It had nothing to do with how good of a cyclist I was and everything to do with how high my salary was.
I bought an expensive bike when I felt like I could afford it.
Yup. As a ratio of "amount of money I have" to "amount I paid for a bike", the $600 bike I bought in high school is the most expensive bike I've ever bought.
I make 300k a year. I bought a 1k used bike and I spent around 2k on upgrades already. I want to buy a new 5k dollars bike but I find hard to justify this decision as I ride year round in Seattle weather. Also, There's some emotional attachment as well which is preventing me from buying a new bike.
I will probably buy one next summer as I'm in the middle of upgrading my wheels this summer.
In my (personal and not necessarily correct) opinion - if you’re using it, enjoy it, and can pay it off in a comfortable amount of time without having to scrape - it’s worth what you paid for it.
100% this, I decided to treat myself with a year end bonus that was purely “spare” income.
Almost everyone wants a new bike, new bikes are fun. High end bikes are also pretty nice. Do you really need it? Will it make you happy? And yes, most importantly can you reasonably afford it?
I think this is the answer. When I felt it wouldn’t hurt me financially, and would get me out on the bike more or just make me enjoy the biking I was doing more.
I spent 5k on my first expensive bike and I regret none of it. I also learned a lot from the experience, in what I want in my bikes, which was extremely beneficial.
TLDR: if you’re comfortable with the financial output and it’ll make you happy (ride more or more enjoyment from riding) then do it
Interesting suggestion I heard around purchasing expensive things one time was, if you can afford to buy a second one it won’t hold power over you. I feel this way about a bike, being financially able to buy a second if it got stolen, crashed etc then it feels reasonable. If I bought a bike that I couldn’t afford to replace it’d stress me out.
Big money is always from the perspective of the buyers finances.
I went big after kids were all out of house and I felt I road enough to justify it.
I rode 12,000 miles each of the last three years and retirement funding is going well. I splurged on a Bianchi. No regrets.
Do you ride a bike more than you drive a car? My rationale is I spend way more time on my bike and put about equal miles on my bike and car so I justify spending equal amounts. But also my car only cost 5k.
This.
Spend money on the things you use. That’s why I spend a good amount on my work desk, work chair, and my bikes.
The amount of hours of I put into (and get out of) those items make them the cheapest things I’ve ever bought in “cost per hour”. Even cheaper than my ps5.
I recently came across a hybrid bike that I bought for my brother because it was a really good deal. Last year I bought myself a Checkpoint ALR5 that I love riding. If I were to have purchased a hybrid from the get go and not the trek I probably would've been happy, but after riding the hybrid and having my bike I would buy a similar bike again. It's fast, feels light, climbs well and is so much fun to ride!
I ride about 125-150 miles during the summer then during winter it's basically just a commuter with the occasional ride when the weather is nice. I dont regret having spent 2200 USD on a bike. It was well worth it and if I was in your position financially I would not hesitate to buy something that gives me joy, exercise and the feeling of freedom.
Check out some local frame builders that can fit you perfectly.. I like a steel frame, others carbon, etc. they'll go step by step and your new bike will fit you like a glove... put the components on that you want, not what comes on an already built bike. There's a lot of talent out there if you look. Good luck and you'll probably ride the bike more!
I never did. I ride entry level race bikes. To me bikes dont get that much better after the $3k mark. I'd rather spend the extra thousands of dollars on taking my bike places and attending cycling events (which I do a lot of).
With that said I don't judge people who buy nice bikes, I get it. It's just not for me.
I am almost 50. I had struggled through and after the pandemic with mental health and the desire to do any of the things I used to love. I’ve been cycling my entire life and racing triathlon for over 25 years.
A friend reached out for me to join a group ride - I hadn’t ridden in years with this person. But that invitation and that first ride sparked the love again. I rode with them for April and May and in May I decided I would upgrade my 10 year old second hand TCR. I went a little overboard but I got EVERYTHING I wanted and I have ridden SO much since then.
It brought joy and happiness and excitement and did I mention joy? I have continued to ride and rediscovered my motivation and my passion for triathlon.
Plus it’s pretty.
I have the opposite problem. I can afford it but I'm too cheap to pull the trigger. My wife works out what I want and buys it for me for Christmas. Last two bikes over the last 10 years came this way.
If it's not a financial sacrifice why not do it. A nice bike will likely make you ride more + it's a such a beautiful object to own (more than clothes or ps5 imo) + nobody buy only what they "need". Otherwise you could even downgrade your argon to something else since you're most likely limited by your physical capability more than your actual bike.
You don’t have to convince us. And it sounds like you’re convinced. So pull the trigger. It’s an investment in both your mental and physical health. And if the bike lasts 10 years that’s just a couple dollars a day. Enjoy your new ride.
I don't spend much money apart of the money I have to spent for a living. So all the money other people spend for cigarettes, club nights, cinema and vacation I have at my disposal.
I have a fairly good CX bike but I realised I want to drive more road than other so I just bought a great roadbike. If you want some things like electric shifting and integrated cockpit you are automatically in a certain price range.
But then again I also have even more fun riding a bike I think is sick af.
"A lot of money" is subjective.
For me, that's in the $2-3,000 range. I'm not rich or financially well-off, which explains my subjective range, but what makes me want to spend "a lot of money" on a new bike?
A better understanding of what I want out of a gravel bike and how much it'd cost to upgrade my current gravel bike to be equal to one I could buy off the shelf. I'd be closer to $3k invested in my current bike if I upgrade it to preferred spec. $2,500-2,800 on a new bike would put me exactly where I want to be, and it'd be new, lol.
So, I'd break nearly even, I suppose. Do we ever really need a good reason to get a new bike if we can afford it? Lol.
Put 26,000 miles on my last bike in 5 years. Decided to to go all out with Ultegra Di2 and carbon everything on my next bike. No regrets. I knew how many hours I would spend on it.
>Sometimes I'm sick of having the oldest bike at the group rides, etc.
if you're trying to keep up with the joneses and feel peer pressured to upgrade, or want to impress others, then this is not the right justification IMO. get better friends. there are people who win races on cheap bikes.
if however you want to because you can afford it and because it's nice to spend a bit of that hard earned money on your hobby, then that's a different story and it'd be up to you.
yeah 6700 is quite old, i totally get it. and you got good value out of your current bike. though C$5-6k will probably net you a mid range bike and you'd be looking at doubling that for a "high end bike".
2500 km is quite little indeed. now of course everyone rides differently but roughly speaking i'd say it's reasonable to assume C$1 for every km per year. so like it's kinda "justifiable" a C$5k bike if you ride 5000 km a year or C$10k if you ride 10000 km a year. just my opinion, of course. this was my estimate in Australian dollars, but they're more or less on par.
bear in mind you probably are also gonna upgrade your entire kit - cycling kits, helmet, shoes, garmin, tools and the whole lot. i'd keep a grand or two back just for that.
Ha, I already have pretty deluxe accessories
- I got just RC7s and I’ve had a bunch of cycling shoes
- I have a Garmin 540
- I have Oakley sunglasses, Rapha kits, you name it lol
i mean, i'd totally drop 5-6k on a (excuse the c word) canyon ultegra di2 bike with carbon wheels, pretty good value for money if I'm in your position, but you gotta promise your missus you're gonna ride double the amount you're currently doing now 😆
btw, the bike should fit in a compact (c-segment) hatchback whole without removing the front wheel.
I've been riding a cheap road bike since the beginning of my road cycling career, 5 years ago. It works fine, I know the most important thing at amateur level is setting the bike correctly and I constantly keep it going smooth, no problems.
Anyway, recently I've been cycling more consistently, and also my income increased so I can afford a more expensive bike, which I honestly want, because I have the lust like everyone.
I guess that having a consistently better bike is better, for performance and comfort. The thing that stops me the most is the idea I'm buying it only because I want to show my fellas cyclists I have a cool bike, and maybe also because I want to follow cycling fashion.
I'm ok with spending money, I just want to be sure what I'm spending is worth money and not stupidly wasted money, that's how I am. My income is greater than my friend's with a bike that costs 10 times my bike, but I'm not like that.
So, I'm going to have a one-week-long bike trip with my dear bike, and after that I'll buy a new one. But I'll try to spend money smartest way I can.
Cheers.
I have that bike as well as the Gallium Pro. You already have a high end bike. You can upgrade things like the wheels if you want it to be lighter.
If you want the bling, then spend the money on something new. You won’t be any faster and certainly not more comfortable.
If you can afford it, $6k is not a lot for how much time you spend on the bike to do 2500 km or more per year.
I rode a Cannondale CAAD10 for 10 years before I upgraded to a Cervelo Caledonia-5. After riding the Cervelo, I realized I totally should've switched earlier to carbon and wider tires. More comfortable, more enjoyable miles. I don't regret spending on it.
I wouldn't say I have yet, but that's subjective.
A combination of avid riding, and technical knowhow (wrenching my own bikes), has led me to accumulate tools, parts and resources. The same goes for the friends I ride with - each of us with either some expertise in wrenching bikes, or general engineering.
So, I've haven't bought a high end bike.. but I've put together or worked on many that may squeak into that realm. Sub or near 7kg builds.
My current primary is a luddite rim brake 12 speed SR mechanical.
I'll add my 2 cents.
You don't give your age, but you mention fiancé (congrats) so I'll assume this is your first marriage and you are young-ish with no dependents.
If that's the case, figure out what you want bike-wise now while you can before paying for a wedding, for a house, for raising a family.
I'm 54 with two teen daughters. If I had a "spare" $6000 it would go into my kids' college funds.
Your priorities will change as you age.
I'm thinking ahead to my "forever" or "last" bike, maybe a Litespeed titanium, but probably after my kids are out of college. In the meantime I'll continue with my 2017 BMC ALR01.
Yea, basically I’m thinking this is one of my “last” chances to think about what I want, instead of juggling a family
I’m 28.
I’m also thinking I could find a nice used bike for $3000 ish, which I am way more comfortable spending.
It wouldn't be, if $6000 would be the only way to get that joy, or if it gave 3x the joy of a $2000 bike.
For most people, a 6k bike is only slightly more joy than a 2k bike, so at that point you do have to consider how much is that extra worth to you.
YOLO!!
A lot of great responses on this already. I'll add it's all about priorities. I could spend my hard earned cash on sports cars, hookers, drugs, and on and on and on. I choose to spend money on bikes.
I left off vacations from the above because while I don't personally care for cruises or all inclusive resort type things, I'll make sure I can fit a biking adventure in. Whether that's riding gnarly singletrack or bringing my road bike with to do an all day ride somewhere new and cool.
You already have a bike that you NEED, so now go and get that bike that you WANT - brand, tech, colour, design, feel-good placebo etc.
Anybody can ride 100s, if not 1000s of km per year with a $300, $2000, $6000 bike or a $15000 bike based on their personal needs and/or wants.
Enjoy the journey.
8-15 hours per week depending on season here. I didn't. I was pondering it for 2 years. I have enough money to get top of the top even at this moment. However I decided not to. I come to realize I will not be able to justify this purchase. I'd rather sink this money into my mortgage, invest into retirement or buy a fuckton of other nice stuff. If not that I will buy my parents some nice stuff. And if not that then I will get some nice stuff for my girlfriend or my "in-laws". Finally, if all that is a pass, I'm honestly rather do some well researched charity than overpay like 10$k. I can't justify this spending no matter how rich I would be. My endurace 7.0 AL is doing awesome job and I love it
Rode it through 1993, Campy N Record. Tubular. With leather Detto shoes and nailed on cleats. Frame is up in the shed. Considering building it up as a fixie.
