The comment about replacing cranks every couple of years is out in la la land! I have a crank with over 150,000 miles on it and it's still good.
I understand you want a retirement bike. Paying $4000 for a bike won't get you but maybe 2% better bike than a $2,500 bike will give you. On the other hand, if you want this next bike to last a lifetime then I would look into either steel or titanium if you're not racing; the TI option might be out of your price range, but the steel is not.
I really don't see why to go with Ultegra when 105 works great; you could use 105 briftors with Ultegra rear and front derailleurs; the briftors are what's expensive. On my bike I only went with Ultegra rear derailleur and left the front 105, some bikes come with a mixture of 105 and Ultegra to save you money.
You're going to get a lot of ideas to go mad pondering around in your head, so I suggest you think about how long do you want the bike to last, and if components fail and need to be replaced can you afford the cost later on a limited income? You didn't say what you wanted the bike to do, are you at some point wanting to go bike camping/touring, or just ride around in the area you live?
I do agree with you about not wanting Di2, I don't think the system is worth it, batteries last about 5 years, cost around $85 to replace; the technology will at some point become obsolete then you can't get parts for it; you have to remember to keep it charged, the list goes on. If you want simplicity then go with mechanical stuff.
The comment about replacing cranks every couple of years is out in la la land! I have a crank with over 150,000 miles on it and it's still good.
I understand you want a retirement bike. Paying $4000 for a bike won't get you but maybe 2% better bike than a $2,500 bike will give you. On the other hand, if you want this next bike to last a lifetime then I would look into either steel or titanium if you're not racing; the TI option might be out of your price range, but the steel is not.
I really don't see why to go with Ultegra when 105 works great; you could use 105 briftors with Ultegra rear and front derailleurs; the briftors are what's expensive. On my bike I only went with Ultegra rear derailleur and left the front 105, some bikes come with a mixture of 105 and Ultegra to save you money.
You're going to get a lot of ideas to go mad pondering around in your head, so I suggest you think about how long do you want the bike to last, and if components fail and need to be replaced can you afford the cost later on a limited income? You didn't say what you wanted the bike to do, are you at some point wanting to go bike camping/touring, or just ride around in the area you live?
I do agree with you about not wanting Di2, I don't think the system is worth it, batteries last about 5 years, cost around $85 to replace; the technology will at some point become obsolete then you can't get parts for it; you have to remember to keep it charged, the list goes on. If you want simplicity then go with mechanical stuff.
150,000 miles (241,041.6 km, 150,290,323 Ariana Grande) on one set of chainrings?
Now thats good going.
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The camera down the willy isn't anything like as bad as it sounds.
The comment about replacing cranks every couple of years is out in la la land! I have a crank with over 150,000 miles on it and it's still good.
I understand you want a retirement bike. Paying $4000 for a bike won't get you but maybe 2% better bike than a $2,500 bike will give you. On the other hand, if you want this next bike to last a lifetime then I would look into either steel or titanium if you're not racing; the TI option might be out of your price range, but the steel is not.
I really don't see why to go with Ultegra when 105 works great; you could use 105 briftors with Ultegra rear and front derailleurs; the briftors are what's expensive. On my bike I only went with Ultegra rear derailleur and left the front 105, some bikes come with a mixture of 105 and Ultegra to save you money.
You're going to get a lot of ideas to go mad pondering around in your head, so I suggest you think about how long do you want the bike to last, and if components fail and need to be replaced can you afford the cost later on a limited income? You didn't say what you wanted the bike to do, are you at some point wanting to go bike camping/touring, or just ride around in the area you live? .
No reason why carbon or aluminium can't be a bike for life - in fact the only frameset I've scrapped for other than crash damage was steel due to a rust hole in one chain stay. Carbon is also very repairable with lots of places offering carbon repair these days.
The comment about replacing cranks every couple of years is out in la la land! I have a crank with over 150,000 miles on it and it's still good.
I understand you want a retirement bike. Paying $4000 for a bike won't get you but maybe 2% better bike than a $2,500 bike will give you. On the other hand, if you want this next bike to last a lifetime then I would look into either steel or titanium if you're not racing; the TI option might be out of your price range, but the steel is not.
