New bike indecision: new, used, build?
I am 64 inch tall and 150lbs. I have been a pretty avid cyclist the past two years. About 6 month I discovered some metabolic medical issues that I am working through. As a result, I have had to take it a bit easier this year on getting back on the bike. I am starting to get back to where I was, but it is still a work in process.
Previously, I was averaging about 17-19mph. I rode daily 17-22 miles on week days, 30-50 miles on Saturday. So I was riding about 130+/- miles per week.
In the mean time, my son has decided to get into cycling to drop some weight. He has been riding my old Trek 7.5FX, but now wants something more road centric. So rather then buy him a bike, I am in the process of giving him mine and searching for a better one for myself.
Currently, I have a 2017 trek Emonda ALR6 50cm, that I got on the cheap. I like it fine as it takes off quick, but other then that it seem to lag. I am not much of a climber, and where I live are rolling roads with no inclines of any significance. When I got it 3 years ago, I knew nothing about the difference between Domane, Emonda or Madone (or even the anagram naming convention). In fact the only reason I got the Emonda was I had good luck with sizing on trek bikes.
I actually, want something that is faster, and less of a climbing bike. I am really leaning towards something with a more aero design.
My problem is three fold.
1. No LBS near me carries much in the upper mid to higher end.
2. Inventory they do have is typically too big for me to even test ride.
3. Inventory in general is constrained to both the vast number of bikes sold lately and moving into a time period when new bikes are typically released.
So, instead of test riding much, I have had to resort to watching YouTube videos and read reddit/forum posts about what to get. The upside of this is I have become a bit more educated about the bikes in general, but the downside is it is no substitute for a good test ride... even if it is only 10 minutes.
I am looking for something that will compliment a more active/aggressive riding style, but not beat the crap out of me if I do longer rides. Eventually, I want to do 100+ mil rides. I want something with at least ultera di2; on the fence about sram. I want to keep it around $5000-$6000, though I have been eying more expensive bikes.... and wishing I could find one in the $4000 range.
Bikes I am considering (or have test rode):
Trek Madone SL6/SL7 - test road this one twice. Seemed to be a good fit. My biggest hesitation is to get what I want I am going to be at $6500. Then I would still need to swap out some parts to get the fit right.
Trek Domane SL6 - Didn't like this one. Felt a little too comfortable at the expense of performance. Love the idea of the hidden compartment in the frame. Not sure if I should give it another try.
BMC Teammachine SLR02 Disc Four - Rode this one twice. I liked this one, but the one they had in stock was a little too big, and I would want to upgrade to the BMC Teammachine SLR02 Disc Two. Not sure how it stacks up performance wise to other more aero bikes. Would LOVE a timemachine, but a lot more money.
Cannondale SystemSix 2019 Hi-MOD Ultegra Di2 - haven't rode this, but intriguing. Found one for a fair amount off because it is new and inventory that is sitting around the store
Cervelo S3 - My mom used to work at a medical college teaching dentists. So indirectly, I think I qualify to purchase one? Seriously, though I am interested in the S3.
Unsure about Specialized, seems to be more $$$ for what you get. Have heard mixed results about canyon. I am open to other options.
Not sure about new vs used. I am fine buying used on a less expensive bike, but on a more expensive one, I am feeling apprehensive. Finally, debating buying now vs waiting for the possibility of new bikes coming out soon. Plus harder to find one my size and the type bike I am looking for.
I have even debated having a. bike built, although that seems like a lot more money. Could possibly get the price lower if I mix new and used parts... although I am not sure which parts are typically safer to buy used, and would it even make enough of a dent to get the price in my budget.
I know this is a lot to digest and get opinions from other people, but with the lack of ability to do much first hand experience with these, and being unsure of staff at LBS are just trying to sell me what they have vs what would be best for me, I am taking to sourcing the crowd.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Comments
-
Yikes. That's a lot of info 😁
I can't tell you about the S3 for sure, but I have an S5 and have done multiple 200 mile rides on it without any comfort issues. I've also got a Venge, but that hurts after about 150 miles. I generally do road races on the S5 and crits on the Venge, and train on the S5 (or at least I did, until it got smashed by a car last year - waiting for insurance payout to replace it).
The most recent S3 theoretically should be more comfortable than the S5 because the geometry is somewhere between the S5 and R3.
Hope that entirely unscientific, anecdotal advice helps 😂Fat chopper. Some racing. Some testing. Some crashing.
Specialising in Git Daaahns and Cafs. Norvern Munkey/Transplanted Laaandoner.0 -
What's stopping you from doing your 100 milers now?
Spending Megabucks won't make it hugely easier or faster.
All your bikes are big brand with high overheads. You could definitely get better value for money from people like Planet X,
Rose or Canyon.
You could get a set of deep rim wheels for the aero advantage and get some tight Jerseys. That's most of the difference taken care of.
Then you can swap the wheels over to new bikes so long as you stay on rim (presumably) brakes.
Any bike fitters around you ? Most bikes can fit well enough with the right stem and seatpost if the frame is ballpark correct.0 -
I think it ultimately comes down to this:
1. Buy a bike that fits you (hard when you can't try them)
2. Buy the bike you want
The best bike is the one you will actually ride the most.
Liking your bike and enjoying riding it will get you out of the door and onto the bike more often, which in turn will make you fitter and faster.1 -
where are you based? talk of spending money on bikes that are 'names' but wont do the work for you. previous posters have it right0
-
I know, it is a lot of info. Sometimes more info offers more clarity, sometimes it is just more.cruff said:Yikes. That's a lot of info 😁
I can't tell you about the S3 for sure, but I have an S5 and have done multiple 200 mile rides on it without any comfort issues. I've also got a Venge, but that hurts after about 150 miles. I generally do road races on the S5 and crits on the Venge, and train on the S5 (or at least I did, until it got smashed by a car last year - waiting for insurance payout to replace it).