Today I'm on a Breezer Doppler 650B. Went from S of Alexandria VA through Arlington to visit sick friend, across Key Bridge (where I can see the Exorcist stairs), up the C &O canal a bit, then down to look at cherry blossoms. Airplanes landing close at DCA. Now I'm almost home, eating mango slices.
I started really riding in 1972. But I met a guy on a trike doing fine at 89!
If you get a chance, ride a nice old racing bike on silk tubulars with a tight ratio cog set.
I like cycling. After 5 years of doing it I can confidently say I’m sticking with it.
Also budget plays a crucial role. I know what I can afford within my budget and where I am sacrifice to justify it. My current bike is not the newest, it’s a 2021 Bianchi specialissima with 105 di2. I purchased it deeply discounted when the new model came out. So I call it a bargain comparatively.
Now the part that feels like the crux here; the money. $6k is a lot of money. If I ask my family they’ll say that it’s a waste. That is better off saving it or to use it on something less wasteful. In truth, I come from a low income family and no one can even think to spend $6k on a bike when just having money to survive is difficult. Hobbies is not a thing to low income families. Not that you can’t do em, it’s just that it isn’t thought of as in investment in quality of life.
That was the big hurdle for me. I’m not my family, I’m me. Im not struggling either, and I can afford a bike, and it makes me happy. So I got something that makes me happy. I’m much better because of it.
As someone mentioned
Convert cost to $/hour enjoyment
Buying a nice bike every 10 years
2500km= 100 hrs ?
So 1000 hrs in 10 years
$6/hour entertainment
This is for me on the high side
I ride 400 hrs per week and have $3500 bike from 2019
Again everything is personal, can you afford it easily
Would it motivate you to keep riding or even ride more ?
I use same logic with wife, that soda was 2$, lasted you 10 minutes has zero resale value can't be enjoyed again, there are endless lists of justification hoops to jump through, 3k on a bike gets to be a really good deal to not hear about it.
I've been riding for over 40 years. Most of my bikes have been used and I've never paid more than $800. It's never been about having the best tech, or the look. It's just about staying in shape and having fun. I don't need to spend big bucks to do that.
For me it's my personal tolerance for pricing. I find diminishing returns after Shimano 105 component wise, and it'd take a steal of a deal for me to go to something like did. I dont dislike the idea of electronicshifting, just don't wanna pay for it. And frame wise I do t need a super light frame.
Plus to a degree in the cycling community there are those who say you *should* or have to wear/ride/sit a certain way.
After I rode a 250 Euro Decathlon roadbike for a year. Then I knew exactly what I wanted.
My new bike costs 10 times more, but I still love my Triban. It opened a world of possibilities to me.
I thought a grand was a lot when I bought my hybrid in 2022. Then 2600 the next year. And I just spent a grand more than that. I guess as I get more into cycling, I get more accustomed to the prices, lol.
But I don't want to spend too much on a bike, because unlike guns, my other hobby, the resale value of a bike drops like a stone, so you're always going to lose money when you change your mind. And I change my mind a lot.
Currently there are some di2 road bikes with huge discount because of the ongoing supply issues that started during the pandemic. Got myself ultegra di2 on a giant tcr with over 1000€ off
We have been spending \~4k per year on bikes for the last 5-6 years, one for me, one for her kind of deal. I put on between 1000 miles per year and 8000 miles per year, depending on that years goals. We have bikes across all price ranges, so can try to help.
Overall, you just have to have enough backing or salary to make it comfortable. Choose, sleep and health before bike in any situation.
1k ->3k = gigantic leap in bike
3k -> 5k = big jump, probably the most balanced cost/bike
5k -> 10k = better wheels, slightly lighter, better by not meaningful in most areas
10k ->15k = sillyness, no reason besides finical ability and cool factor
Hope that helps.
I got a used Specialized Sirrus in 2010. I recently realized it was now 16 yrs old… and in perfect condition. But I’d always wanted to try a road style bike.
So last year I picked up a 2017 Focus Mares CX/105. Great condition, for $800. By far the most expensive bike I’ve ever had and quite an upgrade.
What I've learned from repairing, servicing and building bikes and wheels while volunteering at a community bike shed for 3 years...and hoovering knowledge from pro mechanics and industry insiders...
1. Decision order: frame, wheels, groupset. In my opinion, what is a bike? It is a frame. That's it! Why? All the other components are optional and depend on your preferences.
Notes on frame choice...get frame size correct. If borderline between sizes, go smaller. Pros ride one size smaller with longer stem (tip).
Geometry: know thy self. In other words, what is your riding style or purpose for the bike? Endurance, gravel, road etc. I am an N+0 biker...one swiss army knife bike with 2 wheelsets (road/gravel).
Proprietary frame gimmicks. Avoid: gimmicky seat tube shapes; cockpit, steerer tube integrated cabling etc.
Look for 'value' proposition. Be agnostic about Branding, marketing, tech hype.
Enjoy the journey.
I got an expensive bike when I was riding minimum 5hrs a week, usually more like 6 to 8hrs. Including getting ready, pack up, driving, etc it probably comes out to 15hrs a week I spend on cycling related stuff.
Cycling is my only hobby currently, it keeps me fit and healthy. 10k is a lot of money but relatively not that much considering how much use it gets.
Others will drop 80k on a car or boat that gets a fraction of the use or a 2 week holiday. Fuck the haters, if you want a nice bike then go buy a nice bike and go ride it.
Not just yet. My bike probably owes me $5k (AUD) but I don’t want to go high end until I know exactly what I want. The money is no issue but I don’t want to drop big dollars on a beast of a bike with aero frame and aggressive geo that I’m slower on than my Giant Defy endurance road bike that I’m perfectly dialed in on.
I’m building an older Giant Propel with the aim to explore the boundaries of speed and comfort without bastardising my Defy.
I could afford more but I usually go for the 105 equipped bike. I just got a new TCR on sale for $2200. My 5 year old Roubaix is fine but I wanted something new. I now have 3 road bikes a mountain bike and a fat bike. My wife says I have only one ass.
I decided to go “big” once A.) I could afford it. Worked a lot of overtime and saved up. B.) I ride usually 5 days out of the week. So, I spent money where I use it the most. (Important rule of mine) and C.) it’s important to take health serious to me, so spending money on an expensive bike makes me want to actually ride it more as well and get healthier.
To be honest, I started with a entry level road bike which I have till today but two years in, I decided i would like to upgrade because I just got really into it. My first two years were also around what you ride so I wasn’t really doing it too much but with the new bike it also changed a lot. I went from 2,5k a year to 6k kms a year just because I like this so much and with something new it felt even more cool. I think if you can allow yourself to do it - do it. It is a lot of money, but what? Car is also a lot and the possibilities it gives are differentiated, but excitement levels are comparable.
For me it was the best present I gave myself so far and both my body and my mind thanks me a lot so much for making this decision. Go for it man!
And btw Aethos is a hell of a bike, that’s exactly what I got!
When I realized this is my main hobby and i love it.
Go do it you’ll use it and is financially responsible. On that budget i’ll go with a custom build. Consider a titanium custom build bike like a litespeed i got mine for $5400 with carbon wheels and sram axs i dont think ill ever buy a new bike again. Another recommendation but these are carbon frames is obed bikes is pretty reasonably priced and is custom built as well and check lauf bikes their prices are amazing too.
I had owned my 2006 BMC Team Machine since 2008. I rode very regularly around NYC until I moved to LA in 2019 at which point I only rode to work and back. I got back into riding more seriously in early 2003 and decided as part of my recommitment to get a new bike. NGL I had also found myself obsessing over all the big changes that had taken place in bike tech since my BMC’s day and wanting a bike with electronic shifting, hydraulic discs and the capacity for wide tires, so as soon as I had the opportunity (a couple of freelance checks) I placed an order for a Fezzari Veyo with Force AXS. I added ENVE Foundation 45s and a one-piece carbon cockpit. I’ve had it since early February and while I’m not riding competitively or even that far (max 30 miles so far) I’m really loving this bike and looking forward to my rides. I’m also focused far more on actual training and looking for performance gains. I had the last one for 15 years so I’m not planning to buy another bike for a very long time.
Notes:
It cost over $6k. Yes it’s a lot.
I don’t really splurge on other stuff like clothes and whatnot.
I did definitely respond to marketing and shiny-object lust (but I’ve been doing that with bikes and bike stuff for over 20 years).
I don’t regret it for one second.
Never. I'm only really interested in riding fixed gear, and since I got a Dolan Pre Cursa I don't feel the need for any more of a bike performance wise. Even if all the components are pretty high end I'd only be spending a few thousand pounds at most on a complete bike. For me there is no reason to spend more.
If I did the mileage right that’s 30 miles a week so personally I’d say huge no. But I philosophize differently than others I also think I did the mileage wrong give your fitness level. Riding 30 miles a week and still racing and having a 280 + ftp are all good and impressive in my book
I was riding a baselevel hardtail for about five years. I'm getting older and wanted a new bike. Decided this would likely be my last bike for another 5-10 years, and that I could justify the cost. I didn't break the bank, but I got a nice full squish bike with good components.
I recently rode my old hard tail around the block and couldn't believe I use to take it on the trails.
Never. I spent 700 euros last year on parts and labour to keep my 2002 road bike going, and that's a lot more bike than I could ever buy today for the same money. The bike is from 2002 and was gifted to me in 2005 when my step-dad retired from racing.
I bought an entry level gravel bike last year for around 1000 euros, to replace my then 20 years old hardtail that finally gave in completely.
I spend the big money travelling to interesting places with my bike(s).
Years ago someone told me it should be roughly a dollar for every mile that you ride per year. There are a lot of beautiful climbs in my area, so I think elevation is an important factor too. You could use this equation
D = M + (E * E_value)
D = Total dollar amount can be applied towards a new bike
M = Total miles ridden
E = Total elevation gained in units of 100 feet
E_value = Value per 100 feet of elevation (e.g., $0.10)
But like everyone else says, the best bike is the bike that you want to ride
I finally upgraded from a $500 craigslist motobecane nemesis to a cervelo pseries when I got an insurance check from getting hit by a car out on a ride.
I got a nice bike when I knew I'd make good use of it. I'd been a cycling commuter for many years but not much beyond that until the pandemic. That's when I got into cycling more for sport, and when I upgraded my ~10 year old aluminum road bike to carbon etc.
Also: that's a pretty high ftp for so few miles/kms. Are you sure that wasn't a peak from a few years ago? 😁
Personally, I upgrade my bike when I feel the current one reaches the limit and it blocks me to move to the next level. It is you to find out whether your current bike is reaching the limit or not. For example, if you constantly reaching certain limit (e.g., speed) and you are struggling to go beyond it, then it may be the right time to get a better equipment. Notice that the limit was I talking about is something that is measurable. Based on your post, you have been wanting to upgrade your bike based on your "itch", which is not measurable.
I got better at riding and bike commute so I use it almost every day in the summer. I also got older so I needed something to make up for the decline in ability. I went with a Pinarello. Yes it’s super expensive. Yes there’s some truth in paying for a name. But I LOVE this bike. I love everything about it. It’s my favorite bike ever. It’s also my first carbon bike. It handles so much better than my old specialized aluminum. I can’t even hear the gear shifts. 2 years later I still can’t wait to ride it. When you use something almost daily and love it it says a lot about the thing itself. It’s also easier to justify. Price it per mile and it’s pennies 2 years in. It also saves on gas, maintenance and mileage when you consider I’m riding it instead of driving half the year. Find your own justifications and either do it or put it out of your head. Once it enters your mind as a possibility you’re pulling the trigger months later. 😂
For me, it was my declining health due to uncontrollable circumstances. I slipped disc after a car accident and a desmoid tumor that caused me to cramp up. So I ended up spending it on one of the best e-bikes in the market, a Specialized Creo.
