Is the new bike worth it?
 

I am currently riding a $600 specialized allez, and i usually average about 21.5 mph. I use clipless pedals and the bar is lowered as far as it will go. The problem is, I am really getting sick of my cheap bike and would like to upgrade. my question is , is it worth saving up for a $2600 trek madone or should I settle for something less expensive? I am 15, so It would take me a while to save that much money.I would like to get into racing soon. How much faster could I expect to go on the madone?

My advice would be "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". Go ahead and start filling your cookie jar for whatever bike you want in the future, but it sounds like the allez is serving you well for the time. A lighter, stiffer bike will probably be a little faster (maybe 1 mph?), but it's not going to make you Lance. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Settle for something less expensive, if you are still growing (like me). You don't want to grow out of a $2600 bike in a year or two! With the kind of speeds you're riding at, since you want to get into racing, and with the fact that you're even looking at such expensive bikes, I'd go for a bike around 1600-1700 dollars. You'll save a grand and still have a really sweet ride. I'd look at the Specialized Allez Comp, Giant TCR, Felt F65, Cannondale R1000, etc.

Of course, make sure you test ride them. You don't want to buy a $1500-$2500 bike and find out it doesn't fit!

ride fast now, wait as bikes will go to that 14 speed setup... pass people with nicer bikes now, and you'll then pass them even easier on your new bike

Cheap bike?
Umm.... I'm not too sure about that... your bike has a lot of engineering and research done to it.. don't think that yours is cheap... and you wouldn't be going faster on a Madone Damocles... [read the fable]..
If you want to go faster, think about TT bikes...

-Peter

Bike sounds like a perfect bike considering you are growing. I would wait until I graduated from high school. That will give you time to save and you could use your graduation money to throw at whatever bike you want. It will also be more likely that you will have done the majority of your growing.

The most important thing to look for when you do get a new bike is a good fit! Going to a properly fit bike will increase your power and comfort more so than any component or frame material. You don't know it now since young bodies adapt better than old bodies (I did RAGBRAI in cutoffs when I was 16 :eek: ) There's a reason Lance is so anal about his bike set up!

Start looking around for good shops in your area that do some sort of biomechanical bike fit. Pay for a fitting before you even look at another bike.

-murray

I was riding last week and caught (at a light) a fellow on a Giant TCR (1?), which he liked. He had been riding an Allez and said that the difference was substantial and the ride was more pleasent. I suspect that you will find more of a change going from your current ride to something in that range (1500?, maybe even less at end of the year) than you will going to very high up the range. Bikes in that range have good components and frames; some even come with Ultegra or a mix of Ultegra and other solid components (and Ultegra has just gone up to a 10 with component geometry/feel quite similar to the expensive Dura Ace). The way that the Giants are sized might allow a little more flexibility for growth than other frame geometry, but do not quote me on that.

Good luck -- you obviously have a pretty good engine if you are averaging 21.5 mph (for how long, solo or in a group?).

I understand your desire to ride something new. Why don't you keep hawking Ebay and wait until something cool shows up there? You can pick up some great frames on there and build them out yourself...the way you want it!!! All the while you are riding the old Allez. I've been doing this and it's not only fun but you will also eventually pick up the tools you will need to maintain your own bikes.

When you get the new one built up, keep the Allez for bad weather riding...or just a change. I rotate six bikes...have built up three of them.

you are on a great bike....get a new set of wheels and you will fly

Thanks, I always ride solo, I don't know any other fast cyclists in my area. I usually ride about 20 miles a day.
How much does this usually cost compared to buying the entire bike? I thought about doing this but figured it would end up costing twice as much. I would want to replace almost everthing but the front deraleur (Ultegra :D ).

My buddy just built up an '04 specialized s-works frame with full ultegra 9. The frame, bars, seatpost and wheels were lightly used but the rest was new stuff. He watched ebay and the mail orders very carefully. Altogether, he spent $1500 for one amazing bike and had a lot of fun doing it. I figure he saved about a grand off buying the bike new.

Or, you could just watch for a used bike in your range. I payed $800 for my giant tcr0 with full DA from a racing buddy.

The truth is, however, that you would probably benefit most from just getting a great set of wheels. I have a buddy who regularly spanks me with his sora equipped bike. Once the wheels get rolling, going fast is not about the non-rotational weight or the shifting/braking components.