"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - How long do you expect your race bike to last?

So, I have an aluminum Caad 10 that I got in May of last year. What a great frame- real smooth and responsive, relatively inexpensive and lightweight. Lately, I've been talking with teammates, one in particular, about new bikes. Having a "team bike" would be cool, but it's mostly a pipe dream since most of our tiny team are opposed to ditching their current bike for matching bikes, for budgetary reasons and, I'm sure, on principal.

On an individual basis though, this one teammate seems to think you should sell your race bike every year, and use the funds to get a new model year, both for looks and warranty. I was under the impression that I would ride this thing into the ground- until it breaks or until my wallet gets too fat to keep in my pocket. His method could be best, depending on how long you think your bike will last, or he could just be spending a lot of money unnecessarily.

Do you guys have expectations for the lifespan of your race bikes? Do you just buy new when you feel like it? Only when you need to? What's the oldest steed in your stable?

Ride it till it breaks.

That said, I think we're ordering a new batch of team bikes this fall and selling the old ones to new members who don't have them yet.

Mine last as long as I want them too - unless they break first.

Carbon & Steel have fatigue curves that are well beyond normal bike use, and alum will last you a bunch of years before it has any issues.

Mine will last as long as it takes for jwible to order new team bikes and send me one, no charge.

My last BMC had around 3,000 miles on it before I grenaded it doing short intervals. What I thought was one crack turned out to be cracks in all three main tubes. Read somewhere that carbon frames have about a four year useful life.

. , or he could just be spending a lot of money unnecessarily.



This. It's nice to have new shiney stuff and the latest gizmo, but you're paying a lot for the privilege.

My teammate has a CAAD8 that he started racing on 5? years ago. With only minor changes it's still his only road bike. Changes include fit, wear parts, wheels, and a shifter upgrade. He has no immediate plans for selling it.

I'll race a frame until I get something better (and I'll buy a frame for a variety of reasons). I don't see myself changing frames for a while now since I have two custom geometry frames with the same setup.

Further comment, take a look at your higher level more elite riders (those that aren't on a full ride team). Their bikes are often the more worn, beat looking bikes, mechanically they are sound but they put their funds to racing, training, etc. rather than shiny new gadgets (other than guys who spend every dime on the sport).

My last BMC had around 3,000 miles on it before I grenaded it doing short intervals. What I thought was one crack turned out to be cracks in all three main tubes. Read somewhere that carbon frames have about a four year useful life.

lolwut? Is that figure missing a Zero? Warrantied I hope? How are you so awesome?

It's the ability to destroy a BMC frame in 3000 miles that makes him so awesome. My Trek will last forever.

more than the age of all the posters who has and will post in this thread

Ti is F-L-Y

team/shop deals mean i can sell and upgrade every couple of years at minimal to no cost, unless i crash out.

luckily i was able to get a nice insurance check for this years crash and upgraded a year early.

It's the ability to destroy a BMC frame in 3000 miles that makes him so awesome. My Trek will last forever.

Let me do some 1' intervals on it.

lolwut? Is that figure missing a Zero? Warrantied I hope? How are you so awesome?

Nope I think it was 3,164 miles.
It was warrantied though BMC put me into a different frame after conversing back and forth.
I am not awesome,




I am super duper awesome

Let me do some 1' intervals on it.


You sir, fall into the awesome category as well.

My Trek is safe under me.

My team gets great deals on bikes but I think every year is a bit much unless you don't particularly like the bike. But if you like it then keep on riding it.

its arguably more economical to go every year with a team/shop deal cuz a 1 year old bike will sell for marginally more than a 2 year old bike.

that said, 2 years works fine for me. and it seems to be corresponding to cannondales big design leaps as well

Mine will last as long as it takes for jwible to order new team bikes and send me one, no charge.

My last BMC had around 3,000 miles on it before I grenaded it doing short intervals. What I thought was one crack turned out to be cracks in all three main tubes. Read somewhere that carbon frames have about a four year useful life.

Sounds like 41 information.

As to the OP, I expect my frames to last forever. Not that I want to ride it forever.

Sounds like 41 information.

Ohh them is fightin' words :)
I am going there now to post my average speed on my 12 mile MUP ride now...

I don't drink, I don't smoke. I don't drive a fancy car and I don't live in a fancy house...Cripes I don't even have flat screen TV...So I treat myself and buy bikes whenever a good deal presents itself...

The latest was my team, took a chance since it's a branded open mold Chinese frame...Couldn't be happier, so much I'll be buying a second frame shortly...These bikes I plan on running into the ground since there is no resale market for them, but I did and will sell other bikes to offset the cost...

The world is littered with people riding my old race bikes. I sell them when I want to get something new.

steed? stable?


41

steed? stable?


41

:rolleyes:

If hammy were here he would see steed/stable and think he was on one of his beastiality forums...

It's kind of funny you posted this question today. I've been toying with the idea of a new bike - my main ride is now a whopping five years old - and I got a phone call today from one of my LBSs saying they just got the new clearance pricing on some of their bikes and wanted to know if I was interested.