I really don't see why to go with Ultegra when 105 works great; you could use 105 briftors with Ultegra rear and front derailleurs; the briftors are what's expensive. On my bike I only went with Ultegra rear derailleur and left the front 105, some bikes come with a mixture of 105 and Ultegra to save you money.
You're going to get a lot of ideas to go mad pondering around in your head, so I suggest you think about how long do you want the bike to last, and if components fail and need to be replaced can you afford the cost later on a limited income? You didn't say what you wanted the bike to do, are you at some point wanting to go bike camping/touring, or just ride around in the area you live? .
No reason why carbon or aluminium can't be a bike for life - in fact the only frameset I've scrapped for other than crash damage was steel due to a rust hole in one chain stay. Carbon is also very repairable with lots of places offering carbon repair these days.
Yup, exactly.
Carbon, steel, ali, scandium, whatever - all perfect for decades.
Bit of a weird statement tbh.
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The camera down the willy isn't anything like as bad as it sounds.
Thanks. I don't get the retirement thing. Next year I'm 50, retirement is almost 20yr ahead.
I returned to road cycling at 50, so I'm not sure where the retirement thing came from? Approaching 65 now and still eyeing up potential new bikes. I suspect my very last bike purchase will have a motor of some kind...
Avid cyclist from the age of 12 right through my student years, but in my mid 20s my uninsured1975 Raleigh Tour of Britain gas-pipe 10 speed bike got stolen, then life got in the way. Jobs, marriage, doing up houses, raising children, fixing cars etc seemed to fill my every waking hour. Then when the kids started riding bikes I bought a £50 MTB type BSO in a box off a bloke trading from a disused garage forecourt. Despite the fact it fell apart with annoying regularity I realised how much I missed riding. Small windfall meant I could buy a decent MTB (old school rigid steel) which I absolutely loved. Years passed and the kids went off to college, my knees continued to deteriorate, and I found myself riding more on road than off. 50th birthday coincided with a generous bonus payment so thought I'd treat myself to a modern road bike. Been loving it ever since
I still think the Giant Defy is exactly what you're looking for. OK, it might not be the sexiest bike around, but I think it looks cool in this livery.
Posts
You do not know which bracket you will fall into on the day of purchase.
I am not sure. You have no chance.
Took sges for warranty replacement because Shimano GB had run out of yhem due to them sll falling apart.
All replaced with Red, 3 years and thoudands of miles (and more km) not a problem.
I understand you want a retirement bike. Paying $4000 for a bike won't get you but maybe 2% better bike than a $2,500 bike will give you. On the other hand, if you want this next bike to last a lifetime then I would look into either steel or titanium if you're not racing; the TI option might be out of your price range, but the steel is not.
Take a look at this website: https://road.cc/content/buyers-guide/26-best-steel-road-bikes-and-frames-194720
I really don't see why to go with Ultegra when 105 works great; you could use 105 briftors with Ultegra rear and front derailleurs; the briftors are what's expensive. On my bike I only went with Ultegra rear derailleur and left the front 105, some bikes come with a mixture of 105 and Ultegra to save you money.
You're going to get a lot of ideas to go mad pondering around in your head, so I suggest you think about how long do you want the bike to last, and if components fail and need to be replaced can you afford the cost later on a limited income? You didn't say what you wanted the bike to do, are you at some point wanting to go bike camping/touring, or just ride around in the area you live?
I do agree with you about not wanting Di2, I don't think the system is worth it, batteries last about 5 years, cost around $85 to replace; the technology will at some point become obsolete then you can't get parts for it; you have to remember to keep it charged, the list goes on. If you want simplicity then go with mechanical stuff.
I don't get the retirement thing. Next year I'm 50, retirement is almost 20yr ahead.
Now thats good going.
No reason why carbon or aluminium can't be a bike for life - in fact the only frameset I've scrapped for other than crash damage was steel due to a rust hole in one chain stay. Carbon is also very repairable with lots of places offering carbon repair these days.
Carbon, steel, ali, scandium, whatever - all perfect for decades.
Bit of a weird statement tbh.
But you knew that.
And, tbh, he also didn't say what ype of crank whereas we are strictly discussing those Ultegra cranks that fall apart a lot.
Why did you pause?
Just curious.
105 version too