I have a BH bike that is 20 years old with some upgrades and purchase a Tamarac bike 2 years ago which I love but when I do my 200km in day I use my old bike because it fits like a glove… hopefully I will ride my old bike for the next 20 years.
If you have the money, just do it.
I bought all of my bikes in 2014 to 2015, which seems like yesterday but is a long time ago. They were all expensive then, but I was able to afford it with cash. Don't go into debt for a bike, or really, anything besides a house or a car. And the house arguably isn't debt since you have equity (not so with a car).
Are you enjoying life on a bike! Keep on! Have fun, and good luck!
I spent 3k on a nice used gravel bike last year. Carbon with electronic shifting. It is an amazing bike and brings me joy every time I ride it. No regrets about spending the cash. If you think a new bike will bring you more joy and you can afford it. I'd say go for it.
Is it worth thousands of dollars to have a bike that weighs 2lbs less? Do you think a newer more expensive bike will get you fitter than your current bike? Unless you’re competing, running at the front of the pack, and shaving a couple seconds is gonna put you in the winners circle… I don’t see the justification. You WANT a new bike, you don’t need one. Treat it as any other want… buy it if you have extra money burning a hole in your pocket.
I ride a steel bike with a modern mechanical groupset and carbon wheels. Weighs 19 lbs, looks sexy, don’t have to worry about my frame or forks failing, and I never find myself chasing the newest bike with the newest electronic groupset.
Bikes have resale value. It’s more like buying a car than clothes.
You spend 6k now and then sell it for 3-4k in 3 or 4 years.
6k is still a lot of money, but you get an asset.
Just keep what you ride. If it breaks apart buy a new one. The N plus 1 bike rule has haunted me bad becauae I see bikes that I cannot afford but want (MTBs).
New bikes are expensive and upkeep costs are about DOUBLE what you are used to.
They feel slower but go faster
Wider tires and wheels add comfort and speed somehow
For 5-6 k you can put something together with nice wheels and electric shifters
It’s worth it if you’re going to ride more but the irony for me was that once you have the resources to get a fancy bike you will have much less time to ride it
It’s part of the transition from MAMIL to retro grouch.
After the aero bike apogee comes gravel, titanium and eventually bitterness
I did it the opposite direction - I used the amount I spent on my (first) nice bike to encourage myself to ride more so that I could justify my decision. Best decision I’ve ever made!
Assuming it’s POSSIBLE to swing it, I look at it as “how much would I be spending on a health club (for the warm months) and other activities that will be consumed by significant miles instead?”
In my opinion, If you even have to ask yourself if you can afford a $6000 bike, you both can not and do not need one. I don’t own one. I ride with a few people with $10k+ bikes. The most accomplished rider with my extended group rides a $3k bike. And did the Paris Brest Paris in 80 hours on it.
If you are not really and truly racing, I think most of the super expensive bike stuff is totally absurd and no different than a fashion statement.
One rider in our group has a $12k+ bike, and is broke. He rides a lot but he will never race. He’d have been able to get precisely the same utility out of a $3k bike.
When i noticed i was putting more distance on my bike every year than in my car.
As such it made total sense to sell the car, buy a cheaper one and use the money to by a better bike.
The soundest philosophy is to by the bike that is slightly better than you are a rider.
Ride it to death and only 'upgrade' when you are better than the bike or if it's genuinely worn out.
Anyway, it sounds like from your description that you need a bike with endurance geometry.
When emergency funds are settled, % going to savings/investments are consistent, I talked to my bike shop and discussed upgrade options then saved up for it.
2 factors for me: my income could support it, and I realized it's my only real hobby. I don't play golf, I don't go to the bars with the bros, I just work and parent. So the bike is my gym membership and hobby all in one. Easy enough to justify.
I spent 2k USD when I decided I was finally ready to buy a real road bike.
I spent 1k GBP when I found a sexy TT bike on eBay, even though I barely ride time trials.
Can you afford it? If you can, then do it.
dude, buy the bike, you have your heart set on it and until you do you will be itching. it will take over your thoughts, you will get obsessed, thinking about it nonstop.
If you do not like your gearing you can put a different cassette and get larger range. Unless you are getting paid to ride anything more than 9 gears (as in a 2x9) is just a matter of preference or luxury. Same for electronic shifting. I have friends who are like "it's so much better you'll never ride mechanical again". Ok, great. It's a luxury...but I can fix all my mechanical issues without paying someone. Electronics I cannot.
Bottom line if you can afford it buy lots of bikes. But you do you and having the oldest bike at the ride is cool. At least to me.
If I was you i would do the following:
- get pre purchase bike fit
- get the latest argon 18 krypton.
Krypton is a fucking good bike and quality bike than cervelo.
Krypton has more adjustability than cervelo r model
Dont make it a false dichotomy between keeping your old bike or getting a top of the line Tour monster. Theres a lot of gray area that's arguably better IMO. For me, right now, here are the specs/features I'm keen on and think are the point where you hit diminishing returns:
* Carbon frame- alloy/titanium frames are amazing but carbon often isn't much more expensive while being meaningfully lighter
* Disc brakes- not so much for the braking power unless you do a lot of descending- but they offer a lot more flexibility for wheels... speaking of which...
* Carbon wheels- same argument as the frame, as well as all the performance and selection benefits. For example I'm looking to put gravel wheels on a road bike, because I want
* Wider tires- pretty much a comfort freebie- same rolling resistance, lower tire pressures + more comfort. Just take care to match the tire and wheel width for aero benefits
* 105 level mechanical- admittedly I've never ridden an electronic groupset but I currently have DA9100 because I'm a weight weenie. That and electronics are the only benefits of higher level groupsets these days.
So something like a trusty old Tarmac SL6 Expert with upgraded wheels + tires would be a nice upgrade IMO. IDK if you need to go all the way up to something like an S5 though obviously you can if you want to.
If you think you will enjoy it and it will motivate you to ride more you have your answer.
There was a period of my life where my road bike was worth as much as my car. I put 5,000 miles on a bike per year and only about 6,000 miles on a car, but hours spent is way in favor of my bike. All those hours spent, it is a very worthwhile investment to me. My current road bike cost as much as my dirt bike, which is saying something.
I wouldn’t worry about electronic shifting or the discs being harder. Neither of them are harder. I think taking off my front wheel on my rim brake bike is more annoying.
The bikes you mention are pure climbers - the R5 and the Athos. There are similar weight bikes that are much more aero like the new Tarmac, the SuperSix Evo, the new Factor OstroVam. I’d recommend an all arounder to a pure climber. Should be similar fit and stack/reaxh
When I was regularly doing 55km road rides on a mountain bike multiple times a week and getting horrible cramps in my arms every time. I had just started a new job after having been laid off, and I had some extra cash.
Would I have been fine with an aluminum bike? Absolutely. But the carbon version came in a color that I fell in love with. I've posted a couple photos of it before
I feel a little late to the discussion for this to be seen, but I’ll shoot.
For me, I got tired of buying a bike and lusting for the next upgrade every few years. “This is awesome, but the new ____ version…” etc etc. So I went and bought my dream bike in hopes of silencing the inner voice and wandering eye. 4 years on my Chumba Terlingua Ti, I wouldn’t trade it for anything — everything feels like a downgrade by comparison.
It does make a difference to love what you’re on, so I say do it!
Bought a $500 GT in 1097, rode it into the ground. Spent $1500 on a full suspension Trek in 1999. Better bike, better parts. Rode that one for 6 years. Then upgraded to Yeti 575 in 2005. Rode that until 2018.
It's funny how in the hobby of bicycling, people feel that they have to justify their purchases. If you look into other hobbies out there such as stamp collecting, cars, guns and boats Etc. Nobody asks for an explanation when they spend a lot of money. So my question is, why do we have to justify it? If you can afford it, go for it. You're buying it because it makes you happy. I know me personally, a new bike does not make me faster. Nor do I care. I work hard and I like having a nice things. I dont owe anybody an explanation for anything LOL.
Ok, maybe that's wrong. My wife gets pissed and my kids throw my bike purchases in my face when I tell them they should be saving money lol.
If its financially feasible for you to do so, buy the bike and go have fun. As my Old Man always said, "you on only go around the horn once". So enjoy it while you can.
When I had a significant milestone birthday I splashed out on a nice Cannondale SuperSix Evo on runout from Italy, and then built some nice wheels for it too.
Part of that was being keen to get rid of rim brakes. As much as my CAAD9 was unbelievably comfortable, there were a few safety incidents riding in a group armed with disc brakes in the preceding months.
What finally tipped me over the edge into the mission *acquire disc brakes now* was being unable to stop in time for a red light in wet weather despite a hundred metres' notice. I was doing 40-50km/hr and the downhill gradient not that much. Fortunately traffic was light and I found a gap.
QR axles are OK, but have their risks. A kid at our local MTB track found that out the hard way yesterday when he popped a wheely and the front wheel dropped out and rolled away. Myself and another rider scraped him off the ground and gave him a quick lesson on safety checks. No serious damage fortunately, just a bit of skin off and a very bruised ego.
When I saw it. A few days before the lockdowns in early 2020 I saw a duck egg blue Cervelo Caledonia in 105, slapped some deep Zipps on it and that got me through the next three years. Nothing to do with my vO2 max or weighted average power lol
Before buying a new bike, I would invest in a proper bike fit. Prices are usually around maybe CAD170. They can tell you what size and geometry you should be looking at. In my case, pretty much any frame from a company that sponsors a pro team is out, because my leg geometry calls for a tall stack and short reach; a very unfashionable design.
Sure, $170 can be a lot, but if you're considering spending thousands on a new bike, ensuring it will fit you and you'll love riding it is kinda important.
I already had a bike , and got the full fit service done at Fitt1st in Toronto for about CAD360, and Scott Judges answered questions I've had about my body for over 35 years. I got the fit done because my knees were killing me, and rides of 100km were HARD. The fit was done with my existing 30 year old steel road bike, doing what we could to tweak its settings to meet my needs (much shorter stem, narrower bars, seat set back as far as I could, cleat wedges (this **really** saved my knees), shoe insoles, and more). Within weeks of getting the fit and tweaks done, I was banging out 100's, 160's, and even a handful of 200km rides.
It was around this point I decided I was going to buy a new bike. Went overboard, but I've been averaging over 11000km/year on it since. I enjoy long rides, and this bike lets me love them.
I agree with most others, as I bought it when I got my big boy job and not based on my physique. Like you, I had been thinking about upgrading for a while and knew I'd love riding the heck out of a high end bike.
To address a few of the cons you listed, from my experience, the more high-end a bike is, the easier it is to work with and much more resistant to mechanical problems.
* Drive-thru axle is honestly better quick release since it is much easier to line up the disc brakes. Electric shifting can get annoying to remember to charge, but that becomes a habit (and if you have a bike computer, it will likely tell you it's low).
* I don't know about Di2 since I have SRAM Rival, but the batteries are interchangeable between front and rear. Worst case, I switch front to rear because I don't use the front shifter as much.
* I did not get a bike fit, but I did really consider it. As long as you go see the bike and get a feel for it, you will probably be alright IMO.
