JC 911

Does anyone think they have “too much bike” for the type of riding they do?
For example, you ride once a week for 10 miles and you do it on a Pinarello Prince. Now, that is a bit extreme but you get my drift.

I ride about 4 times a week with mileage at about 100+. A lot of my rides undertake hills so I average at least 100 feet per mile.
No racing yet but not sure if I will ever want to.

I came across some money (legally) and have the chance to pick up a Felt F1 SL. Beautiful bike outfitted with DA7900 and Mavic Carbone SLR wheels.

Is the Felt F1 SL too much bike for me?

cshell

Go for it. Who cares? (rhetorical).

Be happy.

ridethatbike

I wouldn't sweat it. Ride what makes you happy. Most bike/rider pairings are dictated by financial circumstances, not by athletic quality.

adriano 

go for it. if it bothers you, use it as motivation to step up.

ptle

Don't worry about it. There are plenty of people with bikes costing more than my car that aren't fast. I'm not really bothered by it and don't judge them. If someone's got the money to buy a nice bike, that's good. They might not have enough time to get many miles or maybe they bike as a small hobby.

hao

I'm pretty sure you can get banned for asking this kind of sensible questions on BF.

tuxbailey

As long as you can afford it and it makes you happy, why not.

Creatre

You are much more fit than the majority of people with decent bikes. The last charity metric century I did was almost a joke. At the start, I was surrounded by $4000+ bikes ridden by people that ended up finishing hours behind me in the end. If you ride 3-4 times a week, then you should have something that you enjoy, or want. If this bike is it, then go for it!

Tinton

Too much status symbol and not enough bike.

foresthill

Yes. I have "too much bike." I highly recommend it.

AngryScientist 

yes

kimconyc

Have you asked yourself if the Felt F1 SL is too little bike for you?

Will you have regrets not having Di2 and Cosmic Carbone Ultimates?

Phantoj

The only disadvantage to "too much bike" is if it causes you to spend an inordinate amount of care and concern on it. If you fret over every scratch, it might make riding less pleasant, I don't know.


But you will almost certainly be happier if you donate that money to a good charity and continue to ride your current crappy (?) bike.


IMHO, if you have to go to an internet forum to justify a purchase, you probably already know what the right thing to do is.

CrownEE

Buy it and if you have second thoughts about it later you can always give it to me
I would have no issue riding a bike that is beyond my ability
And if I came into some money I probably would.

Bacciagalupe

I would agree with a few comments above, that 100+ miles a week justifies having a high-quality bike.

However, unless you came into a LOT of money, I'd still say $7000 or whatever for the F1 SL is overkill. It won't ride any better than $2500 carbon bikes, or even many $1500 aluminum bikes.

Plus, I don't know how you legally acquired your windfall, nor is it none of my business, but you should beware of unexpected expenses like the Alternative Minimum Tax, losing a job etc. I.e. don't spend all your lottery winnings at once.

Gluteus

You'll grow into it.

tagaproject6

Go for it! If it makes you feel guilty give to your favorite charity, volunteer, there are plenty of ways to give back

Staarkhand

Too much bike, or too little awesome?

Anyhow just think about why you want the bike. Doing something only to impress your friends is silly. Getting something that's so nice that people accuse you of doing it only to impress your friends (and, inevitably, talk about how you could have spent $1200 and made up the weight difference with a bowel movement) isn't necessarily.

roadiejorge 

If you ride your bike enough to appreciate the benefits of the bike you're planning to purchase then go for it.

guadzilla

"Too much bike" is wrong.

"Too much bikeS" otoh.... there lies the way to happiness.

V.

tagaproject6

Those three words DO NOT belong together.

sdold

I definitely bought "too much bike" for me, but I think the reasons were OK:

1. Good parts that will last.

2. I supported a small builder and a dealer that I want to see succeed.

3. The ride is really, really nice.

I think if you are trying to impress people, it's definitely the wrong reason, but if you just appreciate workmanship and quality and it makes you feel good just to look at the thing, why not?

JC 911

Yeah - I thought about Di2 but I am still not sold on it. If I didn't do DA7900, I would have gone Sram Red.

JC 911

Definitely not too impress people. I actually do a lot of solo riding and basically all of my friends are non-riders.

Just love the look and feel. The Felt F1 SL would go into my stable of bikes, which I know we can talk all day long about how many bikes is too many (yeah, I know - never enough for the rider, too many for the spouse/significant other)

shovelhd

Buy the Felt and sell the Trek. Problem solved.