Should I wait?.....

[Gaz Vickers]

Hopefully some of you's can help me to make my mind up.....
My dilemma being i really want to get myself a Road Bike....But should i continue to use my MTB over the wintry months and make myself wait until Springtime to become a Roadie! That way i can go the full hog - Shoes, Pedals, Full Lycra kit
Having two young kids and it being only 8 weeks until comes calling! and the eldest with a xmas list as long as i'v ever seen.
So should i wait or keep nagging the wife?

 

[biggs682]

Gaz get yourself a 2nd hand road bike and see if you enjoy it , you could always upgrade in spring once tried and ridden for a while

 

[Gaz Vickers]

I considered that but i am struggling to find a decent ''Cheap'' one!

 

[Marshmallow_Fluff]

As you already know I had the same dilema for a long time.. I got Ruben (the lovely Giant Defy gentleman of mine) at a very good price (I think) and I saw Beatrix (the poor MTB Specialized Mika) go with a heartache, as I would never afford the transition without selling her.
Having said that, OMG Gaz! You'll not believe the difference! Get yourself a road bike! Now!
How much do you consider to be "cheap"?

 

[Gaz Vickers]

As you already know I had the same dilema for a long time.. I got Ruben (the lovely Giant Defy gentleman of mine) at a very good price (I think) and I saw Beatrix (the poor MTB Specialized Mika) go with a heartache, as I would never afford the transition without selling her.
Having said that, OMG Gaz! You'll not believe the difference! Get yourself a road bike! Now!
How much do you consider to be "cheap"?

I know there is going to be a difference! this is why i don't want to wait!
BUT being on a very tight budget with xmas approaching etc..... cheap means very very cheap! haha, as i don't really want to buy twice if i can help it.
I could get a Triban 3 brand new in spring or maybe something a little pricier with selling my MTB!
My heart says wait till spring, my head says buy one now and sod xmas! lol

 

[Marshmallow_Fluff]

I know there is going to be a difference! this is why i don't want to wait!
BUT being on a very tight budget with xmas approaching etc..... cheap means very very cheap! haha, as i don't really want to buy twice if i can help it.
I could get a Triban 3 brand new in spring or maybe something a little pricier with selling my MTB!
My heart says wait till spring, my head says buy one now and sod xmas! lol

I totally understand, but there are a few facts to consider:
1./ Even if you sell your underwear in springtime and buy the bit-more-pricey bike (that will take you to what? the region of 600 quid?) you will most definitely want to upgrade withing a year. So forget the "I don't want to buy twice" option.
2./ If you are careful you can have a good 2nd hand bike, which if you look after properly, you will be able to sell say next year without losing much -if any- money!
3./ You can sell you MTB now and fund your purchase and save some money for an upgrade next fall (when many people that tried cycling during summer and decided it's not for them)

 

[Gaz Vickers]

You make some very good points!. If i'm honest i'm not sure the wife will ever let me have a bike which is worth more than our car! (which isn't much) lol
i'd imagine my top end budget would be around £500 max!! so guess i'm waiting till Spring! you never know, the Olympic buzz may of wore off most folk after Christmas and the bargains might be out there to be had!

 

[mrandmrspoves]

If you never take your MTB off road, sell it and buy a road bike or tourer. If you do take the MTB off road, keep it and buy a road bike or tourer. May be worth looking at some of the 0% deals that many dealers offer nowadays .... as advertised in any of the cycling mags.

 

[BrianEvesham]

I considered that but i am struggling to find a decent ''Cheap'' one!

You and me both !

 

[DCLane]

I'd go with buy a cheap one now, sell it in the spring.

I bought the Carrera Virtuoso s/hand last year for £110, spent £70 on parts after I'd used it all winter and sold it for £180. Total cost: nil, with about 30 commutes done, saving £10 each time.

You just have to look carefully; on here, Gumtree, eBay, local adverts. I even found my dad's Christmas present hybrid on my work's Classifieds.

 

[biggs682]

I considered that but i am struggling to find a decent ''Cheap'' one!

Gaz what size do you require etc etc and put a wanted ad up

 

[Black Sheep]

Having used a road bike to commute to uni and back as a student all year round, swapping only to the mountain bike two days after it had snowed (and the snow had frozen to become ice) I'd say you can happily use a road bike all year round.

However, road bikes do offer less grip and things happen quicker on a road bike due to the narrow tyres, could be worth waiting until spring, then you get used to how it handles with the occasional patch of bad weather, then come next autumn our lovely climate will gradually teach you how to keep it rubber side down through the winter

 

[Gaz Vickers]

Cheers for all your help folks, I'm just going to keep a look out for a bargain over the next few weeks, if i find one then great, if not i will just wait until i'm in a better position to spend that little bit more. Ideally i need to go to a shop and try a few for size, that way i know i can search for the correct size.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I was in the same situation a few months ago, my answer was to buy a fifty quid frame off ebay, get some old wheels and a very worn front crank and build a singlespeed. I do now also have a geared bike but tend to spend most of my time on the cheapo single speed. I think the total cost was about £120 once I had added in tyres and a little bit of help from our local bike Doctor.

My mate @dktd of this parish was in the same position a few months ago and got a very nice road bike from another CycleChat member for fifty quid! As someone else suggested, the classified / wanted section of this 'ere forum is your friend

 

[clarion]

Get a touring bike and have the best of both worlds.