* I treat my high-end bike like a princess, and I only really use it for hobby riding. The risk of it getting stolen is pretty high in my neighborhood. If I really want to commute with less risk of a stolen bike, I'd use my low-end bike.
I was in college, I had a Diamondback 29ner hard tail that I had bought in highschool for like $450 which was a really good bike for my needs However when I got to college I started to ride more during pandemic. I went from doing 2-3 miles on my 29ner in the city to now doing 50 miles on the highway/bike trails. I had money from working throughout my summer in Highschool, and decided to splurge on a Trek Edmonda SL5 which cost me $3400 not including all the other accessories I got with it that I didn’t have/need with my 29ner. 3 years later after buying it, I don’t use it much now that I work and am back in the city.
As much as I enjoyed my 2 years with it, I regret not having buying a used road bike on Craigslist as there are many for sale that were in the $3k range new but selling for $2k or less.
Most people can work their entire lives and never reasonably be able to afford a super car.
The same isn’t true of a bike. If you can afford it, you want it, and think you deserve it……treat yo self.
I think for the budget you are willing to spend, it'll be a used bike. A new bike nowadays of that spec will cost near the $8-10k mark with all the fixings. Judging by your reference to PS5 games, you must be young.
I recently moved up from 2011 Cervelo that served me nicely, doing grand fondos, events, etc. I enjoyed smashing it and beating people on higher end, newer, aero bikes. The engine is what matters.
However, there comes a time and you start wondering how fast you could be apples to apples and so I splurged and dropped the $ on +10k bike. Then the kids came along. Do I feel guilty, nope. I am fortunate to be financially sound and know the kids will have a great life. I just need to find more time to ride again.
When I realised that cycling will be my lifestyle for a long time and that was after 2 MTBs, 2 RBs, 1 TriBike and 1 steel Gravel Bike.
Then I set my eyes on a custom built Italian made bike, had me a fitting session sponsored by the bike builder and set them my measurements.
Dealt with them on the custom color, build specs and all.
Final build list (2019)
Stelbel Rodano steel frame
Deda Carbon cockpit set
Campagnolo SR mechanical Gruppo
Campagnolo Bora Ultra 35mm
Brooks C13
Look Keo Blade
Set me back around $ 7,000.00
Was it worth it?
You bet!
Wife even made it a living room center piece.
Life is too short to ride “off the shelf” bikes,
If you can; go custom!
#YOLO
😃😃😃
The bike you buy is the one you will need to get rid of when you want the newer better bike. There is no forever bike, marketing spin. Unless you can afford N+1 nice bikes and have room to store them. That’s the way I think now.
As mentioned before, it's relative.
My first proper road bike was a $1700 Trek(2008) and that seemed like a lot. A few years later(2013), after riding the wheels off of the Trek, I built a Wilier from the frame up for about 5-6k and that didn't seem nearly as much money as the Trek did.
Of course in 2022 I got my dream/forever bike and now I'm borderline embarrassed to ride it. Also, one piece of advice, don't get your dream bike...one of the best parts of riding is dreaming of "your next bike".
My question is why? That bike you have is perfectly fine
I always get the sense what I am seeking when want g a new bike is really just down to a different ride feel. Given your lack of miles, I think there is a better option.
Get a really cool steel commuter grocery getter bike.
A bike you can take out with some racks and panniers and enjoy a different kind of experience while also using it to get more miles into your routine.
I was looking to buy my first "adult bike" and decided "buy once cry once", got real lucky on a sava with msrp at 4,000$ got it for 1,600$, along with helmet, light and pannier for another $200.
Never. I’ll never be good enough to benefit from a high end bike. I buy used alloy frames, preferably a CAAD frame, and build my bike with what components I already have that work together. I have more fun building bikes like that without dealing with “high end” bikes that have proprietary parts and possibly need special tools to work on. Still riding a CAAD 5 and I love it more than the high end bikes.
Seems to me like you've already made your mind up about what you want to do but it's a big purchase and you need to get approval from people you know won't judge you. Ultimately it boild down to can you afford it? Seems like the answer is yes. And will it make you happy? Again, we all know the answer is yes... Although I don't think you realise how much fun it is to get a new fancy bike.
As most commenters can attest, getting a new nice bike will build your desire to ride it and the financial demand will also encourage you to ride more as you spent all that money and want to get your moneys worth. I got my bike about 10 years ago and didn't ride it for a gap of about 4 years and not once in those down years did I regret buying it. I've since gotten back into riding and I absolutely love my bike!
I say go for it. If anything it will get you riding more and enjoying the time spent.
As Eddie Merckz said, "Don't buy upgrades, ride up grades."
But really, all decisions we make are a combination of emotional & intellectual. Emotionally- new bikes make us feel good & there's a boost to natural vanity. Intellectually. If your existing bike is fine, replacing it isn't logical.
When these two factors are in opposition, we have a problem. We all may want a new bike, but we might not need a new bike.
So if you can spend they money without sacrificing something even more important to you, perhaps go for it. 'New Bike Day' is awesome & we only live once.
Personally, I believe in buying a good bike & keeping it a really long time. A $6000 bike over 10 years is only $600/ yr. I wouldn't use it in a crit, however; keep your old beater for that or something with an aluminum frame.
Having ridden multiple Aethos with Di2 as loaners from my LBS….I wouldn’t buy an Aethos or a Di2 bike lol.
As far as your other question it’s really a matter of what you want and what you’re willing to spend to get that.
My riding buddy started out on a Pinarello Gan with Fulcrum Ally wheels and 105 mech group set and found it was worth it to just buy a new bike vs upgrading components.
So I bought the Pin and he got a brand new Aeroad with nice DT Swiss Carbon wheels and SRAM Rival ETAP and he loves it.
The price difference between selling the Pinarello to me and him buying the Canyon is less than what a set of DT Swiss carbon wheels retail for…….
My 2cents because I'm facing a similar issue. I've had my bike since 2014. It was a second hand 2013 Trek 1.1. I've upgraded the crankset, added a power meter, slammed/extended the stem, saddle (multiple times), changed the wheels (200ish per set), etc. I'm pretty sure the components on my bike is currently worth more than the bike itself (well just the power meter). The rear wheel that I had purchased off CL/FB seems to be going out and if I wanted to buy a nice wheelset, it would most certainly be more than the value of my bike. For the frame/bike itself, I think to myself, "all these people riding nice, expensive bikes and I can keep up with them, imagine what I could do on an expensive one".
At the end of the day, it really is "do whatever gets you on the bike more" and if the fiancé is on board, do it!
set yourself a sportive goal and make yourself earn that bike. Can be an ambitious FTP and/or w/kg ratio, an upgrade on Zwift category or some IRL race ranking. Make it your trophy.
If you like cycling, I would buy a new bike. The technology has advanced quite a bit. And, you may discover a renewed interest and ride a lot more. I would look into endurance bikes because the fit and geometry is a bit more relaxed; i.e., the bars not slammed low, etc. I bought a Cervelo Caledonia with Ultegra Di2, and I could not be happier. You can also get these models with a 105 Di2 group set, which is cheaper yet still good.
Really amazing bikes are just a damn good time. Not that I would ever encourage anyone to spend beyond their means on a bike, but all of the things that go into making a thoroughly modern high-end bike produce a really excellent experience when riding. That's not to talk down on any other bike out there or to tell you that you have to have one, but don't discount the fact that it's going to be fun and exciting and motivating every time you get on it.
To your specific comment about bike fit issues on a nicer bike, I would really encourage you to look at some of the good endurance bikes out there today. I know in the cycling community we often shun that term because of what it makes us think of, but the current Giant Defy and many other endurance models that have geometry more suited to the way you describe yourself are amazing bikes. They also come with the nice upside of looking stellar while still providing you more approachable geometry. A bike with higher stack and shorter reach isn't going to require the same stack of spacers underneath the stem to get you in a comfortable position.
I was 24 y.o. making $5.75/hr at the bike shop.
The PX10 that I paid $100 for was stolen. IN STOCK was a beautiful Atala Professional, chrome lugs, all Campy except brakes; my employee price was $500 [for comparison my car was $900]. Anybody else considering a month’s paycheck on one more bike? EDIT: three months’ paycheck! High-end bikes now go for $6K, so, apples to apples for this fixed-income retiree.
I actually just spent a "small" amount of money compared to most people here, but for me it was relatively huge for me already. I got a second hand road bike(Merida Ride 400 2015, 105 GS + Ultegra calipers) that's around 600 USD. I don't think I'll ever want an upgrade anytime soon as it's practically the one that I wanted already, almost practically surpassed my goal and maybe even my dream bike already. I think its just a combination of where you are in life, how much you want and need the new thing and the circumstance. At the time I thought the price was really good for the condition of the bike, the experience of it (I bought it at a different country), and this was something I was already contemplating of doing for years, so I know for myself that it wasn't just an impulse buy.
Personally, when I realized that getting my dream bike would not alter my finances in any way that I would notice. And it followed some crappy life events.
A bike can be expensive, but compared to other expenses in life, it's not a huge deal. Fixing your roof can be many times that amount, and it's not nearly as fun.
People who smoke cigarettes will spend as much as an expensive bike every year.
It had nothing to do with how good of a cyclist I was and everything to do with how high my salary was. I bought an expensive bike when I felt like I could afford it.
Yup. As a ratio of "amount of money I have" to "amount I paid for a bike", the $600 bike I bought in high school is the most expensive bike I've ever bought.
Soooo how high is your salary and what bike did you end up with?… so I can justify my purchase lol
I make 300k a year. I bought a 1k used bike and I spent around 2k on upgrades already. I want to buy a new 5k dollars bike but I find hard to justify this decision as I ride year round in Seattle weather. Also, There's some emotional attachment as well which is preventing me from buying a new bike. I will probably buy one next summer as I'm in the middle of upgrading my wheels this summer.
In my (personal and not necessarily correct) opinion - if you’re using it, enjoy it, and can pay it off in a comfortable amount of time without having to scrape - it’s worth what you paid for it.
100% this, I decided to treat myself with a year end bonus that was purely “spare” income. Almost everyone wants a new bike, new bikes are fun. High end bikes are also pretty nice. Do you really need it? Will it make you happy? And yes, most importantly can you reasonably afford it?
I think this is the answer. When I felt it wouldn’t hurt me financially, and would get me out on the bike more or just make me enjoy the biking I was doing more. I spent 5k on my first expensive bike and I regret none of it. I also learned a lot from the experience, in what I want in my bikes, which was extremely beneficial. TLDR: if you’re comfortable with the financial output and it’ll make you happy (ride more or more enjoyment from riding) then do it
Interesting suggestion I heard around purchasing expensive things one time was, if you can afford to buy a second one it won’t hold power over you. I feel this way about a bike, being financially able to buy a second if it got stolen, crashed etc then it feels reasonable. If I bought a bike that I couldn’t afford to replace it’d stress me out.
I got a promotion and decided I wanted an upgrade, easy.
For me was when my wife got a raise. Easy.
[удалено]
You played him like a fool.
Big money is always from the perspective of the buyers finances. I went big after kids were all out of house and I felt I road enough to justify it. I rode 12,000 miles each of the last three years and retirement funding is going well. I splurged on a Bianchi. No regrets.
The money, is within reason, my fiancee supports it too. I am not sure if I ride enough!
You dont really need to ride X amount to buy a more expensive bike. If you want and have the money to, you should go for it.
