Older Dudes, Personal Experience Please

Frank Wilson

Not being ageist here as I am an older dude myself, just wanted to sound people out about whether to upgrade or not and if any of my fellow oldies have done so was it worth it.

Like a number on here I am a returning cyclist of advancing years. When I first got back onto cycling I went out and purchased an off the peg £700 bike from a manufacturer who quite often gets derided on here.

Said bike has been reliable / comfortable and about 7K miles on from purchase still does a good job, minor money has been spent, a couple of punctures a couple of chains (not broken but replaced on mileage)

My average speed is nothing great (about 15mph) I am toying with the idea of buying myself a new bike, this would be my final bike purchase in all probability. The bike I am looking at is considerably more expensive than current trusty steed, obviously lighter (carbon) better wheels gear set etc.

What I am taking a long time to ask my fellow older dudes is if you have gone through this process did the new bike make your cycling any faster / easier / more enjoyable or did it end up being a vanity purchase.

norvernrob

A better bike always makes cycling more enjoyable because you will want to ride it more. You don't need any more justification than that, if you want another bike buy one!

crescent

Agreed, even if it is a vanity purchase, if you want it and can afford it, then go for it.

PS : I'm not an older dude, just chipping in with my tuppence worth. Ahhhhh, tuppence. I remember when tuppence used to buy you a new suit, a slap up meal etc etc......

paul64

If a better bike gives you enjoyment Frank then i say go for it, maybe try some if you can. Having turned 50 doesn't make me appreciate my bikes less even if I'll never achieve the fitness I once had. A mate is a better faster rider than me on his Secteur but having ridden it I would not enjoy it as much as the bikes that spoil me. None of them top end but all a pleasure to get out on. A classic steel Roberts which I recently rebuilt with Veloce, a carbon Viner with SRAM Rival, an alu Fausto Coppi with 9 speed Record and a carbon Ribble with ultegra 6600. I'm loving the brompton also and the Whyte hardtail when i take to the trails.

Bobbinogs

What about a nice retro bike like the one you always wanted as a lad but couldn't afford? That would put a smile on your face...which will make you at least 3.28mph faster, allegedly.

Lots of great options out there and you don't have to keep it stupidly authentic, stick a small ring on the front and some big cogs on the back and ride it like an old school hero rather than yet another pro wannabe :-)

briantrumpet

If you're more mature you will appreciate the finer things more. Especially if you've been riding something average. I bought my first modern nice bike (£1000) at age 46. And at 46.5 I bought my second modern nice bike (£2000). I justified the second one by saying that as I probably have fewer years of really being able to push myself than someone who's 20, I might as well buy the bike NOW, as every year is even more precious when you're older.

I don't regret either purchase. In particular, the second nice bike (a Cannondale SuperSix) is just a dream to ride. The only regret is I didn't get into proper cycling earlier. If you're tempted, and you can afford it, do it. Life is made of experiences. And nice bikes can give you nice experiences.

diamonddog

NorvernRob wrote:

A better bike always makes cycling more enjoyable because you will want to ride it more. You don't need any more justification than that, if you want another bike buy one!

^^This, 100%

Anonymous

Wow, everyone is in agreement so far and no one saying its a waste of money :shock:

A better, lighter bike is always a good idea, from 2 to 92 and beyond.
One of the great things about bikes is that they are different, so you will notice a difference, and that difference should put a smile on your face if you enjoy cycling.

Not sure I would go down the retro route. Maybe as a separate purchase (third bike), but not as the replacement.
Things are never as good as you remember them.

Age does not have much to do with it anyway. You are as young as you feel.
Anyone should enjoy a new/better bike, and no one knows how long they have left to ride it.

My tip would be to get a much better bike, not just a slightly better one.
Don't go silly but make it noticeably different/better.
The new Shimano groupsets are fab. Get 105 or Ultegra if you go shimano, or maybe try Campag.

How about Di2. Pushing a button hundreds of times is a lot easier on the joints than hundreds of massive lever swings.
That said, the new Ultegra almost feels like its electronic!

mercia_man

Well said, Carbonator, briantrumpet etc. I'm an older dude and I've recently justified splashing out on an expensive new bike by saying that as I've got maybe only 20 more years of cycling in me, I might as well get the best I can. Life is too short to put up with second best and to regret not having bought something better. Obviously, most bikes are largely vanity purchases for enthusiasts like us. But nothing wrong with that. The joy of ownership of something really good is difficult to define. But it will help you enjoy cycling into your 60s, 70s and even beyond.

whoof

If you have the money and want it buy it.
If you want someone to say it's a waste of money to buy a new bike try asking the same question on the CTC forum. I use both forums; on here I'm an old fart still using down-tube shifters on my ride to work bike. On the CTC forum I'm a bright young thing with a carbon bike and bedecked with showy lycra.

popularname

Best way to spend your money - my first carbon bike was stolen and I nearly didn't replace it, sticking with my (very nice) steel tourer. Then I got a new carbon steed. Excellent choice, well worth it. The quality of the ride fails to wither with age...

