New bike or plug on with the old one?

Get it serviced... if you want a 540 wheelset, there is one on eBay at the
moment for $250...

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3628431536&category=7295&rd=1

"thebow" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

I am just getting back into riding my road bike, been on a MTB for a
while and feel like a change.

My old road bike is a cromo Avanti super sprint with shimano 600
groupset.

Question is do I get the old thing serviced and ride for a while or get
a new one and start afresh?

Was thinking about a learsport 105 equipped bike with 540 wheel or
whatever I can get out of the LBS for that price. I suppose it doesn't
really matter as it seems the most [censored] new bike is heaps better than my
current ride.

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Quoted message said:

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Originally posted by Andrew Morris Get it serviced... if you want a 540
wheelset, there is one on eBay at the moment for $250...

[]

So is my orignial assumption incorrect? My old bike is not worse that a
cheaper $1500 new ride?

I am not sure pumping money into an older bike is a good idea but .

What is the advantage of fixing my old one and chucking a few bits on
rather than brand new?

I would have figured the extra gears, lighter frame and wheelset, carbon
fork etc would make for much better riding.

--

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"thebow" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

So is my orignial assumption incorrect? My old bike is not worse that

a

Quoted message said:

cheaper $1500 new ride?

Well, your old bike might not look as good, but, assuming it works,
it should be totally fine. Especially if you are more into mountain
biking. Shimano 600 was pretty good stuff wasn't it? I think it was
the old Ultegra?

Quoted message said:

I am not sure pumping money into an older bike is a good idea but .
What is the advantage of fixing my old one and chucking a few bits on
rather than brand new?

Well, that all depends on what is "wrong" with it. If it needs some
bar tape, paint and more air in the tyres, you don't need a new bike.
If, the driveline fell off 3 years ago and the frame is only held
together
with sticky tape.. then maybe a new bike is the right way to go.
Tell us what's wrong with it and we can give you a better idea of
the cost/benefit with old versus new.

Quoted message said:

I would have figured the extra gears, lighter frame and wheelset,

carbon

Quoted message said:

fork etc would make for much better riding.

It's only a couple of extra gears. If you want to go faster, pedal
harder :-P

Lighter frame depends on the weight of your current one - don't assume
a new aluminium frame will be lighter, especially a cheaper one.

I have a carbon fork on my bike. I couldn't tell you if it makes the
ride
any nicer. I can tell you that I've read enough about sudden carbon
failure to worry about it a little.. not enought to swap it mind you,
but
the thought is there in the back of my mind.

If you have the money and if buying a new bike will make you ride
more then I'd always suggest going for it, but it's often not that bad
an idea to simply fix an older bike.

HTH
hippy
- owns new and old bikes alike and loves them all :-)

thebow [/i]

BQUOTEiOriginally posted by Andrew Morris said:

Get it serviced... if you want a 540 wheelset, there is one on eBay at
the moment for $250...
[]
So is my orignial assumption incorrect? My old bike is not worse that a
cheaper $1500 new ride?
I am not sure pumping money into an older bike is a good idea but .
What is the advantage of fixing my old one and chucking a few bits on
rather than brand new?
I would have figured the extra gears, lighter frame and wheelset, carbon
fork etc would make for much better riding.

I was grappling with a similar dilemma - and what was the clincher for
me was STI. Given that your old bike is running a 600 groupset, I'm
assuming you don't have it. It makes a difference and is a reasaonable
excuse when trying to justify the expense to yourself (its safer, and
the cost of retrofitting it would almost cost the same as a new bike,
therefore I might as well get the new bike...) :p

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Cletus75 said:

I was grappling with a similar dilemma - and what was the clincher for
me was STI. Given that your old bike is running a 600 groupset, I'm
assuming you don't have it. It makes a difference and is a reasaonable
excuse when trying to justify the expense to yourself (its safer, and
the cost of retrofitting it would almost cost the same as a new bike,
therefore I might as well get the new bike...) :p

Actually I was thinking about it and you are dead right about STI. I
want to do some commuting as well and it only takes a couple of seconds
of distraction to get wiped out.

