Scotchlovingcylist
Formerly known as Speedfreak
I've also never seen these threads. In contrast I often find a substantial amount of posts related to older bikes that the amazing lot on here keep going.
When someone like me asks on here about a bike they are thinking about that doesn't contain the latest groupset. It never ceases to bemuse me to see the responses.
People talk like its a cardinal sin to buy a bike which doesn't have the latest groupset. I'm pretty sure 99% of you are not professional cyclists. How much difference does it actually make in your own real world performance? I'm not into racing. Yes being able to go a little faster is nice. But the discounts on buying at the end of the season just before the next year models come out can be significant.
Is buying a new bike with a year old groupset really that bad?
Care to quote some examples of people talking like this?People talk like its a cardinal sin to buy a bike which doesn't have the latest groupset.
I recently upgraded my Dura ace groupset to Tiagra. My friend said "hey that's not an upgrade, that's a downgrade". I told him "Tiagra lasts longer, isn't that an upgrade?"
He said "no, the Dura ace costs more money so that is an upgrade". I told him "how about one day the marketing people swap the prices around and tell everyone that Tiagra lasts longer so it's more expensive. Would you then consider it an upgrade?"
He said I better go to one of those cycling forums and confuse everyone with my thoughts.
I don't think I've come across anyone moaning that its a sin to not have the latest groupset, on here or in real life.
Both my man bikes were Ultegra. As the parts wear out I've been downgrading to 105 and lower. I'm done spending silly money on parts.
I recently upgraded my Dura ace groupset to Tiagra. My friend said "hey that's not an upgrade, that's a downgrade". I told him "Tiagra lasts longer, isn't that an upgrade?"
He said "no, the Dura ace costs more money so that is an upgrade". I told him "how about one day the marketing people swap the prices around and tell everyone that Tiagra lasts longer so it's more expensive. Would you then consider it an upgrade?"
He said I better go to one of those cycling forums and confuse everyone with my thoughts.
What about your woman bikes?
If you're a potential Racer, then you need the best equipment you can afford.
I'm an old bloke, pootling around Cheshire, so it's not needed.
I build up my bikes with the bits I actually want, so the idea of a groupset (this year's or last year's) off-the-peg doesn't really figure.