TenderTicker

Thinking about getting a new ride but have several reservations. First, my current ride is set up pretty comfortable for me. I'm a 60 yr old Clyde, 6'2" / 270 riding a 35 year old Trek 510 chromoly frame 60cm with some mods I and my LBS did. Replaced drop bars, shifters, brakes and wheels to mountain bike style set up. Wheels are 36 spoke Weinmann LP18 and have not broke a spoke since the wheel change.
I ride 50+/- miles per week. Do an occasional " long" ride of 30+ miles on a weekend if I'm in the mood. I usually average 12-13 mph using Map My Ride app. Since starting serious riding in Oct 2013 I've done 1,661 miles with 162 workouts at 146 total hours.
I love the way it rides, the comfortable riding position, just recently started using SPD pedals and shoes. Always wear a helmet when riding with these shoes, learned the hard way after a concussion.
My reservations, questions. Will a new bike be MUCH faster, more comfortable, allow me to do more miles per week, worth the $1000 + I might have to pay? Obviously at my size might have to do a wheel(s) upgrade. Will definitely have to do flat, swept back bars, absolutely HATE drop bars. Have tried to get used to them on various old steels bikes I've had in the past so please don't tell me I'll get used to them cause at my age I won't, LOL.
Any advice, suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Oh, btw, I am a heart patient with a quadruple bypass in 1995, 7 angioplasties with 8 stents along the way, 2 mild heart attacks, with currently only one major artery still open, the LAD, lower anterior descending artery. But subsequent tests have confirmed that the exercise I do combined with the 30 pounds I lost in 2013 have resulted in growth of new collateral vessels/arteries, natures natural bypasses.

linberl

Personally I love the old quality Trek steel frames. I've restored a couple. Upgrading the drivetrain might make a difference, but it sounds like everything else on the bike is exactly the way you like it. A new bike might weight a pound or two less, but riding more could easily help you drop a couple pounds and save you all that money and end up the same "riding" weight. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If you are getting the "bug" then do something nice like get it repainted. Just my opinion...

L134 

Will a new bike be MUCH faster,

No.

more comfortable,

Sounds like you are already comfortable, so probably not.

allow me to do more miles per week,

No, unless there is some placebo effect.

worth the $1000 + I might have to pay

Not if the $1,000 is dear to you. If it is strictly disposable and you enjoy something new, maybe.

bmthom.gis

Sounds like you would enjoy a hybrid more than a road bike. Though I doubt your current bike is limiting you. You might find the geometry/set up of a hybrid more comfortable though.

bikemig 

Hard to beat a quality vintage Trek esp. once it has been fixed up. I sure as heck wouldn't pay $1k plus for a new bike given how well your current set up works.

One thing that might make a difference given the kind of riding you do is fatter tires. There is a lot to be said for riding on a larger volume of air at a lower pressure in terms of comfort. Fat tires can be surprisingly light weight but you'll have to shop around. I'd give some thought to buying a vintage MTB and swapping out the knobbies for good quality slicks. It will make a very strong and very good all around bike; you'll like the fatter tires. I am currently running 26 x 2.0 schwalbe supreme touring tires on my 1993 Trek 950; it's super comfy.

Phil_gretz

If you change to drop bars and adjust your position to be more aerodynamic, then "yes", the replacement bike will be faster.


Of course, you could simply replace the handlebars and controls that were previously on your Trek. If you wanted "faster", that is.


This is all a bit tongue-in-cheek, of course. It sounds like your current bike is just right for what you want. Why not try a few hybrids or flat bar road bikes from your local bike shops? You might find something exciting that you'd like to ride. Or it might confirm that what you have is pretty darn good for you.


Best of luck. PG

markjenn

I agree with the comments made so far. You've got a quality bike that works for you so upgrading will have marginal gains and while you might be slightly faster, it won't be much and if you're riding for recreation by yourself, then averaging 0.5 mph faster really doesn't change anything anyway.

Having said all this, a properly-purchased new bike will feel more modern, more rigid, more responsive, and probably be a little better at everything - handling, shifting, braking (especially with discs), etc. I have a couple old steel Treks I ride regularly and they're fine bikes and very comfortable, but they feel somewhat "rickety" compared to my newer bikes. And while you probably don't care that much about weight, a 5-lb lighter bike will be noticeable.

There are some nice hybrids out there - I'm looking at a Sirrus Expert Carbon X1 myself. At your weight, somebody is likely to pipe up for you to stay away from carbon and I don't know if you need better rack mount options, so you could go alum. They're probably some nice steel high-performance hybrids out there too. You do want to stay away from the very cheap bikes as they won't make the gain over what you're riding significant enough to bother. I'd think $1000-$1500 might be a good budget.

Also keep in mind that you can keep your old bike so you're not going to be giving anything up - just have another option. That's the great thing about bicycling - the machines aren't THAT expensive, so most of us can afford to have a few. The cost of a very nice extra bicycle is pretty insigificant compared to your medical bills.

Hit your local bike shops and see if anything strikes your fancy!

- Mark

RECfromPA

I asked a similar question when I first got here. Got similar responses.


I have an old Specialized, probably not much unlike your Trek, that I bought off of CL last year. I rode a few new $1,000 bikes as potential "upgrade" and they all confirmed how much I LOVE my current bike. You might find you already have the "perfect" bike for now. Test ride new ones, you'll know when one is "better."

TenderTicker

Thanks for the responses, lots of good advice here. Riding around Memorial Park when I'm in Houston and seeing all of the fancy plastic road bikes makes me wonder if I was missing something, LOL.