STI is something I want and I think I'll just put the old girl on ebay
as it's still quite a solid but old bike and put the small procedes
towards a new one.

I can afford it so I guess I might as well go for it and to hell with
buyers remorse :-)

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thebow said:

Actually I was thinking about it and you are dead right about STI. I
want to do some commuting as well and it only takes a couple of seconds
of distraction to get wiped out.
STI is something I want and I think I'll just put the old girl on ebay
as it's still quite a solid but old bike and put the small procedes
towards a new one.
I can afford it so I guess I might as well go for it and to hell with
buyers remorse :-)

Attaboy!

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"Cletus75" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

STI is something I want and I think I'll just put the old girl on

ebay

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

as it's still quite a solid but old bike and put the small

procedes

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

towards a new one.
I can afford it so I guess I might as well go for it and to hell

with

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

buyers remorse :-)

Nice.. now you have the "problem" of picking a bike, fitting
it out with tasty bits and pieces and speeding off into the
sunset! :-)
Check out what's on offer at your nearby LBS's and
compare them (and their attitude/deal) with the Learsport
stuff. I prefer my LBS for bikes and parts but I have a
friendly one ;-)

Good Luck,
hippy

Hippy said:

Nice.. now you have the "problem" of picking a bike, fitting it out with
tasty bits and pieces and speeding off into the sunset! :-) Check out
what's on offer at your nearby LBS's and compare them (and their
attitude/deal) with the Learsport stuff. I prefer my LBS for bikes and
parts but I have a friendly one ;-)
Good Luck, hippy

Why is it that wild horses can't drag me shopping for clothes and yet
Hippy's "problem" is something we'll all spend days doing? 😎

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Hippy said:

[Nice.. now you have the "problem" of picking a bike, fitting it out
with tasty bits and pieces and speeding off into the sunset! :-) Check
out what's on offer at your nearby LBS's and compare them (and their
attitude/deal) with the Learsport stuff. I prefer my LBS for bikes and
parts but I have a friendly one ;-)
Good Luck, hippy

Thanks..

I have already done the rounds of the LBS and while some of the guys
have been great it's really hard fro me to justify a $500-$1000 premium
for shopping there.

I am kind of equating this to the Brand name PC's vs build your own
clone machine.

The Brand name is going to have more refinement, the nice case and
better service. The clone on the other hand does the job just as well
but costs less due to the minimum of overheads.

I may lose a bit of refinement but it beats not being able to afford the
level of componentry that I desire.

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"thebow" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am kind of equating this to the Brand name PC's vs build your own
clone machine.

I may lose a bit of refinement but it beats not being able to afford

the

Quoted message said:

level of componentry that I desire.

I often forget that Learsports come with the same
Shimano gear that other bikes have. I get scared
when I hear 'department store bike' thinking of
the component spec of K-Mart bikes, eek! :-)

These days I think a lot of people consider frames
to be almost throwaway items so there is less
emphasis on the "buy a good frame and build
upon it" mentality.
I'm more of a middle ground person I think - not
the best frame, not the best components - just
what I can afford that will do a good job as long
as possible.

Now.. ride it like you stole it! :-)

hippy
P.S. I build my own computers up, the price
and component level of brand name PC's
is just silly... ;-)

"thebow" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hippy said:

[Nice.. now you have the "problem" of picking a bike, fitting it out
with tasty bits and pieces and speeding off into the sunset! :-) Check
out what's on offer at your nearby LBS's and compare them (and their
attitude/deal) with the Learsport stuff. I prefer my LBS for bikes and
parts but I have a friendly one ;-)
Good Luck, hippy

Thanks..

I have already done the rounds of the LBS and while some of the guys
have been great it's really hard fro me to justify a $500-$1000 premium
for shopping there.

I am kind of equating this to the Brand name PC's vs build your own
clone machine.

The Brand name is going to have more refinement, the nice case and
better service. The clone on the other hand does the job just as well
but costs less due to the minimum of overheads.

I may lose a bit of refinement but it beats not being able to afford the
level of componentry that I desire.

