise - sell the frame and buy a FS frame then transfer all the quality parts you have to that.

This isn't a bad shout providing you have the dosh. It will give you something to focus on while you recover and a bit of a well earnt treat for yourself for being out for so long. As well as a bit of motivation to get fit again.

Hope you get well soon mate.

gcwebbyuk

Thanks peeps.

A full fs has always been a thought in my mind. At the moment though, just getting through the day is difficult, so any spannering is going to be months away too.

I will get there...