Originally Posted by
thehammerdog
Not as much as a very nice pair of shoes and shorts........total cost $500 and you will look and feel great. $1,200 -1,500bike is all you need
Oh yeah, I picked-up semi-fance shorts and $$$ shoes because the comfort increase could not be denied. I still look like a fool, of course.
Originally Posted by
pallen
It 100% depends on you and what's going on in your head.
See below
Originally Posted by
peckma
Think of your bike as a tool - is it adequate for your needs? Would a new bike enable you to go further, more comfortably, feel more confident on the downhills?
Go to your LBS and test ride the bikes in your post, and others if you can. Make it a good test ride - not just a few laps around the parking lot. Only then can you tell the difference between your current ride and a Specialized or Cervelo. If you perceive no difference, then save your money.
No need to spend $3K either, as most of the main brands (Specialized, Trek, Cannondale, Fuji et al) will have bikes in the $1-$2K range that should be an improvement over your current ride. A test ride of the same model but at different price points will help you decide which price point is sufficient for your needs. When you do dollar up - keep your old bike and use it for bad weather days or going to the pub.
My own experience was that - yes it was worth it to have a bike (a Specialized Roubaix with Shimano 105 in this case) that was stiffer under acceleration, smoother over rough roads, more comfortable on the long haul and tracked better on the descents. Having a bike that fit the type of riding I aspired to allowed me to go out and meet those aspirations.
I picked those two bikes for specific reasons, both for their good reputations for stiffness and handling. The R3 always gets great reviews and is written about as a giant in the budget category, the SL4 because it's a stiffer bike with Ultegra. I suppose I need a test ride, but I'm not sure that 1-2 miles is going to drive it home for me. I'd like to ride a Rubaix as well. I am totally ignorant to "what tool works for me". I mash the pedals and the bike goes. That's all I know.
Originally Posted by
tagaproject6
Are you sure it was made in China and not Taiwan? Be that as it may, most bikes are made in those 2 nations anyway.
I'm unsure, but $969 with the 105 stuff tells me its probably a slave-labor bike.
Originally Posted by
tagaproject6
He is already involved in that thread. A feeble attempt at a parody thread.
Negative, I am really considering a new bike later this year but I've never ridden anything else so I don't know what I'm missing. I want to put quite a few more miles on my current bike before I dump it.
If I'm asking about a $3000 bike, I'm probably genuine. If I say "C59 Italia Disc" you know I'm trolling.