One thing to factor in with the dept store bikes is servicing. AFAIK, most
places will give you one year service on your bike with the purchase from
the LBS, and if they are local, it's the easiest place to get anything done
etc.

Having said that, it's pretty difficult to justify an extra $500-$1000 if
that is the difference for the same componentry but a frame that gives you a
little more confidence and free service.

I agree with Hippy - only really in high end bikes would people look at
building on a particular frame (custom built or carbon etc).

Cheers,

Tim

Cletus75 said:

Where are you? If in Melbourne, there are a couple of places selling
2003-model Avanti Kona's and Giant OCR-1s very cheaply at the moment
($1650 and $1485 respectively). Which makes them comparable against
Learsport (both 105-equipped bikes) and you have an LBS behind them...

Fortunately I live in Sydney :-)

I'm happy to buy anything as long as it's the right spec for the right
price, it really makes no difference for me. It's not as if a LBS is not
going to service your Learsport or other bike if you didn't buy there.

Good prices fro those bike...don't know if I could get anything like
this in Sydney.

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thebow said:

Fortunately I live in Sydney :-)
I'm happy to buy anything as long as it's the right spec for the right
price, it really makes no difference for me. It's not as if a LBS is not
going to service your Learsport or other bike if you didn't buy there.
Good prices fro those bike...don't know if I could get anything like
this in Sydney.

Gotta have some perks down here to make up for the cold... it's about 12
degrees today!😉

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thebow said:

Thanks..
I have already done the rounds of the LBS and while some of the guys
have been great it's really hard fro me to justify a $500-$1000 premium
for shopping there.
I am kind of equating this to the Brand name PC's vs build your own
clone machine.
The Brand name is going to have more refinement, the nice case and
better service. The clone on the other hand does the job just as well
but costs less due to the minimum of overheads.
I may lose a bit of refinement but it beats not being able to afford the
level of componentry that I desire.

Where are you? If in Melbourne, there are a couple of places selling
2003-model Avanti Kona's and Giant OCR-1s very cheaply at the moment
($1650 and $1485 respectively). Which makes them comparable against
Learsport (both 105-equipped bikes) and you have an LBS behind them...

--

Quoted message said:

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"Cletus75" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
<...>

Quoted message said:

Gotta have some perks down here to make up for the cold... it's about 12
degrees today!😉

What're you talking about!

Perfect cycling weather today - overcast, cool and no wind!

Tim

hippy:

Quoted message said:

These days I think a lot of people consider frames
to be almost throwaway items so there is less
emphasis on the "buy a good frame and build
upon it" mentality.

Truly a shame, when the components fitted on a frame are the
consumables, not the other way around.

"Tim Jones" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

What're you talking about!
Perfect cycling weather today - overcast, cool and no wind!

You like getting soggy?

Having said that.. I rode to work this morning
and the weather was fine.

hippy

"hippy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Tim Jones" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

What're you talking about!
Perfect cycling weather today - overcast, cool and no wind!

You like getting soggy?

Having said that.. I rode to work this morning
and the weather was fine.

Yeah, well it's wet now ;-)

It was a nice ride after I dropped off my car in Blackburn for a service.

Glad I bought a replacement mud guard today after breaking my other one in a
very embaressing little stack
:-(

Still, I quite like riding in the rain - I just don't like putting on wet
gear at the start of a ride!

Tim

"Tim Jones" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Yeah, well it's wet now ;-)

Just a little... I think we just lost Geelong :-)

Quoted message said:

It was a nice ride after I dropped off my car in Blackburn for a

service.

I just had an easy ride into work, no one else was
out and I was tired so I felt no need to go hard :-)

Quoted message said:

Glad I bought a replacement mud guard today after breaking my other

one in a

Quoted message said:

very embaressing little stack

What's a mudguard? :-)

Nah, I should get some... I hate the soggy butt feeling
after a couple of minutes in the rain..

Quoted message said:

Still, I quite like riding in the rain - I just don't like putting on

wet

Quoted message said:

gear at the start of a ride!

I don't like the grinding/filing/scraping noise the road
grit makes when on my rims :-(

hippy