new bike vs. component upgrades?

[jfogy]

Love this group! I've been stalking and researching and I decided to finally ask my question. I have about 1200 miles on my Giant OCR3 decent bike at the time - but I think I've outgrown it. I really enjoy duathlons (can't swim to save my life) and usually ride 15-20 mile rides twice a week and a 30-40 mile ride on the weekend. I have ridden as far as 65 but it's not something I regularly do. I'm not very fast (15-16 ave) Everything is still original stock on the bike. I can't decide whether to upgrade components or look into a new bike. What do you think?

Thanks!

Jenny

[KnottedYet]

What parts of the bike have you outgrown?

Where do you feel the bike limits you?

[Zen]

I'm guess you ask this because you want to get faster?
Are you having problems with components not working right?

The team of doctors has to know these things
I got my degree by sending ten dollars to a place I saw advertised on the back of a matchbook

[quint41]

Welcome, JFogy! Come on in, the water's fine!

Good question, too, I might add. I just got my LeMond Etape last September and, while I love her, I'm wondering the same thing ... already! I look at better bikes and have bike envy. But, I know that my frame is great, the bike fits, etc., so maybe I should just upgrade components. Let's see what our expert sisters have to say!

[ehirsch83]

I think you could upgrade your components and be very happy with the bike, unless you are looking to seriously loose weight when you were to change bikes.

My mom has a OCR C3 and she really likes it, she upgraded it to ultegra and went from the triple to a double compact. She also put on a set of mavic kyserium es's. She does call her bike the work horse, because it is a little bit heavier, but she likes it that way because when she gets stuck in cross winds she doesn't get blown around like the rest of us.

All in all she has had it for about 2 and a 1/2 years and she takes it with her when she goes on long vacations.

But in the end it is a personal preference, do you want a new bike completely, does the thought of looking at a new frame excite you? Or do you really like how your current frame feels but you just want smoother shifting, maybe some lighter better rolling wheels?

[Dogmama]

Sometimes a new jersey cures the compulsion to shop - and a lot cheaper too! Sometimes I just wash my bike - voila! New bike!

Seriously, you don't say what components you have now, so I'm assuming you're riding the lower rung of Brand X. I love my Campy Chorus & have over 50K miles on my bike with the same components. New rims might be nice too. Just watch that you don't invest a bunch of $$ and then switch bikes. You could always keep this as your around town bike - especially for those Wisc. winters.

Bottom line - if you are fairly new to the sport you might want to train more to get faster. A new bike might shave a bit of time, but saddle time is what you need.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

My mom has a OCR C3 and she really likes it, she upgraded it to ultegra and went from the triple to a double compact. She also put on a set of mavic kyserium es's. She does call her bike the work horse, because it is a little bit heavier, but she likes it that way because when she gets stuck in cross winds she doesn't get blown around like the rest of us.

Oh you are SO LUCKY to have a mother that is active and rides bikes! Treat her well!