Worth replacing my bike?
uberkraaft
Posts: 97
As with any red blooded 'normal' man I am always thinking about getting a new bike, but with an impending 40th birthday on the horizon it presenting me with a bit of a quandary. In a nutshell, I'm not sure whether replacing my current bike would be a bit of a mistake - I'd appreciate some 'wisdom' :?
My current setup is an 853 Reynolds frame, built by Rory O'Brien (probably 80s/90s), Ultegra 9 speed, Ksyrium SSC SL (early Elites?), Ergonova Pro bars, 105 pedals ... a bit of a Frankenbike by all accounts. In all honesty, it's a cracking ride, soaks up the bumps, probably around 8Kg all in ... but then, it's all getting a little tired. The gears have developed some 'interesting' habits, not changing crisply, sticking here and there and generally not being trustworthy. I've had them looked at by people who know and told 'they'll never be right'
Also, as I said, the wheels are probably a bit past their best too. The frame is in pretty good nick.
I'm contemplating a few bikes - Canyon/Foil/Supersix (!) - Probably £2500 - £3500 budget and most likely a step up in groupset I think.
My riding - 80/100 miles per week (2 rides) generally with a sprinkling of sportives throughout the year. I'd say I generally do it 'for pleasure' - probably ave. 17mph for a couple of hours on my own - not many hills in Essex, but I love to do hill repeats. (So yes I know I don't 'need' a fancy bike)
So, I've squirrelled away half the budget and the Mrs is warm to the idea of buying a new machine for my 40th. Is it likely that one of these sexy carbon numbers will match up to my silky steel? Will I lose a lot in comfort or will it not matter with my riding? The 853 isn't particularly 'spritely' ... am I likely to feels the difference with a super cf jobby?
Thanks in advance. Apols for long post.
Matt
My current setup is an 853 Reynolds frame, built by Rory O'Brien (probably 80s/90s), Ultegra 9 speed, Ksyrium SSC SL (early Elites?), Ergonova Pro bars, 105 pedals ... a bit of a Frankenbike by all accounts. In all honesty, it's a cracking ride, soaks up the bumps, probably around 8Kg all in ... but then, it's all getting a little tired. The gears have developed some 'interesting' habits, not changing crisply, sticking here and there and generally not being trustworthy. I've had them looked at by people who know and told 'they'll never be right'
Also, as I said, the wheels are probably a bit past their best too. The frame is in pretty good nick.I'm contemplating a few bikes - Canyon/Foil/Supersix (!) - Probably £2500 - £3500 budget and most likely a step up in groupset I think.
My riding - 80/100 miles per week (2 rides) generally with a sprinkling of sportives throughout the year. I'd say I generally do it 'for pleasure' - probably ave. 17mph for a couple of hours on my own - not many hills in Essex, but I love to do hill repeats. (So yes I know I don't 'need' a fancy bike)
So, I've squirrelled away half the budget and the Mrs is warm to the idea of buying a new machine for my 40th. Is it likely that one of these sexy carbon numbers will match up to my silky steel? Will I lose a lot in comfort or will it not matter with my riding? The 853 isn't particularly 'spritely' ... am I likely to feels the difference with a super cf jobby?
Thanks in advance. Apols for long post.
Matt
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Go ti0
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Treat yourself!!0
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Well first off you sound like you love your current bike so this is all good.
With that budget you could get something nice but depends what you want from the new bike. If like me you see the 40th birthday as a bit of a milestone and want something special to mark the occaision i think its a great idea but i would want something a little bit unique as opposed to a run of the mill CF bike. That said your steel bike seems a bit special already.
Go fo it is what i say. A nice TI Van Nich Astraeus would be sweet.0 -
I would go and ride a vew bikes in your price range first and then decide if you think they will add any more benefit over your current bike. Then take it from there.
For that kind of cash you could give your current bike a new lease of life with a full overhaul and even a custom respray by someone like Argos.
Or are you just creating problems with the bike to justify treating yourself??? Its your 40th so treat yourself either way.