...which is nice considering some of the other things that do

Smokin Joe

In my youth I raced on a budget because I couldn't afford decent kit on an apprentices wages. In my sixties now I ride purely for leisure, but I've just upgraded to a carbon fibre frame, lighter wheels and am about to order some Veloflex clinchers with a long term plan to go down the electronic shifting route as prices drop.

Why stick with low end kit just because you are older, as you age you need all the technological help you can afford to overcome fading muscles. As for retro bikes, I rode them when they were new and have no desire to go back. Progress happens for a reason.

andrewjoseph

i've got a ti tourer, i'm going to be riding that until i'm 102, then i'll get a trike. i'm 55 now so want to get my money's worth

keef66

I'm in a similar position. Returned to road cycling at 50, just having had knee surgery. Thought I'd only be buying the one bike, so it had to be versatile. Accordingly went for a Racelight Tk; light alloy frame with lively geometry, but also clearance / mounts for proper mudguards. Had it fitted with a 105 triple groupset, and eventually a Brooks saddle. Nearly 8 years on I still love riding it.

A couple of years ago I found I had a bit of disposable income at the very time that Westbrooks were selling off the previous year's Scott CR1-SL framesets for £500. The CR1 had been on my original shortlist because of it's geometry and claims of comfort over rough surfaces, but ruled out because of limited mudguard options. As a second, summer / dry weather bike it was too good to resist. N+1 and all that. First I built it up by stripping all the kit off the alu bike, just to see how it felt. Then I bought enough bits via sales / ebay to build 2 complete bikes.

The carbon bike feels a lot lighter when picking it up, it's definitely more comfy over the crappy road surfaces round here (same tyres, pressures etc), and it feels more sprightly when accelerating or climbing but TBH I can't claim it's made me any faster overall. I suspect I could ride it for longer with less fatigue.

The best bit is having 2 bikes to choose from. If it's wet or likely to be I take the 'winter' bike with it's proper mudguards. If it's dry or mainly so I'll take the CR1, and maybe my grin will be a little wider. A second bike is handy too when one is in pieces being repaired or serviced.

If circumstances forced me once again to have just one bike, I think it would have to be the more versatile Racelight with it's mudguards. In this country the wet days seem to outnumber the dry ones. I'd miss the CR1 though.

If you can afford a second, nicer bike, go for it!

southdownswolf

Not having much disposable money, I can't afford to spend much on bikes, so I have a "cheap" Allez as my normal road bike and an old Raleigh steel framed as my winter road bike.
However, my cycling partner has an Enigma Excel which I have tried a couple of times and it is lovely to ride. Another friend has a Cervelo S3 and again, it is a nicer bike to ride than my Allez, but I would take the Enigma every time over the Cervelo for day to day riding. The Cervelo may be faster and lighter, but the Enigma felt so comfortable.

If I was to spend thousands on a bike that was to be my day to day bike, I would probably be going down the route of a hand built frame rather than worrying too much on the components. Components will be replaced over time as they wear out but a nice hand built frame with your own paint choice will always give you a smile even just looking at it, compared to an "off the shelf" bike.

drlodge

I'm 47 and spent quite a bit 2.5 years ago on getting a custom built Rourke. Yes it mad me a bit faster but mostly makes riding more enjoyable. If I was doing it again, knowing what I know now it would likely be a WyndyMilla Massive Attack (may be the SL version) but the Rourke is still a really nice bike.

You only live once and can't take money with you, its best to enjoy it while you can!

rafletcher

Another "older dude" here - tho "dude" for a 57 year old, hmm.

I've got two nice bikes now. A Genesis Equilibrium disc 20 (105 11sp equipped) as a wet weather/winter/occasional commute/light tourer. Lovely machine, very comfy. That replaced an ageing "Argos Audax" that I'd bought used a few years ago, but which was always a bit small.

And I also have a "bling" Sunday bike - an Argos18 Gallium pro that I've built up with Ultegra Di2 and some DT Swiss wheels.

Can I do either "justice" - not is out and out cycling terms. But boy, do I enjoy using them

oldbazza

Another 'oldie' here.

Got back just over 18 mnths ago and thought the ally Ridley Icarus I ended up with(via selling a too large frame and re-using the parts for the Icarus) I now have a four bike stable.
Still have the Icarus but added to it are a Trek ss commute/train hack,a Planet X XLS (with two sets of wheels)and now a Ridley Helium SL;The latter is the most I've spent on a bike but I've not regretted it for a moment(ok maybe when the credit card bill was due :roll: ).

phreak

I don't know your situation financially, but an alternative perspective would be to put the money towards trips to the mountains. Whilst I love cycling around the lanes of Britain, by far and away my best memories on a bike have been cycling in Italy, France, Austria and Switzerland.

