Are road bikes better value this year?

[ELL]

Hi all,

I've not been looking for a new bike for a few years now (somehow forgot about n+1). Any way my work has just signed up to the cycle solutions cycle to work scheme. So the last couple of days I have been looking at a new commuter.
One thing I seem to have noticed is a few 2016 bikes have a better spec than the 2015 for the same price.
One I looked at today was the trek domane 2.3 for £1000 last year was with tiagra this year 105. Noticed the same with a couple of others as well. Is 2016 a good year or was 2015 a bad year? Or is this what happens every year (I dont see that happening)?

 

[Berk on a Bike]

Others have more knowledge than me on this, but I read somewhere manufacturers will upgrade the spec on a range in the off years between major range changes. So in other words perhaps Trek are looking to overhaul the Domane in 2017.

 

[Kajjal]

Mountain bikes are getting worse value for money year on year from the major manufacturers. For road bikes they seem to have inflated RRP and then a series of fake sales until late in the year when the real sales start.

 

[ELL]

But none of the bikes I looked at were in the sale. They were all the same price but new ones had better spec.

Makes sense the upgrade before the major change.

 

[vickster]

Some cycle schemes don't provide discounts on any C2W bikes or you can't use a voucher and get the advertised discount. The best deals are on older models paid for in cash usually (or even interest free credit)

Is the 2015 spec the same as the 2016 in other ways? Wheels etc? Frame? Groupset isn't the only consideration

 

[Pale Rider]

My local bike shop won't give discounts on Cycle to Work bikes because the scheme provider takes the 10 per cent the customer could have had.

In that respect, a Brompton is a good prospect on Cycle to Work because discounts on Brommies are rare.

 

[ELL]

No discounts on any bikes all full retail price. It is purely the special is better.

2016 bike has the same spec or better on everything. Wheels frame etc all the same but 105 group set rather than tiagra.

 

[vickster]

Get the newer one then...as long as it's not black

And it's the right bike for you after you've had a test ride. Check the bike takes mudguards, the tyre size you want and potentially a pannier rack

 

[Dec66]

Get the newer one then...as long as it's not black

And it's the right bike for you after you've had a test ride. Check the bike takes mudguards, the tyre size you want and potentially a pannier rack

What's wrong with black?

 

[vickster]

Dull and fugly, the hoods are the only attractive bit on that

 

[Dec66]

Nah, s'lovely.

But I would say that

 

[ELL]

The thing that drew me to it was it and pannier bolts. So many bikes in that price range don't. Looks like a super comfy bike but like you say will test it first. Takes full mud guards on a 25 tyre.
Forgot how much fun bike shopping is.

 

[ELL]

Sorry has to be white for me.

 

[ELL]

Although my other option is the giant defy 0 in black.

 

[cyberknight]

Sorry has to be white for me.

My white bike has been a stone chip magnet from day one and its really shows the muck.