Does the top of the range make any difference?

[Malcolm44]

Hi peeps newbie but a lurker for a while here

a bit about myself first. Age 48, gave up smoking 18 months ago after 30 years adicted to it. Needed to lose weight and get fit so..........
bought a heavy "bargin" of a Halfords mountain bike fo £100 and started to go out on the roads .
Now that was ok, doing about 5-10 miles every other night at an average of 10 mph. as I got a little bit fitter stepped up the distance to about 10 miles every night. all my riding is on the road so decided to get a road bike and invested short of £500 on a Giant Defy 4 (2009).

Now I do on average of 15 miles every evening, 30 miles each day on the weekend at average of 20 mph.

To get to the point of my post

Would getting a top of the range carbon fiber model get me that much better results that I am already getting?

i.e. I could buy a £5000 bike, but would that really make a difference or would it only improve my times by 10% or so
(I do use clipless pedals).

 

[Arch]

I'm mean (and poor), so I'd say you don't need top of the range. Unless you really want it. I suppose it comes down to what else you could do with the money, how hard it would be to raise it etc. And do you plan to compete, or are you just looking to beat yourself?

Personally, I don't think I'll ever be much faster, because speed isn't my thing, and I like to carry a lot of 'essentials' so it would be wasted on me. If I had the money, I'd rather spend it on several different bikes!

If your current bike is £500 (ish) and you average 20, then spending 10 times as much isn't going to get your average up to 200...

But then you're already faster than me....

 

[amnesia]

What are you trying to do... get fitter, or ride faster / for longer.

The heavier the bike, the harder you will have to work to cover the same distance, so the fitter you get. I would say that there is a minimum that you should exercise to maintain / improve fitness or stamina... "getting it over with" more quickly may defeat the object.

Yes, a lighter bike with better components (especially wheels) will allow you to ride faster for longer... depends what you're trying to achieve.

 

[Malcolm44]

mainly I am just trying to get fitter bearing in mind I am 48. And yes I just want to beat myself, so not really looking at joining a club to race ect.

But I am just curious as to the actual gain as you can read in these types of forums that there are many personnal preferences in bike types/makes etc, but no real science into what does each one give you

 

[andyfromotley]

The more you spend the more marginal the gains will be. However their is a lot of pleasure to be had from owning a real top spec bike (i suspect). So if you can afford it and you want to, go for it. Enjoy it but dont expect massive gains from it.

Andy

 

[amnesia]

Don't forget to factor in the more you spend on a bike, the fewer places you can leave it... not that this should be the deciding factor in purchasing a bike :no:

It is a case of diminishing returns, but we all like to own something nice, right

It will soon be silly season for 2009 bikes with the run up to Xmas - time to grab a bargain if you've got the money.

 

[andyfromotley]

Athough i think there is common agreement that if you want bang for your bucks then expensive wheels give the best improvement.

 

[accountantpete]

I hate wasting energy -i'm 53 and can't afford to! In my experience the top of the range frames and wheels are definitely worth the money but i'm a bit less convinced about top priced groupsets.

It's not about speed with me but rather the feel of the bike and the sense that little of my energy is being wasted on wheels and frames that flex too much.

 

[GrasB]

In all honesty, it won't make much difference. Once you're looking at Shimano Tigra level groupseted bikes bikes really there's not much point going any higher unless you're riding competitively.

 

[wafflycat]

No, you don't *need* a top-of-the-range. BUT, it's your money and if it's a bike you like - then go for it! Carbon fibre makes for a lovely ride.

 

[ASC1951]

These days I'm afraid £500 is "entry level" for a proper road bike. I think you will notice the difference right up to about three times that, although as has been pointed out you get progressively less improvement for each £100.

My personal pain threshold is about £1750 - 2000 for a road bike. That is a bit of an indulgence, but I buy everything else secondhand, and (except for the few months after I have changed my car) my bike is generally the most expensive object I own as well as lasting twice as long as my car. Improved performance isn't the only justification for spending more. If you buy something you really really like, you will probably get more use of it because you will be riding round with a big silly grin on your face.

I haven't smoked for 30 years so I'm thankfully out of touch with cigarette prices, but why don't you work out what you spent in a year on your addiction and reward yourself by spending it all at once on a bike?

 

[amasidlover]

Of course, if your aim is to get fitter and ride more, then there's both the 'must play with the new toy' feeling and the 'if I've spent that much on something I'd better get my money's worth out of it...' which comes with an expensive bike

 

[Gerry Attrick]

If it helps...to sum up the above, you would notice the difference in a top-of-the-range bike, but it would only make you fitter if by riding such a beast, it inspired you to ride further and longer.

That is not to decry a totr machine as ownership of it may bring pleasures in addition riding. It depends upon your outlook. If you think you will stick with cycling for a long time, then the investment is well worth it, but ride your existing bike for a while longer before taking the plunge. Totr bikes will always be there.

 

[Andy in Sig]

mainly I am just trying to get fitter bearing in mind I am 48. And yes I just want to beat myself, so not really looking at joining a club to race ect.

But I am just curious as to the actual gain as you can read in these types of forums that there are many personnal preferences in bike types/makes etc, but no real science into what does each one give you

If you can afford five grand I would say get a custom made to measure Rohloff equipped tourer for everyday stuff, pleasure riding and of course touring (usually less than two grand) and a one to 1.5 grand road bike to get all the racing stuff out of your system.

 

[knapdog]

Now I do on average of 15 miles every evening, 30 miles each day on the weekend at average of 20 mph.

Blimey, If I spent 10grand on a bike, I could never average your 20mph!!!!
If I go out and decide to "push it" for an hour, I come back averaging about 14.5mph!!!
Very well done!!!!!!!!