I’ve been fairly parsimonious for much of my life. Always looking for a deal and consequently I think we’ve done a lot with the money I’ve made. On taking up cycling almost 10 years ago at 48 I bought an Allez elite and considered that a self-indulgent purchase. An accident, which lead to some compensation meant I moved onto a Tarmac comp in 2015. To be honest, while it’s probably more bike than I need, it’s never quite excited me in the way the Allez did. It spends much of its time on a turbo.
Taking an interest in audax led to a Genesis Equilibrium. It is a tool for the job, an endurance bike, and has needed a lot of fiddling. A new rear mech for a bigger cassette, guards, a new saddle, new wheels with a hub dynamo and better tyres. It’s getting there and practically probably not much slower than the Tarmac. Any losses in speed are made up for in improved comfort.
With children self-sufficient and planning a wind-down to a pension we have more cash than before but that doesn’t mean I want to spend it. I don’t see a new bike anytime soon. I have found myself really impressed when I have relaxed the purse strings however. Decent bibs made a big difference, as did a £200 gore jacket. Everyone will have different ideas, funding levels, other commitments and need to make their own choices. I have found far more improvement than I expected moving from Lidl / Aldi gear to expensive stuff, but I’ve taken a long time to reach that conclusion.
