I need a reason for a new bike

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BrumJim

Forum Stalwart (won't take the hint and leave...)
Back in 2009 I bought a new bike for the first time ever. Ignorant of most things, I came on here for advice, ignored it, and bought a Specialized Allez. Since then it has taken me on many adventures and on some big rides.

I have upgraded the wheels (worn out), tyres a few times, and groupset has been upgraded from 2300 (8-speed Claris equivalent) to 105, now with a 1-in-3-climbing 12-34 rear cassette. It does what I need it to do - frame is still serviceable, saddle is original, and so are the handlebars. Pretty much everything else, including the pedals, have been changed.

It has been superseded in the poor-weather commuting stakes by a hub-geared Ridgeback now fitted with discs on the front and 700x35 tyres.

10 years is a long time to own your primary transport (most loved), so really should think about changing it. However, any purchase must be justified by addressing the following issues:

1) 10 years means nothing. This is just a wasteful consumerist society forcing me to buy things just to keep company profits up, and keep me subservient to the god of buying stuff.
2) Although the frame is 10 years old, nothing else is. Frame has a lifetime warranty, so it is only just broken in.
3) Current bike is aluminium. Carbon would be lighter, but there again so would I if I didn't snack on cheese just before I go to bed.
4) What do I go for? Planet X pick-it-buid-it-ride-it and learn how to build a bike up from professionals for free? Orbea - the socialist credentials negate the slave-to-capitalism argument, Boardman - a British name and notoriously good for the money? Just look for a great deal and buy that one?
5) What purpose? Audax with mudguards, Sportive for even longer distances, Gravel for more felixibility and commuting fun in all but the worst weather?
6) Groupset - 105 for quality, Ultegra for special events only, SRAM as the Planet X favourite? Campagnolo with an Italian bike such as Bianchi or Colnago?
7) Why am I thinking about the brand and type of bike I'm not going to buy?

Please help me.:surrender:
 
D

Deleted member 26715

Guest
You don't need another bike, stop fooling yourself, put the money in the bank & let them gamble with it.
 

DCLane

Found in the Yorkshire hills ...
Your current one does what you want it to.

If you got another then either it's to improve what you do now or do something the current one doesn't.

But don't ask me: I buy and sell about 10-20 bikes a year and have just bought a new carbon track bike :tongue: - which is my first 'all new' bike since 2012.
 
1) 10 years means nothing. This is just a wasteful consumerist society forcing me to buy things just to keep company profits up, and keep me subservient to the god of buying stuff.

My Xtracycle is clocking 20 years and is still going strong. In fact now I think about it, I don't own a bike less then ten years old, having bought the Bakfiets new in 2009.

That has absolutely nothing to do with your decision of course.
 
Modern doitall bikes are called, variously cx, touring, gravel, adventure and probably some other marketing names.
The key features are that it is a drop bar road bike with very generous tyre clearance for tracks and trails. Ideally fitted with low gears, rack and mudguard eyelets and chainstay mounted disk brake. Some versions seem to have excessive tyre clearance.
For riders who have no racing pretensions they are a sound choice.
 
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