I don't need a new bike. I just kind of want one.

:rolleyes:

Don't roll your eyes at me, son, I'll move it.

I don't need a new bike. I just kind of want one.

The main factor determining how long you can race any given bike.

If hammy were here he would see steed/stable and think he was on one of his beastiality forums...

squeal like a piggy fatso.

My last BMC had around 3,000 miles on it before I grenaded it.

https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSzRCPuoSlhzKct2LDveUp6n2EoB3Ex7oKdppb92zT-KumgyZf-_Q

https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSzRCPuoSlhzKct2LDveUp6n2EoB3Ex7oKdppb92zT-KumgyZf-_Q


Hey inkman that would make a pretty good tattoo.

Remember where I live...

Hey inkman that would make a pretty good tattoo.

that it would. We're doing it when you get here.

that it would. We're doing it when you get here.

I also want unicorns, lots of unicorns. And rainbows...

that much I knew.

that much I knew.

And Care Bears...

care bears are 'buy-one-get-one-free' through the end of summer.

Mine will last as long as it takes for jwible to order new team bikes and send me one, no charge.

My last BMC had around 3,000 miles on it before I grenaded it doing short intervals. What I thought was one crack turned out to be cracks in all three main tubes. Read somewhere that carbon frames have about a four year useful life.

Well we do need someone to rep us in the P/1 ranks for next year I think pending some decisions by USAC and discussions with local fast guys. You are a little fat for our tastes, but we know you're working on it.

The sponsors may want some repping in TN actually. He's trying to grow his bidness. If you got him a janitorial contract at your place of work I'm sure he'd be willing to get you a team 7.9 and a kit or two for next year.

Well we do need someone to rep us in the P/1 ranks for next year I think pending some decisions by USAC and discussions with local fast guys. You are a little fat for our tastes, but we know you're working on it.

The sponsors may want some repping in TN actually. He's trying to grow his bidness. If you got him a janitorial contract at your place of work I'm sure he'd be willing to get you a team 7.9 and a kit or two for next year.
Ouch...
You would probably be surprised :)

Ouch...
You would probably be surprised :)
forget this silly plastic bikes. Go local & support Lynskey. Doubt you'll ever break a 2.8lb Ti bike

lolwut? Is that figure missing a Zero? Warrantied I hope? How are you so awesome?

He hulk smashed it with his badonk a donk donk.

Until I want a new one. Then it goes on the nostalgia pile.

Let me do some 1' intervals on it.

:lol: Yeah, even my wimpy 1' attempts have cracked the bottom bracket loose from the frame on my 5.2 Madone.

So far my 5.9 replacement frame is holding up. Only 2000 miles on it. *knock on CF*

I have a frameset from Neuvation that has endured a great deal of abuse from me. Two wrecks, little care, and it still looks and feels great. I actually threw it across the road in anger a couple weeks ago when I flatted in the middle of an interval set on a bad day. A little scratch, but pretty much still great! If anything ever did go wrong, nothing a $300 frameset replacement couldn't fix. But I expect it to last a long, long time! :)

My last BMC had around 3,000 miles on it before I grenaded it doing short intervals. What I thought was one crack turned out to be cracks in all three main tubes. Read somewhere that carbon frames have about a four year useful life.

That was true years ago, but that's certainly not true anymore. As others have pointed out, carbon frames have no calculable "beyond use" life; in other words, they'll last far beyond the point at which most people will use them. Carbon is also very much repairable if it's ever damaged in an accident. If you live in a major market, you'll likely find someone local who's skilled enough to do it.

:lol: Yeah, even my wimpy 1' attempts have cracked the bottom bracket loose from the frame on my 5.2 Madone.

So far my 5.9 replacement frame is holding up. Only 2000 miles on it. *knock on CF*

Yeah, they make me nervous.

We always have a bike/frame sponsor for my team and so we get frames very cheap. A lot of the guys sell their one year old frame for more than they paid for it and buy a new frame. And have money left over to put in their pocket.

I like my Skeletor, so I didn't go that route.

Ouch...
You would probably be surprised :)

I know. When is Chattanooga this year? I want to try to make that one. Probably closer for me than you though.

I have a hard time getting rid of a perfectly good bike (which drives my wife crazy) so I'm more in the ride it till it breaks camp.

I have a hard time getting rid of a perfectly good bike (which drives my wife crazy) so I'm more in the ride it till it breaks camp.

Your wife wants you to buy new bikes?

I have a feeling that's pretty different than most others on here haha.

She's perfectly happy with me buying a new bike if it means a net reduction in bikes. I think she's just a little frustrated with the 4 complete bikes plus the three frames taking up space in the garage. I think her last statement on the subject was "you can get a new one as long as you get rid of two."

My wife is frustrated with my 5 bikes in the house (race bike, back-up bike, TT bike, commuter bike, old-school bike for Sunday rides), Spawn2's bike that he commutes on, and Spawn1's bike that did not go back to college last year. That's seven bikes cluttering the downstairs.

How long do you expect your race bike to last?

fredelicious thread.