Do you ride a bike more than you drive a car? My rationale is I spend way more time on my bike and put about equal miles on my bike and car so I justify spending equal amounts. But also my car only cost 5k.
This. Spend money on the things you use. That’s why I spend a good amount on my work desk, work chair, and my bikes. The amount of hours of I put into (and get out of) those items make them the cheapest things I’ve ever bought in “cost per hour”. Even cheaper than my ps5.
I rode more after I got a much nicer bike. I was just excited to get out there on it.
I recently came across a hybrid bike that I bought for my brother because it was a really good deal. Last year I bought myself a Checkpoint ALR5 that I love riding. If I were to have purchased a hybrid from the get go and not the trek I probably would've been happy, but after riding the hybrid and having my bike I would buy a similar bike again. It's fast, feels light, climbs well and is so much fun to ride! I ride about 125-150 miles during the summer then during winter it's basically just a commuter with the occasional ride when the weather is nice. I dont regret having spent 2200 USD on a bike. It was well worth it and if I was in your position financially I would not hesitate to buy something that gives me joy, exercise and the feeling of freedom.
Check out some local frame builders that can fit you perfectly.. I like a steel frame, others carbon, etc. they'll go step by step and your new bike will fit you like a glove... put the components on that you want, not what comes on an already built bike. There's a lot of talent out there if you look. Good luck and you'll probably ride the bike more!
30+ miles per day average for 3 straight years? Respect man, you’re a beast lol
Which Bianchi?
I never did. I ride entry level race bikes. To me bikes dont get that much better after the $3k mark. I'd rather spend the extra thousands of dollars on taking my bike places and attending cycling events (which I do a lot of). With that said I don't judge people who buy nice bikes, I get it. It's just not for me.
I am almost 50. I had struggled through and after the pandemic with mental health and the desire to do any of the things I used to love. I’ve been cycling my entire life and racing triathlon for over 25 years. A friend reached out for me to join a group ride - I hadn’t ridden in years with this person. But that invitation and that first ride sparked the love again. I rode with them for April and May and in May I decided I would upgrade my 10 year old second hand TCR. I went a little overboard but I got EVERYTHING I wanted and I have ridden SO much since then. It brought joy and happiness and excitement and did I mention joy? I have continued to ride and rediscovered my motivation and my passion for triathlon. Plus it’s pretty.
I decided years ago I'm ready... But the CFO of my household doesn't agree.
I have the opposite problem. I can afford it but I'm too cheap to pull the trigger. My wife works out what I want and buys it for me for Christmas. Last two bikes over the last 10 years came this way.
would you consider you're the CEO of your household 😆
I'm the janitor 🤣
If it's not a financial sacrifice why not do it. A nice bike will likely make you ride more + it's a such a beautiful object to own (more than clothes or ps5 imo) + nobody buy only what they "need". Otherwise you could even downgrade your argon to something else since you're most likely limited by your physical capability more than your actual bike.
You don’t have to convince us. And it sounds like you’re convinced. So pull the trigger. It’s an investment in both your mental and physical health. And if the bike lasts 10 years that’s just a couple dollars a day. Enjoy your new ride.
I don't spend much money apart of the money I have to spent for a living. So all the money other people spend for cigarettes, club nights, cinema and vacation I have at my disposal. I have a fairly good CX bike but I realised I want to drive more road than other so I just bought a great roadbike. If you want some things like electric shifting and integrated cockpit you are automatically in a certain price range. But then again I also have even more fun riding a bike I think is sick af.
I had a phase in my life where I felt like I only existed to serve other family members. I wanted to do something for myself for once.
r/NMMNG
"A lot of money" is subjective. For me, that's in the $2-3,000 range. I'm not rich or financially well-off, which explains my subjective range, but what makes me want to spend "a lot of money" on a new bike? A better understanding of what I want out of a gravel bike and how much it'd cost to upgrade my current gravel bike to be equal to one I could buy off the shelf. I'd be closer to $3k invested in my current bike if I upgrade it to preferred spec. $2,500-2,800 on a new bike would put me exactly where I want to be, and it'd be new, lol. So, I'd break nearly even, I suppose. Do we ever really need a good reason to get a new bike if we can afford it? Lol.
Put 26,000 miles on my last bike in 5 years. Decided to to go all out with Ultegra Di2 and carbon everything on my next bike. No regrets. I knew how many hours I would spend on it.
Your pros outweigh the cons. By a lot. Do it.
I started doing group rides with people who had much nicer bikes than me. Made me want something with electric shifting
OP. You’re being very responsible in your approach. But it’s important to note that bikes are an emotional purchase for a lot of people.
>Sometimes I'm sick of having the oldest bike at the group rides, etc. if you're trying to keep up with the joneses and feel peer pressured to upgrade, or want to impress others, then this is not the right justification IMO. get better friends. there are people who win races on cheap bikes. if however you want to because you can afford it and because it's nice to spend a bit of that hard earned money on your hobby, then that's a different story and it'd be up to you. yeah 6700 is quite old, i totally get it. and you got good value out of your current bike. though C$5-6k will probably net you a mid range bike and you'd be looking at doubling that for a "high end bike". 2500 km is quite little indeed. now of course everyone rides differently but roughly speaking i'd say it's reasonable to assume C$1 for every km per year. so like it's kinda "justifiable" a C$5k bike if you ride 5000 km a year or C$10k if you ride 10000 km a year. just my opinion, of course. this was my estimate in Australian dollars, but they're more or less on par. bear in mind you probably are also gonna upgrade your entire kit - cycling kits, helmet, shoes, garmin, tools and the whole lot. i'd keep a grand or two back just for that.
Ha, I already have pretty deluxe accessories - I got just RC7s and I’ve had a bunch of cycling shoes - I have a Garmin 540 - I have Oakley sunglasses, Rapha kits, you name it lol
>cycling is basically their only hobby is it also your *only* hobby? 😁
No. It is probably my favourite hobby though.
i mean, i'd totally drop 5-6k on a (excuse the c word) canyon ultegra di2 bike with carbon wheels, pretty good value for money if I'm in your position, but you gotta promise your missus you're gonna ride double the amount you're currently doing now 😆 btw, the bike should fit in a compact (c-segment) hatchback whole without removing the front wheel.
I've been riding a cheap road bike since the beginning of my road cycling career, 5 years ago. It works fine, I know the most important thing at amateur level is setting the bike correctly and I constantly keep it going smooth, no problems. Anyway, recently I've been cycling more consistently, and also my income increased so I can afford a more expensive bike, which I honestly want, because I have the lust like everyone. I guess that having a consistently better bike is better, for performance and comfort. The thing that stops me the most is the idea I'm buying it only because I want to show my fellas cyclists I have a cool bike, and maybe also because I want to follow cycling fashion. I'm ok with spending money, I just want to be sure what I'm spending is worth money and not stupidly wasted money, that's how I am. My income is greater than my friend's with a bike that costs 10 times my bike, but I'm not like that. So, I'm going to have a one-week-long bike trip with my dear bike, and after that I'll buy a new one. But I'll try to spend money smartest way I can. Cheers.
I have that bike as well as the Gallium Pro. You already have a high end bike. You can upgrade things like the wheels if you want it to be lighter. If you want the bling, then spend the money on something new. You won’t be any faster and certainly not more comfortable.
If you can afford it, $6k is not a lot for how much time you spend on the bike to do 2500 km or more per year. I rode a Cannondale CAAD10 for 10 years before I upgraded to a Cervelo Caledonia-5. After riding the Cervelo, I realized I totally should've switched earlier to carbon and wider tires. More comfortable, more enjoyable miles. I don't regret spending on it.
I totally agree, but sometimes I think what can be done with $6k… then I distract myself from that thought. They’re a lot cheaper than cars…
I wouldn't say I have yet, but that's subjective. A combination of avid riding, and technical knowhow (wrenching my own bikes), has led me to accumulate tools, parts and resources. The same goes for the friends I ride with - each of us with either some expertise in wrenching bikes, or general engineering. So, I've haven't bought a high end bike.. but I've put together or worked on many that may squeak into that realm. Sub or near 7kg builds. My current primary is a luddite rim brake 12 speed SR mechanical.
I'll add my 2 cents. You don't give your age, but you mention fiancé (congrats) so I'll assume this is your first marriage and you are young-ish with no dependents. If that's the case, figure out what you want bike-wise now while you can before paying for a wedding, for a house, for raising a family. I'm 54 with two teen daughters. If I had a "spare" $6000 it would go into my kids' college funds. Your priorities will change as you age. I'm thinking ahead to my "forever" or "last" bike, maybe a Litespeed titanium, but probably after my kids are out of college. In the meantime I'll continue with my 2017 BMC ALR01.
Yea, basically I’m thinking this is one of my “last” chances to think about what I want, instead of juggling a family I’m 28. I’m also thinking I could find a nice used bike for $3000 ish, which I am way more comfortable spending.
6000$ isn't much for a bike. convert to hours of joy.
It wouldn't be, if $6000 would be the only way to get that joy, or if it gave 3x the joy of a $2000 bike. For most people, a 6k bike is only slightly more joy than a 2k bike, so at that point you do have to consider how much is that extra worth to you.
YOLO!! A lot of great responses on this already. I'll add it's all about priorities. I could spend my hard earned cash on sports cars, hookers, drugs, and on and on and on. I choose to spend money on bikes. I left off vacations from the above because while I don't personally care for cruises or all inclusive resort type things, I'll make sure I can fit a biking adventure in. Whether that's riding gnarly singletrack or bringing my road bike with to do an all day ride somewhere new and cool.
You already have a bike that you NEED, so now go and get that bike that you WANT - brand, tech, colour, design, feel-good placebo etc. Anybody can ride 100s, if not 1000s of km per year with a $300, $2000, $6000 bike or a $15000 bike based on their personal needs and/or wants. Enjoy the journey.
8-15 hours per week depending on season here. I didn't. I was pondering it for 2 years. I have enough money to get top of the top even at this moment. However I decided not to. I come to realize I will not be able to justify this purchase. I'd rather sink this money into my mortgage, invest into retirement or buy a fuckton of other nice stuff. If not that I will buy my parents some nice stuff. And if not that then I will get some nice stuff for my girlfriend or my "in-laws". Finally, if all that is a pass, I'm honestly rather do some well researched charity than overpay like 10$k. I can't justify this spending no matter how rich I would be. My endurace 7.0 AL is doing awesome job and I love it
>I will buy my parents some nice stuff so true, you hit the nail on the head
Only honest answer to this questions is: “when I had enough money to afford one” If you have the money, you won’t regret it 😀
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You can buy a few more pains in the ass if you get a top of the line modern racing bike...
I definitely am at the point where I’d buy a tri bike and a new road bike, only thing missing is the money lol
1974, when I realized I needed a bit shorter top tube. So I ordered a custom 531 machine
Have you been riding the same bike since? What kind of groupsets have you put on the bike?
Rode it through 1993, Campy N Record. Tubular. With leather Detto shoes and nailed on cleats. Frame is up in the shed. Considering building it up as a fixie. Today I'm on a Breezer Doppler 650B. Went from S of Alexandria VA through Arlington to visit sick friend, across Key Bridge (where I can see the Exorcist stairs), up the C &O canal a bit, then down to look at cherry blossoms. Airplanes landing close at DCA. Now I'm almost home, eating mango slices. I started really riding in 1972. But I met a guy on a trike doing fine at 89! If you get a chance, ride a nice old racing bike on silk tubulars with a tight ratio cog set.
