Road Cycling - How much better would a new bike be?

There aren't many real bike shops close by that would allow me to check this out myself on the road...so...well here is my situation...

I just ride my mom's old JCpenny road bike that was probably bought twenty years ago. A "ten speed racer". The grips on the handlebars are duct-taped on, the rear brake is off because it was rubbing the tire, the gear changer for the gears on the pedal axle was taken off by me cause it was rubbing the chain constantly, the tire rims are pretty bent, and the kickstand was taken off by me because the pedal would tap it on each revolution. I took off those extra 'features' because they caused more resistance...they made me do more work to go the same speed.

When I hold the bike up and spin the front tire, there is a good vibration at a certain point on every revolution because of the bent rim.

I am wondering how much less road resistance a new bike would have when compared to the one I am using. I know I need a new bike eventually but money is pretty tight for me so I dunno how much better a new bike will really be, like if it could be a big priority.

If I bought a decent yet inexpensive new road bike, about how much less resistance would you guess it would have? (I know you can't be sure because you havent tested my bike for effiecency) With the old, beat up tires, and possible resistance caused by the worn bearings (do bikes have bearings???) and worn chain and things like that... usually when I ride, if I'm on a flat road, I'll be keeping a steady 17-22mph (not exactly sure). Using the same amount of energy, do you think maybe I could get maybe a 1-2mph increase on speed? 2-3? 3-4? 5???? I know its an iffy question but I have no idea, as I have never ridden a actual nice serious road bike.

Thank you for your time and help!

Tonnes. I suspect that your speed would increase, the efficiency would increase and the overall quality of the ride would increase.

Yes indeed, you would benefit a lot! Is this the bike you were averaging 17mph on, by the way? If so, my hat is off to you! :) <- (smilie without hat)

The quality road bikes start around ?$400-450 these days for a new one, but even a used road-racing bike would make you feel like you had wings compared to the ol' JC Penny. If it's any help, Fuji makes a model called the Ace which would be good to start with, or there's an aluminum-framed version called the Finest. Their web site has a dealer locator: http://www.fujibikes.com I'd guess you would pick up 2 to 4 mph, partly due to the efficiency of the bike and partly due to the efficiency of the riding position (these come in sizes to suit you, whereas the JC Penny was probably a one-size frame and not designed to put you in a fast riding position).

If you can get the money together for a new road bike, I think you'll be really pleased with the improvement. :) Also, if you find a used one that fits you (1" body clearance over top tube is a good start), note as many details as possible and the Forum members can probably give a thumbs-up/thumbs-down on whether it's a good value. My first two road bikes were used but I still had a blast with them. :)

Having gone from an old Sears to a new Giant a couple of years ago, I can tell you that a newer decent bike from a bike shop, NOT a Huffy, Murray or anything else from a discount store, the new bike will feel like it rolls by itself. You will be totally shocked.

I went from a Specialized Sirrus Comp which is a flat bar road bike with mountain drive train to a Lemond Zurich. So I didn't go from an old bike to a new one or from a cheap bike to a new one, but I can tell you it made a world of difference in my riding.

Make the plunge and you won't regret it. :beer:

Throw that old nasty POS in the recycle bin and just go do it.Even a botom of the barrel trek t1000 will be a big step up.Just make sure you test ride and that it fits. If you are still growing buy a bit big and not too expensive.

I agree.

Somewtimes it's not about the bike. Sometimes it is. The difference between a modern, well-tuned and well-maintained road bike and an old, heavy, poorly maintained ten-speed, is like night and day. If you had an old Motobecane Le Champion or Gitane Le Tour on you hands, I'd say "fix it up." Since you don't, I'd say "high thee to your LBS and try out some new models."

If your budget is modest, consider a high-quality older road bike. (My oldest is a 1959; my newest, a 1982.) It will be vastly better than your current steed and almost as good as an expensive new machine. By going used, you can get 95+ percent of the benefit of the upgrade at less than half the cost.

brent_dube, you just described my bike I'm riding right now. The problem is, I have over $2000 saved up for a new ride, but my parents can't justify spending that much on a bike. Its funny because last summer when I used to ride to the YMCA every day, my dad would constantly hound me about making sure, and then double sure that the bike was securely locked up before I left it. He always made the point that he paid over A HUNDRED DOLLARS thirty years ago on that bike and he doesn't want to run the risk of it getting stolen. I had planned on joing the Triathalon club at my college next fall, but I don't think I will, because my parents have said that a new bike is not going to happen, ever. I can't compete with this thing. It blows.

