Have you upgraded from your first road bike?

[buddha_bellies]

I'm in the midst of buying another bike. But for different reasons. The Specialized Ruby is a dream for me. Everything fits me almost perfectly (had to shorten the stem). I'm looking for a touring/ commuter bike now. The Ruby is nice but I can't carry stuff with it. No place to put a rack for pannier. And my beat up/ commuter bike is a hand-me-down that's too long on the top tube. Can't ride that for too long.

I did try several bikes before getting the Ruby. Being short really helps in the sense that I have very limited choice in bikes. So I kinda knew right away when something didn't fit (ie. no clearance over the toptube and feeling stretch way too far out).

On the other hand, DH bought a Norco road bike last year. Like so many others, the fit just wasn't right. The top tube was way too long for him. It didn't help the LBS he bought it from specialized in mountain bikes. So, in just over a year, he bought a Lynskey. So far, he's really happy with it.

[Yelsel]

My first road bike was a Schwinn World Sport; I can't believe that my dad thought that a 21" men's bike was a good fit for me as a 10yo! That's a tad larger than what I ride now. After that was stolen in college, I got a Novara Alight mountain bike that worked well for Santa Cruz, since I lived in the mountains above campus and could ride in on a short single trail + fire road, but overall I didn't enjoy riding it and it didn't see much use after I moved.

My 2005 Bianchi Castro Valley commuter was my do-it-all bike until recently; I wanted more gears (it is a 1x9, and from a thread here it I got the advice it would be better to get a new bike rather than spend the money to upgrade). So a 1998 Bianchi Eros followed me home in July, and I love her to pieces. Lugged celeste steel with the pretty 1997/1998 curvy rear stays, and tricked out with yellow accents, yum. She gets a lot of positive attention on the road, even from the serious carbon fiber set.

I just got a great deal on an REI Novara Carema at their scratch-and-dent sale a month ago -- the entire bike for about the retail price of the brifters alone. It was returned because the person did not like the ride (not surprising once you read below about the wonky geometry). This bike's name is "the donor bike" because I bought it for the parts. So I'm finally going to make my Bianchi Castro Valley commuter a 3x9, and the Carema will be a 1x9 or a fixed gear. The geometry is really odd on the Carema -- it is listed as a 42 cm; the seattube angle is very steep and thus the rear triangle is very compressed, but to keep 700c wheels on it, the headtube is *very* slack, and from the bottom bracket to the front wheel hub is actually a tad longer than my 52/53 cm Bianchis! So effectively it is best for someone with a short inseam and long torso, even though it is a "women's" bike. The seatpost is *really* long so that I can ride the bike, though the cranks are shorter and setback is less than I'd like. I think it will actually do a good job for the SO if I can coax him on a bike -- he is the same height as me, but has an appreciably shorter inseam.

I also just got a 1990s lugged steel celeste cyclocross Bianchi off eBay that I shipped to my SO so I have something to ride there -- I am dying to meet him but won't get out there for another month. It has the same geometry as my Castro Valley, but is a lot lighter, so I think it will make a great long distance bike.

And there is the Raleigh Super Course mixte frame that needs a serious overhaul... she's definitely going to be a fixie.

[Grits]

Thanks for the replies. Seems like a lot of you upgraded due to poor fit. I don't have any good, justifiable reason. I just have new bike fever. I think I'll try taking a couple of tylenol and see if that helps.

[redrhodie]

Thanks for the replies. Seems like a lot of you upgraded due to poor fit. I don't have any good, justifiable reason. I just have new bike fever. I think I'll try taking a couple of tylenol and see if that helps.

I had that! I had a perfectly good Specialized Dolce that I bought used from someone who rode it for 1 year. It fit fine. I rode it until I wore huge holes in the saddle. Then, I went to Eddy Merckx's website and got all lusty for one of his bikes. Before I knew it, I was waiting anxiously for my bike to be built.

I would do it again (buy my bike) in a heartbeat. It's given me more joy than anything else I have ever purchased. I ride it with love and respect. It's made me a better rider since I love being on it so much.

Edit to add: I occasionally had negative thoughts on the Dolce, like I'd be riding into a headwind, or climbing a hill, and think this really sucks. I never have bad thoughts on my Eddy.

I say go for it. You only live once. You deserve it.

[tctrek]

I got my first road bike in March, 2008.. a 47 cm Trek 2.3 WSD. I really loved it (still do), but as I got more accustomed to riding a road bike, I realized I felt cramped in it... I then saw a video of me riding it and I looked cramped as well. So, in July, 2009 I got a 50 cm Trek Madone 4.7 WSD. I love this bike and feel so much more comfortable on it and I have had many joyful rides on it. But I know in my heart of hearts that it's not my last road bike !

[Kathi]

I decided that my Serotta would be my dream bike and my retirement gift to myself. It definitely ended my bike lust.

[Owlie]

I bought my road bike in July. It won't need to be upgraded for a while, but...
When it comes time to upgrade, it will probably be directly to a second road bike. Why? While Bluewing (my teal Giant) fits me fine (or, as far as I can tell, it does...) and I'm okay with Sora components at the moment, there will probably come a time when I want something lighter and with a better "shift-feel." (I'm making up words again; there's probably a technical term somewhere.) It makes the most sense for me to upgrade to 105, maybe Ultegra. If I upgraded the bike (wheels, components) to the higher level that Giant makes using the same frame (Avail 1), it would actually cost the same or only slightly more to buy a new bike. There's a Cannondale I've got my eye on...