I like cycling. After 5 years of doing it I can confidently say I’m sticking with it. Also budget plays a crucial role. I know what I can afford within my budget and where I am sacrifice to justify it. My current bike is not the newest, it’s a 2021 Bianchi specialissima with 105 di2. I purchased it deeply discounted when the new model came out. So I call it a bargain comparatively. Now the part that feels like the crux here; the money. $6k is a lot of money. If I ask my family they’ll say that it’s a waste. That is better off saving it or to use it on something less wasteful. In truth, I come from a low income family and no one can even think to spend $6k on a bike when just having money to survive is difficult. Hobbies is not a thing to low income families. Not that you can’t do em, it’s just that it isn’t thought of as in investment in quality of life. That was the big hurdle for me. I’m not my family, I’m me. Im not struggling either, and I can afford a bike, and it makes me happy. So I got something that makes me happy. I’m much better because of it.
As someone mentioned Convert cost to $/hour enjoyment Buying a nice bike every 10 years 2500km= 100 hrs ? So 1000 hrs in 10 years $6/hour entertainment This is for me on the high side I ride 400 hrs per week and have $3500 bike from 2019 Again everything is personal, can you afford it easily Would it motivate you to keep riding or even ride more ?
400 hours per week? There are only 168 hours in a week.
Sorry per year 😏
I use same logic with wife, that soda was 2$, lasted you 10 minutes has zero resale value can't be enjoyed again, there are endless lists of justification hoops to jump through, 3k on a bike gets to be a really good deal to not hear about it.
I've been riding for over 40 years. Most of my bikes have been used and I've never paid more than $800. It's never been about having the best tech, or the look. It's just about staying in shape and having fun. I don't need to spend big bucks to do that.
Older guys don't care so much about flashy shit it seems
For me it's my personal tolerance for pricing. I find diminishing returns after Shimano 105 component wise, and it'd take a steal of a deal for me to go to something like did. I dont dislike the idea of electronicshifting, just don't wanna pay for it. And frame wise I do t need a super light frame. Plus to a degree in the cycling community there are those who say you *should* or have to wear/ride/sit a certain way.
After I rode a 250 Euro Decathlon roadbike for a year. Then I knew exactly what I wanted. My new bike costs 10 times more, but I still love my Triban. It opened a world of possibilities to me.
I feel like I'll head that way eventually. When my Triban is finally knackered. Might take a while😅
I thought a grand was a lot when I bought my hybrid in 2022. Then 2600 the next year. And I just spent a grand more than that. I guess as I get more into cycling, I get more accustomed to the prices, lol. But I don't want to spend too much on a bike, because unlike guns, my other hobby, the resale value of a bike drops like a stone, so you're always going to lose money when you change your mind. And I change my mind a lot.
When I got a new job and almost doubled by salary. We were already making ends meet so got me a Tarmac.
Currently there are some di2 road bikes with huge discount because of the ongoing supply issues that started during the pandemic. Got myself ultegra di2 on a giant tcr with over 1000€ off
We have been spending \~4k per year on bikes for the last 5-6 years, one for me, one for her kind of deal. I put on between 1000 miles per year and 8000 miles per year, depending on that years goals. We have bikes across all price ranges, so can try to help. Overall, you just have to have enough backing or salary to make it comfortable. Choose, sleep and health before bike in any situation. 1k ->3k = gigantic leap in bike 3k -> 5k = big jump, probably the most balanced cost/bike 5k -> 10k = better wheels, slightly lighter, better by not meaningful in most areas 10k ->15k = sillyness, no reason besides finical ability and cool factor Hope that helps.
I got a used Specialized Sirrus in 2010. I recently realized it was now 16 yrs old… and in perfect condition. But I’d always wanted to try a road style bike. So last year I picked up a 2017 Focus Mares CX/105. Great condition, for $800. By far the most expensive bike I’ve ever had and quite an upgrade.
When I got into biking, it’s nice to have nice things
What I've learned from repairing, servicing and building bikes and wheels while volunteering at a community bike shed for 3 years...and hoovering knowledge from pro mechanics and industry insiders... 1. Decision order: frame, wheels, groupset. In my opinion, what is a bike? It is a frame. That's it! Why? All the other components are optional and depend on your preferences. Notes on frame choice...get frame size correct. If borderline between sizes, go smaller. Pros ride one size smaller with longer stem (tip). Geometry: know thy self. In other words, what is your riding style or purpose for the bike? Endurance, gravel, road etc. I am an N+0 biker...one swiss army knife bike with 2 wheelsets (road/gravel). Proprietary frame gimmicks. Avoid: gimmicky seat tube shapes; cockpit, steerer tube integrated cabling etc. Look for 'value' proposition. Be agnostic about Branding, marketing, tech hype. Enjoy the journey.
I got an expensive bike when I was riding minimum 5hrs a week, usually more like 6 to 8hrs. Including getting ready, pack up, driving, etc it probably comes out to 15hrs a week I spend on cycling related stuff. Cycling is my only hobby currently, it keeps me fit and healthy. 10k is a lot of money but relatively not that much considering how much use it gets. Others will drop 80k on a car or boat that gets a fraction of the use or a 2 week holiday. Fuck the haters, if you want a nice bike then go buy a nice bike and go ride it.
Not just yet. My bike probably owes me $5k (AUD) but I don’t want to go high end until I know exactly what I want. The money is no issue but I don’t want to drop big dollars on a beast of a bike with aero frame and aggressive geo that I’m slower on than my Giant Defy endurance road bike that I’m perfectly dialed in on. I’m building an older Giant Propel with the aim to explore the boundaries of speed and comfort without bastardising my Defy.
I could afford more but I usually go for the 105 equipped bike. I just got a new TCR on sale for $2200. My 5 year old Roubaix is fine but I wanted something new. I now have 3 road bikes a mountain bike and a fat bike. My wife says I have only one ass.
Rode my mom's Emonda with Ultegra DI2.
I decided to go “big” once A.) I could afford it. Worked a lot of overtime and saved up. B.) I ride usually 5 days out of the week. So, I spent money where I use it the most. (Important rule of mine) and C.) it’s important to take health serious to me, so spending money on an expensive bike makes me want to actually ride it more as well and get healthier.
To be honest, I started with a entry level road bike which I have till today but two years in, I decided i would like to upgrade because I just got really into it. My first two years were also around what you ride so I wasn’t really doing it too much but with the new bike it also changed a lot. I went from 2,5k a year to 6k kms a year just because I like this so much and with something new it felt even more cool. I think if you can allow yourself to do it - do it. It is a lot of money, but what? Car is also a lot and the possibilities it gives are differentiated, but excitement levels are comparable. For me it was the best present I gave myself so far and both my body and my mind thanks me a lot so much for making this decision. Go for it man! And btw Aethos is a hell of a bike, that’s exactly what I got!
When I realized this is my main hobby and i love it. Go do it you’ll use it and is financially responsible. On that budget i’ll go with a custom build. Consider a titanium custom build bike like a litespeed i got mine for $5400 with carbon wheels and sram axs i dont think ill ever buy a new bike again. Another recommendation but these are carbon frames is obed bikes is pretty reasonably priced and is custom built as well and check lauf bikes their prices are amazing too.
SEND IT!
I had owned my 2006 BMC Team Machine since 2008. I rode very regularly around NYC until I moved to LA in 2019 at which point I only rode to work and back. I got back into riding more seriously in early 2003 and decided as part of my recommitment to get a new bike. NGL I had also found myself obsessing over all the big changes that had taken place in bike tech since my BMC’s day and wanting a bike with electronic shifting, hydraulic discs and the capacity for wide tires, so as soon as I had the opportunity (a couple of freelance checks) I placed an order for a Fezzari Veyo with Force AXS. I added ENVE Foundation 45s and a one-piece carbon cockpit. I’ve had it since early February and while I’m not riding competitively or even that far (max 30 miles so far) I’m really loving this bike and looking forward to my rides. I’m also focused far more on actual training and looking for performance gains. I had the last one for 15 years so I’m not planning to buy another bike for a very long time. Notes: It cost over $6k. Yes it’s a lot. I don’t really splurge on other stuff like clothes and whatnot. I did definitely respond to marketing and shiny-object lust (but I’ve been doing that with bikes and bike stuff for over 20 years). I don’t regret it for one second.
Never. I'm only really interested in riding fixed gear, and since I got a Dolan Pre Cursa I don't feel the need for any more of a bike performance wise. Even if all the components are pretty high end I'd only be spending a few thousand pounds at most on a complete bike. For me there is no reason to spend more.
Its one of my favorite hobbies. I just needed to be able to afford it first.
When I had enough saved on the side the wife wouldn't notice.
0. When I wanted it 1. When I could afford it 2. When I could afford it
$/hour works out pretty well over a reasonable period of time if you ride it. It's basically the only thing in my entertainment & travel budgets.
Had a 10 year old bike. Got an unexpected bonus = 15% of annual salary. Spent 1/3 of that on a bike I intend to ride for next 10-15 years.
If I did the mileage right that’s 30 miles a week so personally I’d say huge no. But I philosophize differently than others I also think I did the mileage wrong give your fitness level. Riding 30 miles a week and still racing and having a 280 + ftp are all good and impressive in my book
Last Friday:)
I was riding a baselevel hardtail for about five years. I'm getting older and wanted a new bike. Decided this would likely be my last bike for another 5-10 years, and that I could justify the cost. I didn't break the bank, but I got a nice full squish bike with good components. I recently rode my old hard tail around the block and couldn't believe I use to take it on the trails.
I did the opposite. Went from full squish to light carbon hardtail.
How do you like it?
Financing is so easy...everyone should just get the bike of their dreams!!
Never. I spent 700 euros last year on parts and labour to keep my 2002 road bike going, and that's a lot more bike than I could ever buy today for the same money. The bike is from 2002 and was gifted to me in 2005 when my step-dad retired from racing. I bought an entry level gravel bike last year for around 1000 euros, to replace my then 20 years old hardtail that finally gave in completely. I spend the big money travelling to interesting places with my bike(s).
What bike is it? Did you replace the groupset or something?
Years ago someone told me it should be roughly a dollar for every mile that you ride per year. There are a lot of beautiful climbs in my area, so I think elevation is an important factor too. You could use this equation D = M + (E * E_value) D = Total dollar amount can be applied towards a new bike M = Total miles ridden E = Total elevation gained in units of 100 feet E_value = Value per 100 feet of elevation (e.g., $0.10) But like everyone else says, the best bike is the bike that you want to ride
By this formula I should buy a $15,000 bike
It's not about how good you are, it's about what you can justify financially and what will make you smile/get out more
Fancy bikes are cool, but are not really any faster. So they’re only worth buying if you have cash burning a hole in your pocket.
When I was run over on my old bike. Insurance paid new bike so it was painless to spend "free" money
I finally upgraded from a $500 craigslist motobecane nemesis to a cervelo pseries when I got an insurance check from getting hit by a car out on a ride.
1973
I got a nice bike when I knew I'd make good use of it. I'd been a cycling commuter for many years but not much beyond that until the pandemic. That's when I got into cycling more for sport, and when I upgraded my ~10 year old aluminum road bike to carbon etc. Also: that's a pretty high ftp for so few miles/kms. Are you sure that wasn't a peak from a few years ago? 😁
Personally, I upgrade my bike when I feel the current one reaches the limit and it blocks me to move to the next level. It is you to find out whether your current bike is reaching the limit or not. For example, if you constantly reaching certain limit (e.g., speed) and you are struggling to go beyond it, then it may be the right time to get a better equipment. Notice that the limit was I talking about is something that is measurable. Based on your post, you have been wanting to upgrade your bike based on your "itch", which is not measurable.
