First carbon bike with goodies = 4K, am i doing the right thing ?
09-18-14, 05:48 AM
#26
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I would only spend the money if you can check off the following boxes
1 - All my consumer debts (credit cards) are currently paid off
2 - I have six months of emergency funds (which can pay all bills) just in case my job goes south
3 - all school debt, medical bills, etc are paid off
If you can't check all these off, perhaps hold off and pay these debts down or save some emergency money first....the last thing you want to do is sell a 2k dollar plus bike for 1300 in order to survive a crisis.
1 - All my consumer debts (credit cards) are currently paid off
2 - I have six months of emergency funds (which can pay all bills) just in case my job goes south
3 - all school debt, medical bills, etc are paid off
If you can't check all these off, perhaps hold off and pay these debts down or save some emergency money first....the last thing you want to do is sell a 2k dollar plus bike for 1300 in order to survive a crisis.
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Originally Posted by Jorgediaz
Fellow riders, the only free cheese is in the mousetrap!
09-18-14, 06:00 AM
#27
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Specialized Bicycle Components
2015 SPECIALIZED TARMAC ELITE
2 pr RBX Pro bib shorts
2 racing jersys
LAZER HELIUM helmet
1 pr Elite road shoes
Shimano carbon pedals & cleats
carbon road pump
2 cages
2015 SPECIALIZED TARMAC ELITE
2 pr RBX Pro bib shorts
2 racing jersys
LAZER HELIUM helmet
1 pr Elite road shoes
Shimano carbon pedals & cleats
carbon road pump
2 cages
you're gonna love it!!
09-18-14, 06:05 AM
#28
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I would only spend the money if you can check off the following boxes
1 - All my consumer debts (credit cards) are currently paid off
2 - I have six months of emergency funds (which can pay all bills) just in case my job goes south
3 - all school debt, medical bills, etc are paid off
If you can't check all these off, perhaps hold off and pay these debts down or save some emergency money first....the last thing you want to do is sell a 2k dollar plus bike for 1300 in order to survive a crisis.
1 - All my consumer debts (credit cards) are currently paid off
2 - I have six months of emergency funds (which can pay all bills) just in case my job goes south
3 - all school debt, medical bills, etc are paid off
If you can't check all these off, perhaps hold off and pay these debts down or save some emergency money first....the last thing you want to do is sell a 2k dollar plus bike for 1300 in order to survive a crisis.
09-18-14, 06:24 AM
#29
Senior Member
First carbon bike with goodies = 4K, am i doing the right thing ?
$100 vintage Gitane road bike - Craigslist
$40 used shorts and jersey- ebay
$25 helmet from Costco.
Works for me. Its just a bike. Wheels, pedals, handlebar. The rider still has to supply the power.
$40 used shorts and jersey- ebay
$25 helmet from Costco.
Works for me. Its just a bike. Wheels, pedals, handlebar. The rider still has to supply the power.
09-18-14, 06:29 AM
#30
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I don't think he hates America. I just think he doesn't understand America. If everyone adopted this truly responsible type of spending and credit management, the US would face the deepest economic depression it has ever seen, and the standard of living would plunge to barbaric limits, similar to Germany or the Netherlands.
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Robert
Robert
Originally Posted by LAJ
No matter where I go, here I am...
09-18-14, 06:32 AM
#31
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Robert
Robert
Originally Posted by LAJ
No matter where I go, here I am...
09-18-14, 08:13 AM
#32
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Originally Posted by basqueonacaad
I would only spend the money if you can check off the following boxes
1 - All my consumer debts (credit cards) are currently paid off
2 - I have six months of emergency funds (which can pay all bills) just in case my job goes south
3 - all school debt, medical bills, etc are paid off
If you can't check all these off, perhaps hold off and pay these debts down or save some emergency money first....the last thing you want to do is sell a 2k dollar plus bike for 1300 in order to survive a crisis.
1 - All my consumer debts (credit cards) are currently paid off
2 - I have six months of emergency funds (which can pay all bills) just in case my job goes south
3 - all school debt, medical bills, etc are paid off
If you can't check all these off, perhaps hold off and pay these debts down or save some emergency money first....the last thing you want to do is sell a 2k dollar plus bike for 1300 in order to survive a crisis.