Originally posted by NBv4
brent_dube, you just described my bike I'm riding right now. The problem is, I have over $2000 saved up for a new ride, but my parents can't justify spending that much on a bike. Its funny because last summer when I used to ride to the YMCA every day, my dad would constantly hound me about making sure, and then double sure that the bike was securely locked up before I left it. He always made the point that he paid over A HUNDRED DOLLARS thirty years ago on that bike and he doesn't want to run the risk of it getting stolen. I had planned on joing the Triathalon club at my college next fall, but I don't think I will, because my parents have said that a new bike is not going to happen, ever. I can't compete with this thing. It blows.

:D That was the exact situation I was in about a month ago. Needless to say, for a variety of reasons, I work at a bike shop yet I don't have a good road bike to ride this summer.

My Parents think I'm nuts that I want to spend $1500 cdn on a road bike - and they thought I was even more nuts to ask for a two month loan to help pay for it :P

Well...I've been working all summer - and I'll continue working so by the time February rolls around, instead of a $1500 road bike, it'll be a $3k titanium one (well...hopefully :P) and it'll be all of my hard earned student slave labor money...woot.

Originally posted by NBv4
paid over A HUNDRED DOLLARS thirty years ago
I wouldn't be too quick to criticize. $100 30 years ago was quite
a bit to spend on a road bike. Some older bikes go for
big bucks now, just check e-bay and look at the "vintage"
bikes. Balloon tire bikes from the 30's, 40's and 50's go for
thousands.
It makes sense you're bike doesn't have braze on bottle
bosses, they weren't offered then.
what type of bike is it? what components does it
have?

Marty

Originally posted by NBv4
brent_dube, you just described my bike I'm riding right now. The problem is, I have over $2000 saved up for a new ride, but my parents can't justify spending that much on a bike... I had planned on joing the Triathalon club at my college next fall, but I don't think I will, because my parents have said that a new bike is not going to happen, ever. I can't compete with this thing. It blows.

That stinks. They wouldn't like having that logic applied to themselves. :irritated

"Mom, I sold your 1998 Ford Taurus. You can use this old 1972 Datsun B210, if you can get it to start... it was a bargain, just $100 (plus towing)! :D Oh, and I got rid of our Dell Pentium3 computer too. There was a perfectly good 386 at the thrift store for $40, with a monochrome 12" monitor. I don't think it has Windows on it, but I'm sure you'll manage somehow."

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Thanks much for the advice everyone, specially mechBgon. Very appreciated! I'm guessing a new bike sounds really good. I'm recovering from a surgury, sitting in the house all day, (I will be back on the bike in 3-5 weeks) just dreaming about how a new bike would feel going down the back roads of where I live :D. Yesturday I even had my mom take me for a ride to scout out a few roads a bit outside of town to maybe ride on soon in the future. I'm looking at maybe a Fuji Ace or a Fuji Finest aluminum...I'll check them out sometime soon when I get a chance if they are at any local bike shops. When I come down to the final decision on what bike and parts to buy, I will definetly come here for advice first :D

Originally posted by NBv4
I have over $2000 saved up for a new ride, but my parents can't justify spending that much on a bike...
If you've saved the $2000, then what do your parents have to do with it? If you're going to college, you're an adult... It's your money; spend it how you like.

Originally posted by velocipedio

If you've saved the $2000, then what do your parents have to do with it? If you're going to college, you're an adult... It's your money; spend it how you like.

