Upgrade or trade in?

[DebW]

Eight months ago on a tight budget I bought my first road bike... Shop mechanics tell me to just trade in my bike while it still has most of its value, but I wonder if that is really the best way to go.

Given that I have the tools and desire to learn bike maintenance (not to mention I'm very frugal), would it make sense to upgrade the components myself? Or is that gettting in too deep on a frame that's not worth it?

Why not keep your current bike, go hunting for a good new frame and buy new parts each month to build a complete bike by yourself. And then use the 'old' bike during the winterseason.

If you are going to buy a new frame and new components and you are satisfied with a stock bike, it would probably be cheaper to buy a whole new bike than getting everything separately. But if you are really frugal and want to learn bike mechanics, there are lots of possibilities. Like buying a used vintage steel frame and building it up with new or used parts. You'd need to know what you're buying and be able to fit yourself properly. But it would be frugal and fun.