[cross posted in recreation]

i've been fooling with the idea of getting a new bike. my current ride is a ~10 year old handed down trek 800 (cromoly seat-tube).

shifting is shifty, tires are fat, and i'm sitting quite upright. but i've used this thing for about 3-4 years, and i'm tolerating the deficiencies of this bike.

now, to come to think of it, why should i upgrade? what benefits come with a quality bike?

this bike has done pretty much everything i've asked it to do. i'm looking to commute in the fall, if that means anything.

If you're happy, stick with the bike you have. Simple, really.

thanks for the reply.
well i guess i'm not happy with it, but i don't have any problems with it either.

i'm just wondering what are the features of mid-to-high end bikes that make them appeal to so many, and how i could justify the premium.

Lots of people will tell you that you don't need a reason to get a new bike, something about the n+1 rule.

The one thing I find is that I really enjoy riding a nice bike, so much so that I think I ride more than I would otherwise. Since my bike is only sort of nice, I keep thinking about getting a really nice bike. You see where this leads, right?

Mostly looks. U sound like an accountant/future accountant, so those "justifying premium" would not be justifiable to u.

Why breath?, why get out of bed?, why eat?, why love?, why fight?,
indeed, why live?

That about cover it?

It's faster and you'll enjoy riding even more.

It's kinda like comparing an old 1979 honda civic with a brand new 2008 Honda Civic Si.
The old one runs fine and gets you from A to B and that may be all you need. But it will be a whole different experience in the new Civic.

Sometimes better IS better.

Truth is profound in it's simplicity.

It kind of sounds like your looking for reasons to NOT get a new bike. If your life situation will not be hampered by the purchase, all I can say is.....N+1. Truth is profound in it's simplicity.

I ride an 86 RockHopper with street tires and an "opgraded gear set. A new bike would probably be a little lighter and faster, but since I'm limited to a very upright riding position because of a bad back, I can't really justify the expense.
Spend a few $ on skinnier tires and MAYBE a cassette that MIGHT work better for your use and keep riding.
Those changes on my bike has allowed me to raise my "cruising" speed from about 10 to 13 MPH.

You may well find your own answer in an afternoon invested in test rides at LBS's (if you have more than one in town). Try different styles, brands, etc., and see if something causes an 'epiphany' moment for you....

Aside from "just 'cause" I think the main arguement for a new bike is that it will allow you to do something that you can't do now. I have 7 bikes, each different in its intended purpose. Road, fixed gear, cross, vintage stylin', touring/commuter, hard tail MTB, and dual suspension MTB. And no, I didn't spend a fortune on bikes, most were used and picked up for next to nothing. The point is, is there something you want to do that you can't do now? If you do primarily recreational riding or commuting and the present bike meets those needs then you don't need a new bike. OTOH, if you ride with a club and find you're struggling to keep up and everyone else has a new bike that is 5-lbs lighter than yours, well, maybe you do.

A new bike might be more comfortable if it fits better than your present one, it might be lighter, it might be faster but are any of those things important to you? Almost certainly it will be prettier as new things tend to be. Is it worth the money. Only you can decide.