"Birthday: August 26th, 1950" Over 50 hehe

Originally posted by velocipedio

If you've saved the $2000, then what do your parents have to do with it? If you're going to college, you're an adult... It's your money; spend it how you like.
Well, since my dad is paying 100% of my college tuition, I have no choice. He told me if I buy the bike, (which he thinks is a MAJOR waste) he would cut off my college tuition. I could call his bluff, but I'd rather play it on the safe side. Actually he told me that I could get a new one, as long as it was under $150. I'd rather not bother.

lotek: Its a Huffy touring bike probally bought at a K-Mart or something. The componets are no-name. Everything on the bike is no-name pretty much. Oh and I may have exagerated on its age a little. I think he bought that bike when my parents got married, which would have been about '80 or '81.

aaaaa

A conundrum: you've got money saved but dad's holding it
hostage in a way: you're not to spend more than $150 on a
bike or he witholds tuition. Hmmmm.......

Consider buying something used. I've heard some used bikes
make a great deal.

I suspect your dad thinks he's being frugal and trying to save
you from doing something "stupid". But in reality, he's being a
control freak and not serving your best interests.

Now, bikes do get stolen at college but another idea surfaces:

When you're at school do this: get a part time job and save up
some cash and buy a bike, possibly a decent used one. You don't
have to tell them about it, just get it and have it in the dorm and
if your parents ever see it and ask tell them it's your roommates.

Another thing to do... hang out with the college cycling team. If you can't ride for them, learn to wrench for them. After a while, you'll make enough contacts with the sponsors, alumni and other riders to get a line of good quality used machines. You'll also earn their respect as a wrench and learn how to do the dirty work yourself... AND, you'll get to hang out with other cyclists.

That's a creative approach velocipedio! :D And it gave me another thought: get a used frame that fits, for $150, and quietly pick up parts for it as time goes by.

Don't hide it from your parents, either. "Well, dad, you said I had to limit myself to $150, and so that's what I spent. This is a high-quality used frame that was worth over $500 new. Now if I could only get some decent used parts for it, then I'd be able to ride with the college cycling club. :( Maybe I can pick up some used parts from the club riders as time goes by, and be able to ride with them after a year or two."

If you were my kid, I'd feel very bad to see that you'd rather have a high-quality frame that you can't ride, and I'd ease up. I mean, would they rather have you hanging out at keggers 'til 2AM, or getting a good night's sleep so you can do your best at the time trials the next day...? :rolleyes: Do you still have your mom, and if so, is she any help in reasoning with Dad?

Another approach: "Well Dad, I've been doing a lot of thinking and I guess you are right, two thousand dollars is too much for a silly bicycle. I've decided to drop out of school and use the money for crack.

Your father should realize how lucky he is to have a kid like you.

Originally posted by Louis
Another approach: "Well Dad, I've been doing a lot of thinking and I guess you are right, two thousand dollars is too much for a silly bicycle. I've decided to drop out of school and use the money for crack.


":roflmao: "!

I'll say this much.
It disgusts me to know there are parents out there treating their kids like this.

Even a botom of the barrel trek t1000 will be a big step up.

I love quotes like this. Nothing like making those that worked hard for their 1000s or those that enjoy the Hell out of them feel inadequate.

Snobs in this forum? Nah. :rolleyes:

For the record, I don't ride a Trek 1000.

I'll say this much.
It disgusts me to know there are parents out there treating their kids like this.

LOL I made that post when I was just finishing up high school, now I'm out of college.

LOL I made that post when I was just finishing up high school, now I'm out of college.

And.....What the heck did you buy with that 2k?

Various crap. I joined the rowing team, so much of that money went to club dues, trips, rowing camp, etc etc. All said and done, if I had bought the bike, I would have had no money to do anything else but ride my $2000 bike around town... Then again, I could have joined my college's cycling team...

Why don't you buy a good old vintage bike? A good vintage bike will be light enough and hold good re-sale. A cookie cutter Trek Aluminum bike will have all the bells and whistles but after several thousand miles the re-sale value will be reduced to rubbish. A 500$ vintage bike is going to ride better any cookie cutter slop made in Taiwann by robots. You can get great deals on craigslist if you hunt around.

Be patient, know your propper size bike otherwise it is not worth riding.

Your best bet for upgrading on a budget would be to check Craigslist in your area for an older, lightly ridden bike that would suit your needs. Otherwise, proper maintainence to your current bike such as a thorough cleaning and lubrication in addition to a comfortable seat and grips could be all you need.

Sweet... someone dug up a 5yr old thread :D