speed?

[vickster]

Road bike to keep up with club mates, budget has increased by 2k...but USD
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/tips-suggestions.266861/
seemingly s/he is looking for a Domane?

 

[Lovacott]

It’s hardly a 4.5k machine. It would have been built on the cheap to start with. You would have been able to get or build a 4.5k bike even during lockdown, that’s about all that was available, but perhaps that wasn’t the market you were looking at

I never said my bike was a 4.5k bike.

I bought the £120 Apollo in 2014 for the odd twice a year sunny day two mile jolly down to the pub on the Tarka trail near to where I live.

When I started using it for serious stuff like like ten mile each way daily commutes, it showed up it's pitfalls.

Since then (unable to source a new bike), I've replaced every failing part with whatever I could get my hands on via ebay, Amazon or Halfords.

I did a tot up one day, and to build my bike with online parts would set me back over £1200 which is exactly ten times what I paid for the bike in the first place.

On the plus side, I've learned a shed load about bike mechanics over the last six months.

 

[winjim]

Road bike to keep up with club mates, budget has increased by 2k...but USD
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/tips-suggestions.266861/
seemingly s/he is looking for a Domane?

Would seem that way, although I'd still recommend a cheaper one at first. They'll be able to keep up with clubmates as well on a $1k bike as they would on a $4.5k bike, although better than on a $300 bike. If they get into it then they'll probably want another bike anyway and will have more of an idea about what they want to spend the big money on.

 

[vickster]

Would seem that way, although I'd still recommend a cheaper one at first. They'll be able to keep up with clubmates as well on a $1k bike as they would on a $4.5k bike, although better than on a $300 bike. If they get into it then they'll probably want another bike anyway and will have more of an idea about what they want to spend the big money on.

Indeed, but maybe s/he wants to keep up with the mates figuratively in terms of money spent and bling, and not just literally in terms of speed

 

[PaulSB]

Any suggestions on a Trek bike that offers fast speed?
Budget:4500

You're new to cycling according to your user name. As others have said you can't buy speed. Personally I'd start with something much lower cost and build speed, strength and stamina. You will eventually reach a point when you realise you could go faster with a better bike. That will probably take 2-3 years.

For £4.5k you will get a beautiful bike but will it really make you go faster at this stage?

Don't forget very good wheels will bring you significant benefits. My experience is quality wheels did as much, if not more, to improve my riding as my bike which was £3.2k three years ago. I invested in the wheels 18 months ago.

There is much, much more to improving one's riding than an expensive bike.

 

[gzoom]

For a novice cyclist with a decent budget an eRoadbike really is worth looking at. As the electrical assistance helps to overcome the two things all us cyclists hate, headwind and hills .

A £4-5k eRoad bike will also get much more use than by a novice than even a £10k superbike. For example its a lovely day today, but a 20mph headwind will soon make the experience unpleasant for someone starting on road cycling. An eBike though will really help the OP to combat the wind whilst still doing a reasonable 15mph minimum...

 

[Lovacott]

Indeed, but maybe s/he wants to keep up with the mates figuratively in terms of money spent and bling, and not just literally in terms of speed

Being a "utility" cyclist rather than a club cyclist, I used to feel that there was some kind of angst between potterers like me in work clothes on old bikes and the club cyclists riding the latest tech.

But over the last six months or so of my commute, I've become chatty with the guys from the local bike club who overtake me on the way home.

They used to whizz past me and now they have to fight a bit harder to get by.

Last night on the way home, the group leader pulled up alongside me and congratulated me on my progress and reckoned that I could beat at least 15 out of their 30 strong club in an uphill battle.

Fact is though, I've never been into winning stuff.

I'm just going to work on my bike.

I'm not in any kind of race against anybody, but I was well chuffed with the comment.

 

[Novice Cyclist]

Road bike to keep up with club mates, budget has increased by 2k...but USD
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/tips-suggestions.266861/
seemingly s/he is looking for a Domane?

Yes, Ive realized that I'm going to need a better quality bike so the money will need to be spent accordingly

 

[DRM]

If your UK based, have a look at Planet X, I was under the impression you were in the USA, you’ll get a really good road bike for nowhere near £4500

 

[DRM]

Or with that money, just get a frameset and build to your spec, far better

Depends how good the OP is with the spanners

 

[vickster]

Depends how good the OP is with the spanners

You don’t need to do it yourself obviously. My LBS builds its in house frameset range to whatever spec you want, or you can supply everything and they build

 

[vickster]

If your UK based, have a look at Planet X, I was under the impression you were in the USA, you’ll get a really good road bike for nowhere near £4500

He’s in the US

 

[Lovacott]

It’s hardly a 4.5k machine. It would have been built on the cheap to start with. You would have been able to get or build a 4.5k bike even during lockdown, that’s about all that was available, but perhaps that wasn’t the market you were looking at

Mate, I'm not some rich kid with a hobby.

I'm simply a 59 year old dad riding his bike to work and posting on here for a bit of advice and banter.

I love riding my cheap bike and I am getting more in love with it as each day passes.

I don't have thousands of pounds stuck down behind the settee.

If I had thousands of Pounds to spend at my age, I'd be spending them on cocaine filled orgies and I wouldn't be very worried about the label on my Chinese bike.

I wish I'd thought the same way when I was 25.

 

[DRM]

He’s in the US

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBHOL...-super-professional-shimano-ultegra-road-bike
Delivered to the US, the same bike is used by the Holdsworth Zappi team, will be envy of the local club mates, and rare in the states

 

[vickster]

Mate, I'm not some rich kid with a hobby.

I'm simply a 59 year old dad riding his bike to work and posting on here for a bit of advice and banter.

I love riding my cheap bike and I am getting more in love with it as each day passes.

I don't have thousands of pounds stuck down behind the settee.

If I had thousands of Pounds to spend at my age, I'd be spending them on cocaine filled orgies and I wouldn't be very worried about the label on my Chinese bike.

I wish I'd thought the same way when I was 25.

I see your error...having children...money pits