Any more details on your current bike? Pics?“Training is like fighting with a gorilla. You don’t stop when you’re tired. You stop when the gorilla is tired.”0 -
By the way you have come to the wrong forum if you think you will get a balanced debate going on this 0
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I'm not trying to start a Ti Vs. Steel Vs. CF Vs. Alu thread here but have a look at what Enigma have to offer:
http://www.enigmabikes.com/
Great bikes, great company to deal with and plenty of scope to personalise your spec and finish.“Training is like fighting with a gorilla. You don’t stop when you’re tired. You stop when the gorilla is tired.”0 -
uberkraaft wrote:As with any red blooded 'normal' man I am always thinking about getting a new bike, but with an impending 40th birthday on the horizon it presenting me with a bit of a quandary. In a nutshell, I'm not sure whether replacing my current bike would be a bit of a mistake - I'd appreciate some 'wisdom' :?
Your first mistake is to assume that you have to replace. You accumulate, of course!- - - - - - - - - -
On Strava.{/url}0 -
Go for this (if the correct size is available) with six months interest free credit (to stretch the budget!):
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... b65s6p43180 -
Solboy - Ha! I did put 'wisdom' in quotes!
Thanks for the responses guys. I'm not creating problems with the current bike! - It was looked at by some race techs so I know it won't ever be 'right'.
I have considered an overhaul but I'm not that comfortable in ploughing cash into something that is a little creaky. I forgot to mention it was a 'hand me down' too ... Obviously I like the idea of starting from scratch with something that's going to be firing on all cylinders, just don't want it to feel like a let down.
Did think about Ti too but didn't think it'd be far enough away from the 853? Something like a Ultimate CF I figured would be really crisp & responsive? I guess I need to do some testing ...
Des - I wish! I'm always in trouble for monopolising the garage space 0 -
letap73 wrote:Go for this (if the correct size is available) with six months interest free credit (to stretch the budget!):
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... b65s6p4318
Now that's plain mean! What a cracker! 0 -
Just looked at some of your work uberkraaft. Go custom and design your own finish.“Training is like fighting with a gorilla. You don’t stop when you’re tired. You stop when the gorilla is tired.”0
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Jordan - Ha! I think I might have trouble getting the paint to stick to a Ti frame 0
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uberkraaft wrote:Jordan - Ha! I think I might have trouble getting the paint to stick to a Ti frame
You can just prime it with an etch primer and paint it as you would a steel frame, I think?- - - - - - - - - -
On Strava.{/url}0 -
You probably don't need to 'plough' money into your current bike. Ditch the modern shifters and get some downtube shifters - second hand from Ebay or new from somewhere like Spa Cycles. That done, you'll never have to worry about the shifting ever again! As for the wheels - if the rims aren't worn out and the bearings OK, maybe they just need a true up. Take them along to a good LBS who knows how to build wheels and get their opinion.
As far as new bikes go - the main difference I reckon you'll notice is gearing. If you benefit from a modern compact gearing (which you might not in Essex) then the new bike will feel easier. If both old and new end up with similar gearing, it won't make that much difference. But a new bike is nice. FWIW, I have old steel (I can't get excited about Al or Ti!) and modern carbon road bikes and I like both.Faster than a tent.......0 -
Rolf?! I'm not sure I'm with you? I'm pretty sure I don't want to 'retrofy' it ... Wheels have been trued, they've got some life in them, they're just getting a bit long in the tooth.
I'll stick with a double - I like it that way. So basically, you're saying it's always nice to have a new bike?! 0 -
At 40 should should be buying a red sports car...'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.0
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a nice new summer bike is a strategic purchase, keep your trusty old one for winter and waves of nostalgia.0
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uberkraaft wrote:Rolf?! I'm not sure I'm with you? I'm pretty sure I don't want to 'retrofy' it ... Wheels have been trued, they've got some life in them, they're just getting a bit long in the tooth.
I'll stick with a double - I like it that way. So basically, you're saying it's always nice to have a new bike?!
Not exactly! I think I'm saying that a new bike will (in performance terms) make less difference than you think especially if you are sticking with a double anyway. However, a spare bike is always handy and if the gearing on the current bike is knackered and you don't want to spend much money on it, you can always fix it and make it better by just fitting DT shifters (which are not worse than modern combined STi type - just different) which should cost peanuts and make for an inherently more reliable bike.
Or, just get the new bike and source new parts for the old bike over time - picking up the bargains when they turn up.Faster than a tent.......0
