Buying that first real Expensive bike. turning 40!
 

I'm on the Edge of making the decision to buy my first real bike. My current ride is a specialised Allez Elite bought back in 2005 that I chose on the Colour and its reduced price.
Now after a great trip to the Alps I'm toying with the Idea of spending out on a Bike on of my dreams. I turning 40 ( oh my god that's the first that's be written down ! ) and am looking to treat myself with a Canyon Ultimate CF. Its the Mid life crisis purchase before kids come along.

Is there some Mantra you can chant to make you feel good about spending thousands of cash on a bike!

I keep thinking I could get a good car for the same!

Just a thought. Maybe just councelling?

Nice. It looks a bit like a Guru Geneo

Full custom steel is the only way to go...1500$ for the frame and 1500$ for the build parts gets you a bicycle weighing maybe 1-2LBS more than a carbon bike.

Carbon fiber cracks and breaks too easily. If you have a high disposable income then by all means get a carbon bike but expect to buy a new frame at some point.

If the worst of your mid life crisis is buying an excellent bicycle, then you're doing fine. Your wife has nothing to worry about.

Keep repeating to yourself: "It's not about the bike. It's not about the bike."

Sorry, that is the complete opposite of the mantra you need.:lol:

The real truth is that at 40 (and that was so long ago for me) what you mostly need is time to train. That is much more precious than a fancy bike. Spend the money on the wife instead and negotiate training time.

Buy the bike. It'll make you ride more because 1) you'll love the new bike or 2) you'll feel guilty over buying and you'll have to justify the purchase.

Both reasons worked for me, but I'm a lot older than you.

The fact is that you deserve a nice bike just for having survived till 40. Robo is right, spend enough money that letting it just sit in the garage would just eat you alive.

:crash:

Rob, just buy it. Those thousands of dollars will feel like hundreds after you've gone into this bike addiction. I'm considering a Cervelo RS (because my flexibility sucks and I'm short) to replace my Look 555. I quite enjoy the ride on the look - sporty road feel, yet not hard on the body - but the geo is just not that great for me (reach too long).

I'm considering an "early 40" year old present - I turn 39 in 4 months :)

Dude, go rain on someone else's parade with your made up superstitions.

just buy it you old bastid. money well spent.

Yeah. It's an investment in your health. What do you have without that?

Oh man, you took the words right out of my mouth.

I am so happy that I went that route. My bike handles and rides great.
AND, it's not 1-2 lbs more. Even if it was, so what. My bike and me in ride ready weight is about 215 lbs. Yeah, that's going to really slow me down. :roflmao2:

The best part is that I don't have some corporate name splashed all over my bike...

Tell that to the guy in our club rides still on an early 90's Specialized Epic.

After getting in shape using my bike I feel great. The money I spent is worth it. That is what I tell myself looking back at my decision to buy an expensive bike. I can now run around the house chasing my wife (and kids) without feeling worn out. I might buy an even better bike at 50, hmmm.

Hook, line & sinker.

It is only money, and if keeps you motivated to stay fit, it is well spent if you have the disposable income. Think about the guys that drop 25k+ plus a year on their country club golf addiction or have some other costly outlet. Having a bike addiction is expensive but there are people out there who spend a whole lot more on things that will not have the same benefit health wise.

At least thats the way I try and justify it =).

I don't see what you don't like about your Allez or what, in particular, makes you want that composite bike.

I suppose the mantra is "if there's any doubt, there's no doubt". And you have doubt about why you want that new bike or whether or not it's worth the price.

Yeah, its an investment in your health, wellbeing, and future. Say it over and over, then sell it to the wife. Worked for me!!!




RD

Go for a custom Serotta. You probably won't regret it :D

IF Steel Crown Jewel. just do it, man.

The best bike you could possibly buy is the one that makes you want to ride. I say go ahead and do it; as dream bikes are concerned, the CF Pro is a very inexpensive one to consider. Be sure to check out the outlet for last year's model, if you are looking to save scratch. Also, if you send them your race license number, you will receive a discount on select bikes/frames.

Anyway, I say good choice on the Canyon! Of course, I'm somewhat biased:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a10...n/Canyon16.jpg

Truer words hath ne'er been spoken.

It's an investment in YOU - get it and enjoy it!

Canyons are nice...

http://imgcash6.imageshack.us/img56/...anyonside1.jpg

One thing I could never handle is having a big fat '.COM' on the side of my bike frame, let alone 10 times. It's bad enough that I've got one across the backside of my kit. :(

-Jeremy

Only the team version has the ".com" logo. Observe:

http://eripet.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/canyon.jpg