Originally Posted by big chainring
$100 vintage Gitane road bike - Craigslist
$40 used shorts and jersey- ebay
$25 helmet from Costco.
Works for me. Its just a bike. Wheels, pedals, handlebar. The rider still has to supply the power.
$40 used shorts and jersey- ebay
$25 helmet from Costco.
Works for me. Its just a bike. Wheels, pedals, handlebar. The rider still has to supply the power.
Used shorts... yeah, I somehow can't get myself to feel okay about it, even if they're washed repeatedly. I know, some folks are more sensible than I am, but while I'm not a huge fashion victim, that's kind of a bit beyond what I can manage.
On the old-school bike, you still do need to push the pedals and all that, but I also know that on my old steel dt shifted bike, I'm slower and less comfortable than on my newer one. Bear in mind, my "newer" bike is more than a decade old and is made out of aluminum... I'm not blowing money on the best and newest, but best-er and newest-er does have some advantages... same effort, get to see more stuff...
09-18-14, 08:22 AM
#34
Professional Fuss-Budget
I say no, you are not doing the right thing.
1) You apparently have minimal cycling experience. You don't even know if you will be riding in 6 months. Regardless of anyone else's standards, it sounds like for your it's a lot of scratch. How will you feel if 6 months from now you don't enjoy cycling, and are sitting on $4000 worth of gear?
2) As noted above, it sounds like your LBS is taking you for a ride. You could get everything you need, new, for less than $2000 without sacrificing functionality.
3) IMO you should never buy a bike you can't afford to replace. Bikes get broken, they crash, they get stolen.
1) You apparently have minimal cycling experience. You don't even know if you will be riding in 6 months. Regardless of anyone else's standards, it sounds like for your it's a lot of scratch. How will you feel if 6 months from now you don't enjoy cycling, and are sitting on $4000 worth of gear?
2) As noted above, it sounds like your LBS is taking you for a ride. You could get everything you need, new, for less than $2000 without sacrificing functionality.
3) IMO you should never buy a bike you can't afford to replace. Bikes get broken, they crash, they get stolen.
09-18-14, 08:36 AM
#35
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09-18-14, 08:58 AM
#36
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i don't think he hates america. I just think he doesn't understand america. If everyone adopted this truly responsible type of spending and credit management, the us would face the deepest economic depression it has ever seen, and the standard of living would plunge to barbaric limits, similar to germany or the netherlands.
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09-18-14, 09:10 AM
#37
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Used shorts and jersey? Live a little and get a pair of shorts without someone else's skid marks.
09-18-14, 09:58 AM
#38
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Specialized Bicycle Components
2015 SPECIALIZED TARMAC ELITE
2 pr RBX Pro bib shorts
2 racing jersys
LAZER HELIUM helmet
1 pr Elite road shoes
Shimano carbon pedals & cleats
carbon road pump
2 cages
2015 SPECIALIZED TARMAC ELITE
2 pr RBX Pro bib shorts
2 racing jersys
LAZER HELIUM helmet
1 pr Elite road shoes
Shimano carbon pedals & cleats
carbon road pump
2 cages
Get a 2014 and save some money AND help out the LBS.
09-18-14, 10:08 AM
#39
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09-18-14, 10:11 AM
#40
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I say no, you are not doing the right thing.
1) You apparently have minimal cycling experience. You don't even know if you will be riding in 6 months. Regardless of anyone else's standards, it sounds like for your it's a lot of scratch. How will you feel if 6 months from now you don't enjoy cycling, and are sitting on $4000 worth of gear?
2) As noted above, it sounds like your LBS is taking you for a ride. You could get everything you need, new, for less than $2000 without sacrificing functionality.
3) IMO you should never buy a bike you can't afford to replace. Bikes get broken, they crash, they get stolen.
1) You apparently have minimal cycling experience. You don't even know if you will be riding in 6 months. Regardless of anyone else's standards, it sounds like for your it's a lot of scratch. How will you feel if 6 months from now you don't enjoy cycling, and are sitting on $4000 worth of gear?