So if I only had £x to spend, I'd spend it on a trip or two to somewhere hilly. Obviously if you can afford that plus a new bike then even better

trooperk

Just do what most people do,go and buy an overpriced Specialized.

daxplusplus

phreak wrote:

I don't know your situation financially, but an alternative perspective would be to put the money towards trips to the mountains. Whilst I love cycling around the lanes of Britain, by far and away my best memories on a bike have been cycling in Italy, France, Austria and Switzerland.

So if I only had £x to spend, I'd spend it on a trip or two to somewhere hilly. Obviously if you can afford that plus a new bike then even better

+1 to the above.

Also a new bike won't make you faster. You training and getting fitter will make you faster - so if that's what you want then you need to have a bit of a re-think.

andy9964

If you have the money, why not? Age shouldn't be a consideration.
An older "dude" I know (78 years old) has at least 10 bikes that I know of, and he went and bought a folder so he could go shopping on it

He's got one bike less now, as he's just given me an old 753 Raleigh frame set to build up

tubaonwheels

I'm an old git (61) and recent convert to road biking after years of running... followed by a dabble at mtb'ing. Treated myself to a Trek domane 4.5 this year as joined a club and love hills. Thinking was get a bike with the right gearing for the hills and a more comfortable ride. Delighted with it so far and the training is going well for the Fred Whitton. Get what you can afford to suit what you want to do and Enjoy it. I'm loving this next stage of my life!
Steve.

mamba80

Only a fool doesn't buy the best they can afford and get the joe friel cyclists training bible, i have found that if you can allow at least 500 hrs per year and do some limited strength training, on bike and home gym, you ll slow that downward curve.

One of the benefits of getting older is there are less distractions, so more time and for many, more money

lesfirth

I do like this term 'older dude'. Not long ago someone refered to the likes of me, on this forum, as being in there ' twilight years'!

That seriously depressed me. As an older dude I do not know how long I will be as active as I am now. It could be 20 years or one. There is nothing makes me feel younger than a new part for one of my bikes or even better a whole new bike. If you have the cash do while you can.

tubaonwheels

I'll give the bible a miss for now... I'm still working as a nearly full time dry stone waller at present and that's ample strength training for me thanks - getting plenty of bike training in though!

dabber

Well, I'll be 68 in a few weeks time and have just bought myself another Wilier which I absolutely love to ride. It's silly but just looking at it makes me feel good. Is it making any quicker, well, probably not but I'm still picking up PBs on Strava.
So whilst I've got the health to ride I'm going to make the best of it and enjoy myself.

MisterMuncher

Cycling is about the journey, not the destination, so be in the best place you can be for it.

Bordersroadie

Your age is a perfectly acceptable justification* for buying a new bike.

I'm a young dude at only 51 but last year used my age as an excuse for a lovely new bike. When I am 60, 70 and 80 I plan to do the same.

* as is any other reason you can fabricate. "Life's too short" is a good one that covers all, especially as we get older.

Bordersroadie

Dabber, chapeau to you, sir, role models like you are the ones I choose to follow. For many years I was addicted to all-year round North Sea windsurfing (not for the faint-hearted) and used to sail regularly with a very fit late 60's guy in some pretty gnarly conditions.

I cycled in the Dolomites last year and there were plenty of super-fit wrinklies on state-of-the-art Italian bikes, going very fast up and down mountains.

hypster

59 pushing 60 here and have been cycling seriously for over 30 years. I'd agree with pretty much all the sentiment on here but get the bike you want not the one you think you need. By that I mean don't just be a slave to fashion and feel you have to have deep section carbon rims or whatever. By the same token that's not to say you shouldn't get deep section carbon rims if that's what you want!

Having been cycling for a while now I'm sure you must have some idea of the sort of bike you are attracted to. Read magazine road tests/reviews and narrow down your shortlist and try and get some demo rides. That will help you to decided what features you may or may not like in a bike.

The frame is the most important part of the bike so if you are on a budget then get the best one you can even if it means fitting a lower spec groupset or wheels. You will be able to upgrade the wheels as your finances allow and the groupset will wear out in a few years anyway and you can upgrade then. Having said that if you can afford Di2 now then by all means go for it.

Even if you don't go for it make sure the frame you choose has internal routing for the cables as I'm sure electronic shifting will be the future anyway. Similarly with disc brakes as well. Many road bikes are starting to come with them as standard and when the UCI eventually ratify them for racing (in a year or two), they will become de rigueur.