The most recent S3 theoretically should be more comfortable than the S5 because the geometry is somewhere between the S5 and R3.
Hope that entirely unscientific, anecdotal advice helps 😂
Thanks for the info about Cervelo. On the one hand, I am really interested in the S3, although, I am unsure about the company since their acquisition. I am not totally ruling them out, but on the other hand, I am also considering other options.
0 -
fenix said:
What's stopping you from doing your 100 milers now?
Spending Megabucks won't make it hugely easier or faster.
All your bikes are big brand with high overheads. You could definitely get better value for money from people like Planet X,
Rose or Canyon.
You could get a set of deep rim wheels for the aero advantage and get some tight Jerseys. That's most of the difference taken care of.
Then you can swap the wheels over to new bikes so long as you stay on rim (presumably) brakes.
Any bike fitters around you ? Most bikes can fit well enough with the right stem and seatpost if the frame is ballpark correct.
Thanks for your thoughts.
The biggest thing that is keeping from doing 100 mile rides now related to the medical issues I have endured. There were a couple of procedures that took thier toll on me. As a result it is a process to get back to where I was a year ago.
I have a fair amount of very slim fitting castelli clothes to cycle with, and the bike has already been fit to me. But as I mentioned. I am planning on giving my Emonda to my son so we ride together and I would get a new bike.
The biggest things I want in a new bike are disc brakes and Ultegra di2 groups. Taking those two things into consideration, I have not seen one bike less then $4500. That is true of touring, endurance or aero style. So if all three styles of bikes are relatively the same price, my preference would be something more aero.
I haven't looked at PlanetX or Rose. I have looked at Canyon, the bike that would best match is the Aeroad CF SL Disc 8.0 Di2 ($5000). But it is currently not available in my size.0 -
amrushton said:
where are you based? talk of spending money on bikes that are 'names' but wont do the work for you. previous posters have it right
I am not sure if I understand your meaning. Could you please clarify?
Which work are you referring to? I am cycling as much as I can to get back to (and exceed) previous abilities. I can (and am) currently do that, but looking to get a new bike so my son can go with me too.
If the work is trying bikes, how can I do that if no one near me has what I am considering in a size I can test? Without being able to test a bike, every bike is just a name. But the lack of being able to test riding has pushed me into online only investigation process.
Please let me know if I am missing something.0 -
singleton said:
I think it ultimately comes down to this:
1. Buy a bike that fits you (hard when you can't try them)
2. Buy the bike you want
The best bike is the one you will actually ride the most.
Liking your bike and enjoying riding it will get you out of the door and onto the bike more often, which in turn will make you fitter and faster.
The bike that I rode that kinda fits the best was the Madone SL6. It was a 52cm, and if I ordered, I would definitely get the 50cm. I felt that it was fast but forgiving.
The SL7 closer matches what I am looking for spec wise, but I would rather not spend $6500+ on it. I know one of the things to keep in mind, is trek charges a little more for similarly equipped bikes.
The BMC TeamMachine was nice too, And can be had closer to $5000, for everything I want, but it isn't available in my size.0 -
I've got a radical idea!
Why not buy a bike that you can test ride locally say for a £1000 and then buy your dream bike when the pandemic that is sweeping the world is over, or at least under control, at which time you can either travel to a shop that has the bike that you desire in stock, or make a more informed decision when the online platforms eg Canyon have bikes that you like in your size.
Here in the UK most of this summers stock has already been sold in not much more than a month. It's highly unlikely that there will be more bikes made to fill the void, as the lead times to make them and then ship them halfway around the world, means they won't be available until the summer cycling season is over. Unless it is late stock that has been delayed in shipping due to the pandemic, most manufacturers will be concentrating on next years models by now, not making more to meet this summers far higher demand.
There is a very restricted marketplace this year, so either stick with what you have got and wait until next year, or buy something far cheaper that won't lose you too much money now and take a far smaller financial hit when the opportunity to buy what you want is there.
I get it that you want to do things with your son, sounds like a great plan, but the reality is that riding 100 miles can be done on almost any bike regardless of what it costs or what shiny new components are on it. You're still the engine.0 -
Thanks for this idea. I added it to my list of considerations. I appreciate your perspective.Cargobike said:I've got a radical idea!
Why not buy a bike that you can test ride locally say for a £1000 and then buy your dream bike when the pandemic that is sweeping the world is over, or at least under control, at which time you can either travel to a shop that has the bike that you desire in stock, or make a more informed decision when the online platforms eg Canyon have bikes that you like in your size.
Here in the UK most of this summers stock has already been sold in not much more than a month. It's highly unlikely that there will be more bikes made to fill the void, as the lead times to make them and then ship them halfway around the world, means they won't be available until the summer cycling season is over. Unless it is late stock that has been delayed in shipping due to the pandemic, most manufacturers will be concentrating on next years models by now, not making more to meet this summers far higher demand.
There is a very restricted marketplace this year, so either stick with what you have got and wait until next year, or buy something far cheaper that won't lose you too much money now and take a far smaller financial hit when the opportunity to buy what you want is there.
I get it that you want to do things with your son, sounds like a great plan, but the reality is that riding 100 miles can be done on almost any bike regardless of what it costs or what shiny new components are on it. You're still the engine.0
