Time to upgrade?

[ninerfan]

How do you know when it's time to upgrade your bike? There seem to have been quite a few threads lately about people contemplating buying new bikes or actually taking the plunge.

When does bike envy end and the need to upgrade to improve your cycling begin? Right now I ride a 2007 Trek 1000 wsd, which is my first road bike. I've been torturing myself lately looking at nicer bikes, which is really terrible because I am in no position financially to get a new bike (about to graduate law school! ) so really, why am I doing it? I suppose it's kind of fun to imagine that there will be a day in the future when I can get my dream bike.

Anyway, I'm just curious as to when other people have decided to upgrade.

[Kalidurga]

Componentry did it for me. The more I ride in the drops, the more I'm annoyed by my Sora shifters. And, the more I try to ride hills, the more I feel that I need a wider gear spread, which would require an mtb derailleur. And I wonder if my rims contribute to the brake squeal that I just can't get rid of, so that makes me want new wheels. At that point, for the money involved, it makes sense to just upgrade to a whole new bike.

Unfortunately, I'm in your situation-- I can't justify it financially. One day, but not soon enough...

[Jiffer]

Fortunately, I was blessed with a "too much bike" for my first bike. I'm just now getting to the point where I feel maybe I'm growing into it. My husband did, however, change out the cassette when he realized I was working way too hard on hills than I needed to be. I had an 11/25 and he switched it to an 11/28, which gives me a much easier gear for steep hills. I'm about to change my handlebars, because they are not women specific and I'm not as comfortable braking as I am on my friend's Ruby.

I have no need to upgrade the entire bike, yet dh just threw out the possibility of upgrading his frame and me getting his old one (which is even lighter than my already light frame). Not sure that's going to happen, though.

I think for you, if it's financially not feasible, than just enjoy what you have and the dream bike will come when you either have the funds, or possibly stumble upon an amazing deal. In fact, with this economy, one wonders what one could get used, maybe on Ebay. Dh got an amazing deal on a really nice mountain bike a couple of years ago. There are deals to be had if you're looking.

Another option is upgrading parts of your bike a little at a time. That's how dh ended up with his first dream bike. Bought a cheap used one and slowly changed out the parts for top of the line components, then changed out the frame last. I ended up with all those parts on an even newer and better frame that we got an amazing deal on... when dh was ready to upgrade, once again, for massive climbing purposes. So, it just depends on what your goals are and if you feel your bike is holding you back ... and if you can afford it.

So, there are more ways to get a dream bike than forking out the big bucks at a bike shop all at once.

[GLC1968]

Honestly, when I had my first two road bikes, I was constantly shopping around even though there was nothing wrong with them (or at least, not with the second one...the first one was too big). Every time someone posted a new bike photo - I was jealous and dreaming of my next bike.

Luckily, I no longer look at gorgeous bikes and feel envy. I admire them and potentially drool over them, but I'm so content with my current road bike that I no longer long for something better (and there are better bikes/components/etc out there). Maybe that's what having the right bike does for a person?

I would like to go full custom one day, but that day is so far into the future that it barely figures into my current consciousness.

[tulip]

For my commuter bike, I rode my 1985 Stumpjumper (bought new in 1986) for a year on my 28-mile round-trip commute, and after that year I decided I needed a lighter bike for commuting, so I bought my Jamis Coda Comp in 2003. It really made my commute easier.

For my road bike, I crashed on my 1983 Vitus in 2003. I had that bike since 1987. The crash did it in, so I took that opportunity to shop around and ended up with my Luna in 2005--two years without a road bike. I don't expect I'll upgrade from that, but I have put a compact double on it to replace the regular double.

I bought my Bike Friday last year because I love to see the world by bicycle, and that was not practical with my Luna. All of my vacations involve bringing my bicycle with me and riding wherever I am.

So I guess my answer is that I upgrade out of necessity--when my bike can't do the things that I ask of it.

[Zen]

I didn't upgrade, I sort of downgraded. I sold my nice '07 Pilot and used the proceeds toward a different style bike that I feel more secure on and will (in theory) make me ride more

[Kalidurga]

If it inspires you to ride more, I'd consider that an upgrade.

[crazybikinchic]

I have a 2005 Allez that has about 5000 miles on it (school doesn't give me much time to ride lately). Within the next 2 years I will be replacing it. I have been looking but the problem is that when I bought my bike, it had a Ultegra/Dura Ace combo. About a month later, the new Allez (same year model) came with a Ultegra/105 combo. I got a great deal and now I am looking at the bikes in amazement at how much more expensive they are with the Ultegra/Dura Ace combo. I paid $1700 for my bike and to "upgrade" the frame and have the same components I am looking at about $3700. Oh well, I am about to graduate (in 16 weeks). By the time I am ready to buy, I hope to have 5000 more miles on it.

[sundial]

I didn't upgrade, I sort of downgraded. I sold my nice '07 Pilot and used the proceeds toward a different style bike that I feel more secure on and will (in theory) make me ride more

That beautiful white bike would be calling out to me all the time. Go for a canal ride!

[andtckrtoo]

I have a CAAD9 Cannondale Road bike. It's aluminum frame and can be a little rough at times, but I love it. So, I don't see upgrading that soon.

However, I did just buy a Surly Cross Check for commuting and light touring. DH is not a rider, so buying a bike just for him does not make sense, and he's slow, so I figured he could ride the Cannondale (we ride the same sized bike - I'm 5"10), and I'll ride the heavier Surly and we'll both be happy.

[maillotpois]

Congratulations on almost being done with law school.

Here are some questions that might make a difference as to whether you "can" get the bike now: Do you have a lot of student loans? Do you have a clerkship now and/or a job lined up for post-bar and after you're admitted to practice (assuming that's what your plan is)?

Regardless of what the answers are and what your decision is now, you will surely be able to upgrade one of these days, so let yourself look around at new bikes and plan ahead so when that day comes you are ready!

[Aggie_Ama]

I think GLC is right, once you have a bike that component level is acceptable and is a good frame fit you stop really shopping. My Cannondale only has 105 but I like the 105, if I keep the front deraileaur trimmed in it shifts magically for me (triple crank). The carbon frame is light, rides nicely so I am content. Sure I would just love a custom steel or ti bike but those are not in the cards and nothing on the shelf is more than a drivetrain upgrade for me. The only thing I want, some better bars because the ones they use don't make me happy like my old Salsas.

Did buying the Cannondale improve my cycling? No. Because I don't train for anything, I just ride my bike. It made me happier and I like it more. But don't expect that a bike will magically make you a 10x better rider, you might see some improvement but hard works pays more.

[ny biker]

I got a new bike when I knew I could afford to pay cash for it. Which meant months of planning and saving.

[ASammy1]

Just call it a graduation present!

[ninerfan]

Ha. I wish. It would be the most awesome grad present imaginable. Not the best time to be graduating though, huh?