Like many others in here, I pay for what I like and need rather than for the latest crazes as long as it hopefully provides value for money in the short and in the long term.
I’ve had a few new bikes (Triban 3 - too big, Boardman CX comp - wheel broke beyond economic repair and a Cannondale Trail 7 - still going strong) and a fair few used bikes (Raleigh airlite - bought in moment of madness and quickly sold on, Norco Threshold - chopped in for a Kaffenback built which unfortunately got written off after 18 months as the mech hanger broke where it was welded in and couldn’t be repaired without weakening frame, I’ll always miss this bike and finally a Saracen MTB on permanent loan to me that I love as I can upend the back wheel, do skiddies and race my boys on the school run with; feel like a big kid again).
My current fleet is:
Wiggins Rouen, second hand and then modified to fit, total cost £350ish.
Cannondale Trail 7, new on cycle to work 7 years ago, total cost about £400 including the 650 wheels to replace the 29ers which I still have an a baby seat for a £1 (best ever
EBay win!!!)
Saracen MTB on permanent loan to me. Cost nothing.
I also don’t need a 1xspeed or the lastest 11/12 speed when a perfectly functional and rugged 8/9 speed will do the trick. I’ve had Tiagra, 105 and SRAM Apex and to be honest keeping everything tuned was a bit of a nightmare, a lower speed with wider chain seems somehow more tolerable and in the long term cheaper to replace as parts are cheaper. I do draw the line at 8speed, particularly the latest R2000’s with underbar routing, they look nicer then previous generations so there is now no need to upgrade for aesthetics reasons and from a lighting perspective there is no longer a cable in the way.
In otherwords new and second hand bring a big smile to my face in different ways, the final bike I want to complete the stable of four/three is a Planet X London road if the loan bike needs to be returned at some point.