G2EWS
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Devizes, Wiltshire
Cheap Vs Expensive
- Thread starter Peter Armstrong
- Start date
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Crosstrailer
Well-Known Member
I would say don't get hung up on the argument about how much time an expensive bike will/won't shave off your commute or favourite ride. In my experience, its not about that. It is about ride enjoyment and user experience.
I have two bikes in regular use, a 1990 something British Eagle and a 2012 Spesh. If I rode both on the same route there may not be a huge difference in completion time, but the Spesh is a far more comfortable bike which is a heck of a lot nicer to ride than the Iron Eagle and I get far more pleasure from. Maybe it is worth looking at it from a different angle ?
I have two bikes in regular use, a 1990 something British Eagle and a 2012 Spesh. If I rode both on the same route there may not be a huge difference in completion time, but the Spesh is a far more comfortable bike which is a heck of a lot nicer to ride than the Iron Eagle and I get far more pleasure from. Maybe it is worth looking at it from a different angle ?
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Peter Armstrong
Über Member
Quick Questions, Anyone got any views on which ones better?
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuji/aloha-20-2012-triathlon-bike-ec031226
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/quintana-roo/kilo-2011-triathlon-bike-ec025906
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuji/aloha-20-2012-triathlon-bike-ec031226
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/quintana-roo/kilo-2011-triathlon-bike-ec025906
GrasB
Veteran
- Location
- Nr Cambridge
The frames look to be about the same on paper. My only impression is the Quintana Roo has a slightly higher spec which goes with the £300 higher MSRP price tag,
Rob3rt
Man or Moose!
- Location
- Manchester
The Fuji looks like shoot so I would take the QR if forced to choose. However, I wouldn't buy either of those bikes personally.
Ethan
Active Member
Is it your money, or do you share all the money?
If the latter isn't the case, why do you need to justify spending £500+ of your money on a bike?! It's your money, you worked for it. As long as there aren't more important things to be spending it on, saving for a deposit on a house, rent, diy or similar then surely you can do what you want with it?
My girlfriend, bless her, had to endure my unhappiness as I worked in a dead end job for a boss that treated me like crap working stupidly long hours all just to afford my two new bikes.
In the end I got sick and tired of the job, and left before I had enough money to get both bikes. Now my girlfriend isn't a cyclist, she thinks it's insane that I spend so much money on it. But she still chipped in £100 so I could afford my TT bike. Why? Because she could see how much I wanted it, how hard I worked and how happy it would make me. And even if it is a massive expense that she doesn't understand, she'd rather see me chuffed than settle for something slightly worse than I wanted.
Thank god I have her, the idea of having to justify what I spend my money on doesn't sound appealing.
If it's a case of sharing the money you both make, then perhaps it's a little different.
Still, I don't make my girlfriend justify spending £60 on a little bottle of smelly water, do you?
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Peter Armstrong
Über Member
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Peter Armstrong
Über Member
If you wanted a TT bike and that was your limit then yes? if not why not?
simon.r
Person
- Location
- Nottingham
I've come to the conclusion that there's a price point beyond which the improvements become so small as to be barely noticeable to me as an average punter. This applies to all sorts of things, not just cycling.
For example, I'm in the process of looking at new laptops and I reckon I'll spend about £500 on one. This, I think, will be a fair bit better than a £300 one, but it won't be as good as a £1500 one. The improvements the £1500 one has over the £500 one will be of little benefit to me, given that I'll only use it for surfing the net, the odd spreadsheet and so on.
The same with cycling. I'll be faster on a £1000 bike than a £99 BSO, but I doubt I'd notice much difference between a £1000 bike and a £5000 bike, given my skills and fitness level.
But each to their own.
For example, I'm in the process of looking at new laptops and I reckon I'll spend about £500 on one. This, I think, will be a fair bit better than a £300 one, but it won't be as good as a £1500 one. The improvements the £1500 one has over the £500 one will be of little benefit to me, given that I'll only use it for surfing the net, the odd spreadsheet and so on.
The same with cycling. I'll be faster on a £1000 bike than a £99 BSO, but I doubt I'd notice much difference between a £1000 bike and a £5000 bike, given my skills and fitness level.
But each to their own.
Rob3rt
Man or Moose!
- Location
- Manchester
Personally speaking, at that price point, I wouldn't even look at TT bike's.
I would look at a road bike, this way you can ride it a lot more often (sure you can ride a TT bike a lot, but it doesn't feel right in traffic etc) and you can ride in groups (many groups will shun you if you turn up on a TT bike because of the associated dangers) and enter lots of different kinds of events etc. You can probably get more spec for your money with a road bike too and there is nothing stopping you from adding clip on Tri-bars to get a more aero position should you need to.
I would have said if you really want a TT bike, go with Planet-X stealth, but they have upped the price on this now. It was £1k and at that price was pretty much unbeatable but now it is priced at £1299.
Andrew_Culture
Internet Marketing bod
- Location
- The People's Republic Of Suffolk.
I forget, are you commuting on this bike? Is so compare the cost of your bike to the cost of a car.
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Peter Armstrong
Über Member
I ride alot on my own at weekend, wanted a TT bike because I want to do triathlons, the angle of the seat post haveing somthing to do with saving muscle energy for the run, somthing like that. I would keep my old bike or commuting.
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Peter Armstrong
Über Member
Well me and the other half share a car, and my works on the way to hers so Wont be saving money really, it puts half a mile extra on, if that, when she drops me off.
GrasB
Veteran
- Location
- Nr Cambridge
OT: I wouldn't be spending my money on a £500 laptop. They tend to be slow for the specification, don't age well at all & if you're a heavy user they tend to break well within 3 years. Generally you need to be looking ay £800-1500 for something which is quick, well made & will last upwards of 5 years.