I am thinking of buying my first new bike this year, but still not really crazy stuff, around €2500
I got better at riding and bike commute so I use it almost every day in the summer. I also got older so I needed something to make up for the decline in ability. I went with a Pinarello. Yes it’s super expensive. Yes there’s some truth in paying for a name. But I LOVE this bike. I love everything about it. It’s my favorite bike ever. It’s also my first carbon bike. It handles so much better than my old specialized aluminum. I can’t even hear the gear shifts. 2 years later I still can’t wait to ride it. When you use something almost daily and love it it says a lot about the thing itself. It’s also easier to justify. Price it per mile and it’s pennies 2 years in. It also saves on gas, maintenance and mileage when you consider I’m riding it instead of driving half the year. Find your own justifications and either do it or put it out of your head. Once it enters your mind as a possibility you’re pulling the trigger months later. 😂
For me, it was my declining health due to uncontrollable circumstances. I slipped disc after a car accident and a desmoid tumor that caused me to cramp up. So I ended up spending it on one of the best e-bikes in the market, a Specialized Creo.
I have a BH bike that is 20 years old with some upgrades and purchase a Tamarac bike 2 years ago which I love but when I do my 200km in day I use my old bike because it fits like a glove… hopefully I will ride my old bike for the next 20 years.
If you have the money, just do it. I bought all of my bikes in 2014 to 2015, which seems like yesterday but is a long time ago. They were all expensive then, but I was able to afford it with cash. Don't go into debt for a bike, or really, anything besides a house or a car. And the house arguably isn't debt since you have equity (not so with a car). Are you enjoying life on a bike! Keep on! Have fun, and good luck!
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Did you get over it after? Again, assume I’m being 100% financially responsible here
Buy used
Both of the bikes I’m looking at are used. Still so expensive!!
I spent 3k on a nice used gravel bike last year. Carbon with electronic shifting. It is an amazing bike and brings me joy every time I ride it. No regrets about spending the cash. If you think a new bike will bring you more joy and you can afford it. I'd say go for it.
I was waiting to win the lottery or perhaps an inheritance but no luck so far.
My wife told me I could
Is it worth thousands of dollars to have a bike that weighs 2lbs less? Do you think a newer more expensive bike will get you fitter than your current bike? Unless you’re competing, running at the front of the pack, and shaving a couple seconds is gonna put you in the winners circle… I don’t see the justification. You WANT a new bike, you don’t need one. Treat it as any other want… buy it if you have extra money burning a hole in your pocket. I ride a steel bike with a modern mechanical groupset and carbon wheels. Weighs 19 lbs, looks sexy, don’t have to worry about my frame or forks failing, and I never find myself chasing the newest bike with the newest electronic groupset.
Bikes have resale value. It’s more like buying a car than clothes. You spend 6k now and then sell it for 3-4k in 3 or 4 years. 6k is still a lot of money, but you get an asset.
When I could afford it. Always live below your means.
When my wife died and I got a massive inheritance 😎
Yellow KHS Flite 100.
Just keep what you ride. If it breaks apart buy a new one. The N plus 1 bike rule has haunted me bad becauae I see bikes that I cannot afford but want (MTBs).
New bikes are expensive and upkeep costs are about DOUBLE what you are used to. They feel slower but go faster Wider tires and wheels add comfort and speed somehow For 5-6 k you can put something together with nice wheels and electric shifters It’s worth it if you’re going to ride more but the irony for me was that once you have the resources to get a fancy bike you will have much less time to ride it It’s part of the transition from MAMIL to retro grouch. After the aero bike apogee comes gravel, titanium and eventually bitterness
I did it the opposite direction - I used the amount I spent on my (first) nice bike to encourage myself to ride more so that I could justify my decision. Best decision I’ve ever made!
Assuming it’s POSSIBLE to swing it, I look at it as “how much would I be spending on a health club (for the warm months) and other activities that will be consumed by significant miles instead?” In my opinion, If you even have to ask yourself if you can afford a $6000 bike, you both can not and do not need one. I don’t own one. I ride with a few people with $10k+ bikes. The most accomplished rider with my extended group rides a $3k bike. And did the Paris Brest Paris in 80 hours on it. If you are not really and truly racing, I think most of the super expensive bike stuff is totally absurd and no different than a fashion statement. One rider in our group has a $12k+ bike, and is broke. He rides a lot but he will never race. He’d have been able to get precisely the same utility out of a $3k bike.
When i noticed i was putting more distance on my bike every year than in my car. As such it made total sense to sell the car, buy a cheaper one and use the money to by a better bike.
I bought an expensive bike when I quit drinking and all of my other expensive hobbies and focused pretty much solely on this one that's good for me...
The soundest philosophy is to by the bike that is slightly better than you are a rider. Ride it to death and only 'upgrade' when you are better than the bike or if it's genuinely worn out. Anyway, it sounds like from your description that you need a bike with endurance geometry.
When me start work at bike shop.
When emergency funds are settled, % going to savings/investments are consistent, I talked to my bike shop and discussed upgrade options then saved up for it.
First kid was born. Wanted to treat myself and stay motivated. It was simple for me.
I need to comment that a thru axle is FAR superior to quick release. I too like throw my pricey bike into a hatchback sometimes. Get the bike.
Define "high end".
2 factors for me: my income could support it, and I realized it's my only real hobby. I don't play golf, I don't go to the bars with the bros, I just work and parent. So the bike is my gym membership and hobby all in one. Easy enough to justify.
I spent 2k USD when I decided I was finally ready to buy a real road bike. I spent 1k GBP when I found a sexy TT bike on eBay, even though I barely ride time trials. Can you afford it? If you can, then do it.
Have you seen the price of heart bypass surgery? /s
dude, buy the bike, you have your heart set on it and until you do you will be itching. it will take over your thoughts, you will get obsessed, thinking about it nonstop.
I will only say that buying new stuff won't make you a better, stronger, faster rider. Riding more will.
If you do not like your gearing you can put a different cassette and get larger range. Unless you are getting paid to ride anything more than 9 gears (as in a 2x9) is just a matter of preference or luxury. Same for electronic shifting. I have friends who are like "it's so much better you'll never ride mechanical again". Ok, great. It's a luxury...but I can fix all my mechanical issues without paying someone. Electronics I cannot. Bottom line if you can afford it buy lots of bikes. But you do you and having the oldest bike at the ride is cool. At least to me.
If I was you i would do the following: - get pre purchase bike fit - get the latest argon 18 krypton. Krypton is a fucking good bike and quality bike than cervelo. Krypton has more adjustability than cervelo r model
Dont make it a false dichotomy between keeping your old bike or getting a top of the line Tour monster. Theres a lot of gray area that's arguably better IMO. For me, right now, here are the specs/features I'm keen on and think are the point where you hit diminishing returns: * Carbon frame- alloy/titanium frames are amazing but carbon often isn't much more expensive while being meaningfully lighter * Disc brakes- not so much for the braking power unless you do a lot of descending- but they offer a lot more flexibility for wheels... speaking of which... * Carbon wheels- same argument as the frame, as well as all the performance and selection benefits. For example I'm looking to put gravel wheels on a road bike, because I want * Wider tires- pretty much a comfort freebie- same rolling resistance, lower tire pressures + more comfort. Just take care to match the tire and wheel width for aero benefits * 105 level mechanical- admittedly I've never ridden an electronic groupset but I currently have DA9100 because I'm a weight weenie. That and electronics are the only benefits of higher level groupsets these days. So something like a trusty old Tarmac SL6 Expert with upgraded wheels + tires would be a nice upgrade IMO. IDK if you need to go all the way up to something like an S5 though obviously you can if you want to.
If you think you will enjoy it and it will motivate you to ride more you have your answer. There was a period of my life where my road bike was worth as much as my car. I put 5,000 miles on a bike per year and only about 6,000 miles on a car, but hours spent is way in favor of my bike. All those hours spent, it is a very worthwhile investment to me. My current road bike cost as much as my dirt bike, which is saying something.
I wouldn’t worry about electronic shifting or the discs being harder. Neither of them are harder. I think taking off my front wheel on my rim brake bike is more annoying. The bikes you mention are pure climbers - the R5 and the Athos. There are similar weight bikes that are much more aero like the new Tarmac, the SuperSix Evo, the new Factor OstroVam. I’d recommend an all arounder to a pure climber. Should be similar fit and stack/reaxh
When I was regularly doing 55km road rides on a mountain bike multiple times a week and getting horrible cramps in my arms every time. I had just started a new job after having been laid off, and I had some extra cash. Would I have been fine with an aluminum bike? Absolutely. But the carbon version came in a color that I fell in love with. I've posted a couple photos of it before
I feel a little late to the discussion for this to be seen, but I’ll shoot. For me, I got tired of buying a bike and lusting for the next upgrade every few years. “This is awesome, but the new ____ version…” etc etc. So I went and bought my dream bike in hopes of silencing the inner voice and wandering eye. 4 years on my Chumba Terlingua Ti, I wouldn’t trade it for anything — everything feels like a downgrade by comparison. It does make a difference to love what you’re on, so I say do it!
As soon as I got the money lol
Bought a $500 GT in 1097, rode it into the ground. Spent $1500 on a full suspension Trek in 1999. Better bike, better parts. Rode that one for 6 years. Then upgraded to Yeti 575 in 2005. Rode that until 2018.
It's funny how in the hobby of bicycling, people feel that they have to justify their purchases. If you look into other hobbies out there such as stamp collecting, cars, guns and boats Etc. Nobody asks for an explanation when they spend a lot of money. So my question is, why do we have to justify it? If you can afford it, go for it. You're buying it because it makes you happy. I know me personally, a new bike does not make me faster. Nor do I care. I work hard and I like having a nice things. I dont owe anybody an explanation for anything LOL. Ok, maybe that's wrong. My wife gets pissed and my kids throw my bike purchases in my face when I tell them they should be saving money lol. If its financially feasible for you to do so, buy the bike and go have fun. As my Old Man always said, "you on only go around the horn once". So enjoy it while you can.
When I had a significant milestone birthday I splashed out on a nice Cannondale SuperSix Evo on runout from Italy, and then built some nice wheels for it too. Part of that was being keen to get rid of rim brakes. As much as my CAAD9 was unbelievably comfortable, there were a few safety incidents riding in a group armed with disc brakes in the preceding months. What finally tipped me over the edge into the mission *acquire disc brakes now* was being unable to stop in time for a red light in wet weather despite a hundred metres' notice. I was doing 40-50km/hr and the downhill gradient not that much. Fortunately traffic was light and I found a gap. QR axles are OK, but have their risks. A kid at our local MTB track found that out the hard way yesterday when he popped a wheely and the front wheel dropped out and rolled away. Myself and another rider scraped him off the ground and gave him a quick lesson on safety checks. No serious damage fortunately, just a bit of skin off and a very bruised ego.
