What would you do regarding bike purchase?

[Orange utopia]

I have an opportunity to get a practically new trek pilot 5.0 frame. My husband says he can build it up using the 9 speed Ultegra group he has on my 12 year old Klein, we would just need to buy new brakes, headset and handlebars.

Then I would have a hardly used carbon road bike that is set up to be more upright and comfortable then my current road bike. Sounds like a great plan right?

Here is the quandary, I am currently completely uninterested in riding a road bike. That isn't really true I think about it sometimes but when it is time to head out for my ride I always go for my hybrid. I just feel so much confidence on the utopia that I don't feel on my road bike. I just bought the utopia last month and I have ridden it more in the past 5 weeks then I have ridden my road bike in the past 5 years.

So on paper the trek 5.0 seems like a great idea. More comfortable ride, better position and cheap. But should I get it just to get it? what if I still like riding my hybrid more won't it just be a waste of money and my husband's time?

One one hand I think i should go for it because I am pretty sure that the more I ride the more I will want to switch back to a road bike. On the other hand I think that if that time comes I can look for the right bike then, it doesn't make sense to invest in a bike I am not sure I want to ride right now.

Thoughts?

[indysteel]

How well does your old road bike fit you, in what way do you feel less comfortable on it than your hybrid, and how sure are you that the new Trek fits you?

Your discomfort on your old road bike may have less to do with it being a road bike and more to do with how it fits you. I went from a hybrid to a road bike really fast and have never ridden the hybrid since. The main reason for that, I think, is that the road bike fits me very well. I feel balanced and light on it. If it didn't fit, I have to wonder whether I'd feel as stable. I think not.

[tbl35]

[QUOTE=Muirenn;581998
Okay. Get the frame. Build it up.

If you don't use it. Sell it for a profit.

There.[/QUOTE]
That was my thought, if it's a good deal no harm in getting it, trying it, and selling it if you don't like it.

[Orange utopia]

I am pretty sure it fits me pretty well. I don't have any discomfort at all from riding it except that I get tense shoulders because I am always nervous. I do have 2 things I would like changed, I wish I could sit more upright on it which would mean a higher rise stem and I wish the handlebars were wider with a shorter reach to the break levers. I think wider bars would make me feel bit more stable and the little bit I have ridden in the drops I haven't felt like I could get a good grasp on the brakes.

To change these things will take some doing. I will ether need to convert the threaded quill stem with a thread less adapter and buy a new stem and bars or I will need to find a higher rise stem but ihave had a hard time finding bars that will both fit the quill stem and meet my needs of both wider and shorter reach.

Otherwise I believe the bike fits me, I just don't like the stretched out race bike feel. The trek pilot fits me too. I have test ridden one in the past as well as then newer Madone h3 models which are very similar geometry to the pilot.

[goldfinch]

I'd Skip it and enjoy riding what you are riding now with no pressure to move to another bike.

[Biciclista]

I'd Skip it and enjoy riding what you are riding now with no pressure to move to another bike.

and if your heart doesn't jump because of Goldfinch's statement, maybe you really do want another bike.

[Sky King]

This caught my eye, spent two hours yesterday helping a friend spec out her new "road bike" she picked up a Sam Hilborne Frame and discussing if she would rob any of the parts off of her Soma Mixie, She loves the mixie and we will be making a few changes, adding albatross bars for a more upright ride as she switches it to the commuter bike and hauling the kiddle bike. The new bike will have the Nitto Grand Randonneur handlebars - which I have on my bike and really love.

Anyway I digress, if you do decide to go for it, consider the Nitto Dirt Drop Quill Stem, 35 degree rise, long enough to allow for height, 26.00 clamp could be the answer to getting the height you'd like. You can also add a shim is the 26 is the wrong diameter. Again a flared drop bar with a bit of rise in the ramp may be just the trick to enjoying the "road bike" However I agree with the thread, life is to short to not be riding what makes you happy.

[Orange utopia]

This caught my eye, spent two hours yesterday helping a friend spec out her new "road bike" she picked up a Sam Hilborne Frame and discussing if she would rob any of the parts off of her Soma Mixie, She loves the mixie and we will be making a few changes, adding albatross bars for a more upright ride as she switches it to the commuter bike and hauling the kiddle bike. The new bike will have the Nitto Grand Randonneur handlebars - which I have on my bike and really love.

Anyway I digress, if you do decide to go for it, consider the Nitto Dirt Drop Quill Stem, 35 degree rise, long enough to allow for height, 26.00 clamp could be the answer to getting the height you'd like. You can also add a shim is the 26 is the wrong diameter. Again a flared drop bar with a bit of rise in the ramp may be just the trick to enjoying the "road bike" However I agree with the thread, life is to short to not be riding what makes you happy.

So I have a question about the various nitto bars. I see them on lots of touring bikes but the all have bar end shifters. Will the clamps on my 9 speed Ultegra brake/shifters fit on these bars?

[Kiwi Stoker]

I have just had a mechanical on our 9 speed tandem and need to get new Shimano parts.

They are getting very rare. Our bike shop has said we should look at upgrading our groupset soon as in 2-3 years things are going to get very difficult.

Just my two cents when I saw that you were going to use 9-speed.

[Orange utopia]

Well I am just using the 9 speed because it is what I already have. The group I have is in great shape so I expect it to last for a while. If I was buying components I would buy 10 speed for sure but since it is what I have I will use it.

[Orange utopia]

I'd Skip it and enjoy riding what you are riding now with no pressure to move to another bike.



and if your heart doesn't jump because of Goldfinch's statement, maybe you really do want another bike.


Actually it did flip a little bit but I have a case of always wanting more I guess. It is really silly but I want it because it is a good deal and I am hoping it will make me enjoy riding a road bike but I don't want it because I can't imagine enjoying a bike more then I am enjoying a hybrid. I also don't want it because I am emotionally attached to my Klein even though I don't ride it much. It was a gift from my husband when graduated from law school and I road it every day of the 2 months I was studying for the bar for stress relief. I am 99% sure I am going to pass on it but then I keep thinking "it's such a good deal!" :o :( :o