"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Joined a team, keep my bike or buy a sponsor bike?

New team for '09, we have Specialized sponsorship.
I was planning on racing my TIME next year, it's an RX Edge frameset I got used, still have to build it up.

What would Jesus do...

Stay on the Time. If you feel you need a new bike, and can afford it, go with a Specialized, but keep the Time and use it as an RR or crit bike.

i just put in an order for a caad9 team frame with BB30. im so pumped. idk when i'll be able to afford parts for it, but i did it mostly because i feel like i need a smaller frame.

i agree with CK. if you can afford it, go for it, but dont ditch the time if you like it better.

I'm leaning this way too.

Thanks :thumb:

what kinda specialized is it?

I was debating the same question. Until I got the "deal" the shop was offering. Being as the price they've given us is ~25% more than I can get the same frame online, I won't be upgrading.

But then again, I'm the type that gets a kick out of beating guys with wheelsets that cost more than my whole bike. Probably wouldn't have upgraded anyway.

It depends on how deep your discount is with Specialized. But many amatuers race on bikes that are not the sponsored brand, so don't feel like you have to buy a new bike.

Did you join Spec/River City?

"depends"

sorry can't be more helpful.

I went that route, but many on my team did not.

Although I do have to say it is cool when there are like 5 or 6 of us on a ride or race on the same bike :thumb:

I'm leaning this way too.

Thanks :thumb:
I did the same thing this past season. My team was a shop that sold S, Felt and BMC, and BMC gave awesome deals to everyone. I decided to stick with my Cannondale, which is a good thing because my new team is sponsored by Giant, so I'd be even more out of place.

stick with time. your not being paid i assume. ride what you want.

what kinda specialized is it?
If I did it I would get the bottom of the line Tarmac.


It depends on how deep your discount is with Specialized. But many amatuers race on bikes that are not the sponsored brand, so don't feel like you have to buy a new bike.

Did you join Spec/River City?
It's a good discount.
Not Spec/River City, I'll pm you the details.

I'm going to stick with my TIME, a new bike is not really in the budget anyway.

I'll ride a sponsor's bike when they buy and supply. Otherwise, I'll ride what I got. If I rode for Astana, I guess I'd choose their Trek Madone over my Fuji....LOL!

stick with time. your not being paid i assume. ride what you want.

I couldn't agree more, ride what you want.

Unless it says so specifically in your rider contract, I wouldn't get a new bike if you like what you are on. I would never sign an amateur team contract that required me to ride a specific bike, wheels, components unless they provided it to me for free.