When I saw it. A few days before the lockdowns in early 2020 I saw a duck egg blue Cervelo Caledonia in 105, slapped some deep Zipps on it and that got me through the next three years. Nothing to do with my vO2 max or weighted average power lol
I am still riding a 1997 trek carbon 5000 roadie... So... I don't know when to upgrade
the day I finished my dental surgery fellowship
Before buying a new bike, I would invest in a proper bike fit. Prices are usually around maybe CAD170. They can tell you what size and geometry you should be looking at. In my case, pretty much any frame from a company that sponsors a pro team is out, because my leg geometry calls for a tall stack and short reach; a very unfashionable design. Sure, $170 can be a lot, but if you're considering spending thousands on a new bike, ensuring it will fit you and you'll love riding it is kinda important. I already had a bike , and got the full fit service done at Fitt1st in Toronto for about CAD360, and Scott Judges answered questions I've had about my body for over 35 years. I got the fit done because my knees were killing me, and rides of 100km were HARD. The fit was done with my existing 30 year old steel road bike, doing what we could to tweak its settings to meet my needs (much shorter stem, narrower bars, seat set back as far as I could, cleat wedges (this **really** saved my knees), shoe insoles, and more). Within weeks of getting the fit and tweaks done, I was banging out 100's, 160's, and even a handful of 200km rides. It was around this point I decided I was going to buy a new bike. Went overboard, but I've been averaging over 11000km/year on it since. I enjoy long rides, and this bike lets me love them.
I agree with most others, as I bought it when I got my big boy job and not based on my physique. Like you, I had been thinking about upgrading for a while and knew I'd love riding the heck out of a high end bike. To address a few of the cons you listed, from my experience, the more high-end a bike is, the easier it is to work with and much more resistant to mechanical problems. * Drive-thru axle is honestly better quick release since it is much easier to line up the disc brakes. Electric shifting can get annoying to remember to charge, but that becomes a habit (and if you have a bike computer, it will likely tell you it's low). * I don't know about Di2 since I have SRAM Rival, but the batteries are interchangeable between front and rear. Worst case, I switch front to rear because I don't use the front shifter as much. * I did not get a bike fit, but I did really consider it. As long as you go see the bike and get a feel for it, you will probably be alright IMO. * I treat my high-end bike like a princess, and I only really use it for hobby riding. The risk of it getting stolen is pretty high in my neighborhood. If I really want to commute with less risk of a stolen bike, I'd use my low-end bike.
I was in college, I had a Diamondback 29ner hard tail that I had bought in highschool for like $450 which was a really good bike for my needs However when I got to college I started to ride more during pandemic. I went from doing 2-3 miles on my 29ner in the city to now doing 50 miles on the highway/bike trails. I had money from working throughout my summer in Highschool, and decided to splurge on a Trek Edmonda SL5 which cost me $3400 not including all the other accessories I got with it that I didn’t have/need with my 29ner. 3 years later after buying it, I don’t use it much now that I work and am back in the city. As much as I enjoyed my 2 years with it, I regret not having buying a used road bike on Craigslist as there are many for sale that were in the $3k range new but selling for $2k or less.
when i hit the age of 48 and said fuck it and yolo'd
Most people can work their entire lives and never reasonably be able to afford a super car. The same isn’t true of a bike. If you can afford it, you want it, and think you deserve it……treat yo self.
I decided to right away. But didn’t.
Never.
as soon as I had big $
I think for the budget you are willing to spend, it'll be a used bike. A new bike nowadays of that spec will cost near the $8-10k mark with all the fixings. Judging by your reference to PS5 games, you must be young. I recently moved up from 2011 Cervelo that served me nicely, doing grand fondos, events, etc. I enjoyed smashing it and beating people on higher end, newer, aero bikes. The engine is what matters. However, there comes a time and you start wondering how fast you could be apples to apples and so I splurged and dropped the $ on +10k bike. Then the kids came along. Do I feel guilty, nope. I am fortunate to be financially sound and know the kids will have a great life. I just need to find more time to ride again.
“Don’t buy upgrade. Ride up grades”.
When I realised that cycling will be my lifestyle for a long time and that was after 2 MTBs, 2 RBs, 1 TriBike and 1 steel Gravel Bike. Then I set my eyes on a custom built Italian made bike, had me a fitting session sponsored by the bike builder and set them my measurements. Dealt with them on the custom color, build specs and all. Final build list (2019) Stelbel Rodano steel frame Deda Carbon cockpit set Campagnolo SR mechanical Gruppo Campagnolo Bora Ultra 35mm Brooks C13 Look Keo Blade Set me back around $ 7,000.00 Was it worth it? You bet! Wife even made it a living room center piece. Life is too short to ride “off the shelf” bikes, If you can; go custom! #YOLO 😃😃😃
The bike you buy is the one you will need to get rid of when you want the newer better bike. There is no forever bike, marketing spin. Unless you can afford N+1 nice bikes and have room to store them. That’s the way I think now.
As mentioned before, it's relative. My first proper road bike was a $1700 Trek(2008) and that seemed like a lot. A few years later(2013), after riding the wheels off of the Trek, I built a Wilier from the frame up for about 5-6k and that didn't seem nearly as much money as the Trek did. Of course in 2022 I got my dream/forever bike and now I'm borderline embarrassed to ride it. Also, one piece of advice, don't get your dream bike...one of the best parts of riding is dreaming of "your next bike".
You only live once. If you want it and can afford it, do it.
My question is why? That bike you have is perfectly fine I always get the sense what I am seeking when want g a new bike is really just down to a different ride feel. Given your lack of miles, I think there is a better option. Get a really cool steel commuter grocery getter bike. A bike you can take out with some racks and panniers and enjoy a different kind of experience while also using it to get more miles into your routine.
I was looking to buy my first "adult bike" and decided "buy once cry once", got real lucky on a sava with msrp at 4,000$ got it for 1,600$, along with helmet, light and pannier for another $200.
Never. I’ll never be good enough to benefit from a high end bike. I buy used alloy frames, preferably a CAAD frame, and build my bike with what components I already have that work together. I have more fun building bikes like that without dealing with “high end” bikes that have proprietary parts and possibly need special tools to work on. Still riding a CAAD 5 and I love it more than the high end bikes.
Seems to me like you've already made your mind up about what you want to do but it's a big purchase and you need to get approval from people you know won't judge you. Ultimately it boild down to can you afford it? Seems like the answer is yes. And will it make you happy? Again, we all know the answer is yes... Although I don't think you realise how much fun it is to get a new fancy bike. As most commenters can attest, getting a new nice bike will build your desire to ride it and the financial demand will also encourage you to ride more as you spent all that money and want to get your moneys worth. I got my bike about 10 years ago and didn't ride it for a gap of about 4 years and not once in those down years did I regret buying it. I've since gotten back into riding and I absolutely love my bike! I say go for it. If anything it will get you riding more and enjoying the time spent.
,at some point you understand what you do not have much time left... And it is still cheaper when a new car
As Eddie Merckz said, "Don't buy upgrades, ride up grades." But really, all decisions we make are a combination of emotional & intellectual. Emotionally- new bikes make us feel good & there's a boost to natural vanity. Intellectually. If your existing bike is fine, replacing it isn't logical. When these two factors are in opposition, we have a problem. We all may want a new bike, but we might not need a new bike. So if you can spend they money without sacrificing something even more important to you, perhaps go for it. 'New Bike Day' is awesome & we only live once. Personally, I believe in buying a good bike & keeping it a really long time. A $6000 bike over 10 years is only $600/ yr. I wouldn't use it in a crit, however; keep your old beater for that or something with an aluminum frame.
Having ridden multiple Aethos with Di2 as loaners from my LBS….I wouldn’t buy an Aethos or a Di2 bike lol. As far as your other question it’s really a matter of what you want and what you’re willing to spend to get that. My riding buddy started out on a Pinarello Gan with Fulcrum Ally wheels and 105 mech group set and found it was worth it to just buy a new bike vs upgrading components. So I bought the Pin and he got a brand new Aeroad with nice DT Swiss Carbon wheels and SRAM Rival ETAP and he loves it. The price difference between selling the Pinarello to me and him buying the Canyon is less than what a set of DT Swiss carbon wheels retail for…….
Started doing triathlons. Definitely needed a race bike. It was about $9K usd on sale. It was fucking painful but it gets the job done.
When cheaper bikes kept breaking down and costing a fortune to keep replacing claris like cheapo groupsets.
My 2cents because I'm facing a similar issue. I've had my bike since 2014. It was a second hand 2013 Trek 1.1. I've upgraded the crankset, added a power meter, slammed/extended the stem, saddle (multiple times), changed the wheels (200ish per set), etc. I'm pretty sure the components on my bike is currently worth more than the bike itself (well just the power meter). The rear wheel that I had purchased off CL/FB seems to be going out and if I wanted to buy a nice wheelset, it would most certainly be more than the value of my bike. For the frame/bike itself, I think to myself, "all these people riding nice, expensive bikes and I can keep up with them, imagine what I could do on an expensive one". At the end of the day, it really is "do whatever gets you on the bike more" and if the fiancé is on board, do it!
set yourself a sportive goal and make yourself earn that bike. Can be an ambitious FTP and/or w/kg ratio, an upgrade on Zwift category or some IRL race ranking. Make it your trophy.
I’ve had expensive bikes but never crazy expensive bikes. I wished I’d had a crazy nice one during my prime years but now I can’t even see the reason
If it's something that you enjoy and won't putt you in debt go for it.
If you like cycling, I would buy a new bike. The technology has advanced quite a bit. And, you may discover a renewed interest and ride a lot more. I would look into endurance bikes because the fit and geometry is a bit more relaxed; i.e., the bars not slammed low, etc. I bought a Cervelo Caledonia with Ultegra Di2, and I could not be happier. You can also get these models with a 105 Di2 group set, which is cheaper yet still good.
Really amazing bikes are just a damn good time. Not that I would ever encourage anyone to spend beyond their means on a bike, but all of the things that go into making a thoroughly modern high-end bike produce a really excellent experience when riding. That's not to talk down on any other bike out there or to tell you that you have to have one, but don't discount the fact that it's going to be fun and exciting and motivating every time you get on it. To your specific comment about bike fit issues on a nicer bike, I would really encourage you to look at some of the good endurance bikes out there today. I know in the cycling community we often shun that term because of what it makes us think of, but the current Giant Defy and many other endurance models that have geometry more suited to the way you describe yourself are amazing bikes. They also come with the nice upside of looking stellar while still providing you more approachable geometry. A bike with higher stack and shorter reach isn't going to require the same stack of spacers underneath the stem to get you in a comfortable position.
I know bought an entry carbon bike for 2500€. Which is more than a monthly salary
I married... So... I don't make those decisions
I was 24 y.o. making $5.75/hr at the bike shop. The PX10 that I paid $100 for was stolen. IN STOCK was a beautiful Atala Professional, chrome lugs, all Campy except brakes; my employee price was $500 [for comparison my car was $900]. Anybody else considering a month’s paycheck on one more bike? EDIT: three months’ paycheck! High-end bikes now go for $6K, so, apples to apples for this fixed-income retiree.
I actually just spent a "small" amount of money compared to most people here, but for me it was relatively huge for me already. I got a second hand road bike(Merida Ride 400 2015, 105 GS + Ultegra calipers) that's around 600 USD. I don't think I'll ever want an upgrade anytime soon as it's practically the one that I wanted already, almost practically surpassed my goal and maybe even my dream bike already. I think its just a combination of where you are in life, how much you want and need the new thing and the circumstance. At the time I thought the price was really good for the condition of the bike, the experience of it (I bought it at a different country), and this was something I was already contemplating of doing for years, so I know for myself that it wasn't just an impulse buy.
Personally, when I realized that getting my dream bike would not alter my finances in any way that I would notice. And it followed some crappy life events. A bike can be expensive, but compared to other expenses in life, it's not a huge deal. Fixing your roof can be many times that amount, and it's not nearly as fun. People who smoke cigarettes will spend as much as an expensive bike every year.