Upgrading, where do you draw the line?

[BlackPanther]

I've had 6 blissful commuting months now on my Spesh Allez 16. It's sooooo much easier and more enjoyable than on my previous Dawes hybrid. However, I've been looking at my next bike. As the Allez has been so perfect I'm pretty certain I'm going to stick to this model, but go for a higher spec. I've looked at the Allez sport and the elite, but now the Comp is in my sights. This, Specialized Allez Comp 2010 has seen my middle finger hovering over the 'Enter' button to add to basket.

The only thing that's stopping me is that it's only available in black, and the 2011 model is in white which I prefer but it's 200 quid more......or the 2012 in beautiful red and white which is 300 quid more than the 2010 model.

I'm 40 quid a week better off by cycling to work and I've always saved it separately. I have enough saved now for the 2010 model, but should I wait and save for my preferred colour? Then again, if I waited 6 months I could go full carbon.......arghhhhhh!

 

[BlackPanther]

I've had 6 blissful commuting months now on my Spesh Allez 16. It's sooooo much easier and more enjoyable than on my previous Dawes hybrid. However, I've been looking at my next bike. As the Allez has been so perfect I'm pretty certain I'm going to stick to this model, but go for a higher spec. I've looked at the Allez sport and the elite, but now the Comp is in my sights. This, Specialized Allez Comp 2010 has seen my middle finger hovering over the 'Enter' button to add to basket.

The only thing that's stopping me is that it's only available in black, and the 2011 model is in white which I prefer but it's 200 quid more......or the 2012 in red and white Comp 2012....ohhhhh yeah!

I'm 40 quid a week better off by cycling to work and I've always saved it separately. I have enough saved now for the 2010 model, but should I wait and save for my preferred colour? Then again, if I waited 6 months I could go full carbon.......arghhhhhh!

 

[smokeysmoo]

or you could save yourself £250 and buy one of THESE That gets you the worlds most advance alu frame, and you also get the 2011 105 components So that's a more advance frame, at least equivalent components, and £250 left in your back pocket, no brainer IMO

 

[apollo179]

What are the benefits of upgrading from your current Spesh Allez 16 that you seem quite happy with.

 

[BlackPanther]

What are the benefits of upgrading from your current Spesh Allez 16 that you seem quite happy with.

Apart form the money burning a hole in my pocket? I always budgeted to get a new bike every year. I'm happy with the Allez 16 for commuting (it's an almost completely flat route) but I struggled on the hills when I cycled from Doncaster to Milton Keynes this Summer, so I like the idea of 20 gears.

 

[Norm]

... so I like the idea of 20 gears.

Why stop there? I have 27.

Which is a flippant way of saying that the number of gears is pretty much completely irrelevant when it comes to struggling on hills.

Rather than change the bike, I'd upgrade the brakes (105's have made a huge difference on my Secteur) for £60 and change the cassette from 11-25 to 11-32 or 11-30 for £30, reducing the gearing at the low end by 20%. Under £100 and you get to keep a bike that you love.

 

[smokeysmoo]

I like the idea of 20 gears.

You get the full 20 gears on the CAAD10, and a 34/50 compact chainset so you'll fly up those hills

 

[Tyres23]

Ha ha seen my post I've drawn mine for now with the secret order of my DI2 it was bad enough when I bought the carbon then the shoes then the blah blah blah

 

[Shanks]

Well I came back today from from a weekend ride which just happened to include a call in to my lbs, I only called by to see what they had in.

Anyway got home and casually dropped into the conversation with my better half that they had some nice new bikes in and she said "if you want to get a new one then go ahead"

So whilst I'm certainly not going to be drawing any lines when an offer like that is on the table, a bit of me is waiting for the announcement that she her favourite shop is having a sale or perhaps it already has and the credit card statement is due in any moment.

Cheers

 

[mustang1]

Why stop there? I have 27.

Which is a flippant way of saying that the number of gears is pretty much completely irrelevant when it comes to struggling on hills.

Rather than change the bike, I'd upgrade the brakes (105's have made a huge difference on my Secteur) for £60 and change the cassette from 11-25 to 11-32 or 11-30 for £30, reducing the gearing at the low end by 20%. Under £100 and you get to keep a bike that you love.

But wont that give intergalactic gear ratios for road use? I thought it's preferable to have a slightly narrower range.

You get the full 20 gears on the CAAD10, and a 34/50 compact chainset so you'll fly up those hills

I heard many good things about CAAD but never had a chance to ride one. What do you like about them? Also does the 34/50 lead to much cross chaining and constant use of the fd where, when using standard rings, you get to use the rd a lot more (which is far more pleasant to change gears with than an fd).

 

[apollo179]

Apart form the money burning a hole in my pocket? I always budgeted to get a new bike every year. I'm happy with the Allez 16 for commuting (it's an almost completely flat route) but I struggled on the hills when I cycled from Doncaster to Milton Keynes this Summer, so I like the idea of 20 gears.

If not drawing the line is built into you budgeting then you really can just explore all the upgrade possibilities open to you. Lucky devil. You could just buy a back wheel with a different chainset on it to see if it suits you better or at least use if your going to be doing hilly mileage.

 

[steve52]

where to draw the line? mmmmm eek i have no pencil! when the money runs out

 

[Andrew_P]

Must admit, I do not think I would upgrade my bike to the same one with a different groupset, I want a whole different bike! and I love my current bike..

 

[deanE]

So, you cycle to work every day to save £40 a week, so you can buy a new bike every year, just to cycle to work!
Those whom the Gods wish to destroy, they first make mad.
If you want to buy a new bike every year try here http://bikesforafrica.org/index.html.

 

[dellzeqq]

I think you may be asking yourself the wrong question. You have a bike that does the job. You now want to replace it with a bike that will do the job, but slightly better. You're also considering a carbon bike that will do the job but is really designed for something else entirely.

Are you simply going to use the bike for commuting, or do you want a 'weekend' bike? If it's the latter, why buy something that is one step away from what you've got? Keep the bike that does the job and get yourself a weekend bike.