2) As noted above, it sounds like your LBS is taking you for a ride. You could get everything you need, new, for less than $2000 without sacrificing functionality.
3) IMO you should never buy a bike you can't afford to replace. Bikes get broken, they crash, they get stolen.
09-18-14, 10:15 AM
#41
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09-18-14, 10:33 AM
#42
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I would only spend the money if you can check off the following boxes
1 - All my consumer debts (credit cards) are currently paid off
2 - I have six months of emergency funds (which can pay all bills) just in case my job goes south
3 - all school debt, medical bills, etc are paid off
If you can't check all these off, perhaps hold off and pay these debts down or save some emergency money first....the last thing you want to do is sell a 2k dollar plus bike for 1300 in order to survive a crisis.
1 - All my consumer debts (credit cards) are currently paid off
2 - I have six months of emergency funds (which can pay all bills) just in case my job goes south
3 - all school debt, medical bills, etc are paid off
If you can't check all these off, perhaps hold off and pay these debts down or save some emergency money first....the last thing you want to do is sell a 2k dollar plus bike for 1300 in order to survive a crisis.
Plus I just purchased my 3rd investment property and over the last 8 years have earned more than $400k in equity in those few years. I have a small 2 bd rental and the guy has the same mentality as the OP. He can afford it so why not.. This guy has a really nice car, 3 fancy road bikes, and a ton of toys. The all look really nice sitting in my garage as he continues to pay my mortgage for me while I earn a ton of money in equity. I so go for it and if you ever need a place to stay let me know
09-18-14, 10:49 AM
#43
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Since you are lumping the bike in with the gear and the Sales Tax, it is hard to show the actual value. I'd never include the accessories/gear which are basically worthless upon buying them (worthless in resale I mean).
It does seem a little high for a 105 bike, you are certainly paying more for the Specialized name.
I just picked up my 2015 Felt Z3 with full Ultegra this past Sunday. It was $2999 but I also got pretty much what I paid for my 2014 Felt Z5 in trade. Honestly it would be very hard to 'feel' the difference between 2015 105 and Ultegra. Luckily my LBS in in New Hampshire which doesn't have Sales Tax.
I have just picked up some gear recently on the end of season closeouts from my LBS and Amazon (Amazon is running a great special on riding gear, up to 20-25% off based on what you buy). I got 2 pair PI Attack Shorts, 2 PI Attack Jerseys, Gore Knee-warmers, Gore turtleneck base layer, Gore Gloves, and a Gore Bike Cap for about $300 (perhaps a little less). I absolutely love the Gore wear and I believe it will extend my season by at least a month or two (earlier spring and later fall).
It does seem a little high for a 105 bike, you are certainly paying more for the Specialized name.
I just picked up my 2015 Felt Z3 with full Ultegra this past Sunday. It was $2999 but I also got pretty much what I paid for my 2014 Felt Z5 in trade. Honestly it would be very hard to 'feel' the difference between 2015 105 and Ultegra. Luckily my LBS in in New Hampshire which doesn't have Sales Tax.
I have just picked up some gear recently on the end of season closeouts from my LBS and Amazon (Amazon is running a great special on riding gear, up to 20-25% off based on what you buy). I got 2 pair PI Attack Shorts, 2 PI Attack Jerseys, Gore Knee-warmers, Gore turtleneck base layer, Gore Gloves, and a Gore Bike Cap for about $300 (perhaps a little less). I absolutely love the Gore wear and I believe it will extend my season by at least a month or two (earlier spring and later fall).
09-18-14, 11:05 AM
#45
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Are you in Canada? Just curious based on the tax you paid.
09-18-14, 12:20 PM
#47
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Nice bike. Ride it in good health.
09-18-14, 03:41 PM
#49
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Yet you posted on a forum with a thread title suggesting you wanted advice on your purchase. The cheap shot someone posted aside, why get defensive when multiple people say you are overpaying? Just make the title of the thread more to what you meant or list what you are buying and don't include the price.
09-18-14, 03:58 PM
#50
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