Advice needed: Buy new or go for older gen equipment?

[Chowlsie]

Hi,

 

So here's another buy new/old question.

 

I am getting back into road riding after 10 or so years of pure laziness. I am now faced with decisions of buying new equipment. Things have appeared to change since I last rode a bike.

 

I intend to do regular long rides and races (94.7, Argus etc). My current bike is carbon with full dura ace and rides like a dream, but it's 22 years old and I am scared I break it lol, so it needs to be retired. I also have a alu Cannondale, but after riding the carbon bike...I just cant do the Cannondale anymore. So this leads me to the questions below.

 

Question 1: Do I buy a new entry level bike 10-20K budget, or do I look at building up/buying an older gen bike like 07-12 models with better wheels/parts?

 

Question 2: What brands are recommended for new/old? I don't want to buy a brand name just because it looks good on the back of the car, unless it really does make that much of a difference.

 

Question 3: Riding kit, what's the recommendation here for shoes, helmets, pedals etc?

 

Any info will be greatly appreciated.

[hayleyearth]

Dude.... for R20k you can get a NEW road bike with good components!

 

 

[gongmech]

personally i like the idea of 10-12 secondhand better. After the 1st 6 months your bike is already "older gen" as you put it. @nd hand at 10-20k much better value 2nd hand.

 

Also try a ride before you buy or test some demo models first. i was suprisingly not impressed with some of the brand name big budget bikes and more impressed with others with lesser known names.

 

I like cANNONDALE, sANTA CRUZ, SPEC AND ESPCIALLY PYGA

[Butterbean]

Yeah, I would go with one of the lower end bikes as the general consensus is that us plebs don't notice the difference, except in out pockets! Loads of fans of bikes like silverback, and Scott and giant have some very good bikes in your price range.

 

Also look at Chinese carbon. The thread on here has more than enough to support the decision, and you could get a sweet frame and build it up with very good components for a lot less..

 

I also think that riding with really good accessories like a decent helmet and gloves, etc, make a massive difference to the experience. Set aside some money for decent stuff and definitely GET A PROPER BIKE FIT AT CYCLEFIT. so worth the small money and makes the biggest difference to me...

 

Good luck! I'm jealous of your dilemma, in all honesty!

[Butterbean]

Oh please note that I'm not saying Scott, giant or silverback are lower end brands, simply that they're not priced like the bianchis and pinas, etc...

Edited July 28, 2013 by AfdElite

[gongmech]

personally i like the idea of 10-12 secondhand better. After the 1st 6 months your bike is already "older gen" as you put it. @nd hand at 10-20k much better value 2nd hand.

 

Also try a ride before you buy or test some demo models first. i was suprisingly not impressed with some of the brand name big budget bikes and more impressed with others with lesser known names.

 

I like cANNONDALE, sANTA CRUZ, SPEC AND ESPCIALLY PYGA

 

my bad...ROAD bikes!!

[Chowlsie]

Thanks for the replies so far. Some of the new bikes I have seen seem very nice, but would need to try before buy. I have only heard good things about the Giant TCR and its a nice looking frame. I did a buyers guide search for 2012/13 bikes in that price range and there are so many to choose from

 

but then again...I have also seen these...but haven't ridden them so no idea if I will even like them.

 

https://www.bikehub.co.za/classifieds/55826-cervelo-r3-with-full-dura-ace-and-carbon-wheels/

https://www.bikehub.co.za/classifieds/52809-cervelo-soloist-carbon-and-extras-m-price-drop/

https://www.bikehub.co.za/classifieds/56398-giant-tcr-1-full-carbon-sram-red-l/

[porqui]

Ride your current carbon bike until you have convinced yourself that you are back in it again - then decide.

 

My set-up is a steel frame Colnago 30 years old - shifters still on downtube. Have done 22 Argus'es on it and my average time 3h15 and I'm almost double the age of the bike.

 

If you do buy new I dibs your carbon frame bike.

 

Don't get sucked in by fashion.

 

 

I do have a lekker Giant Trance X2 mountain bike which I really enjoy.

Edited July 28, 2013 by porqui

[Cat2forLife]

I LOVE the TCR. Never ridden one though actually. It's just a dream bike I guess. That one in the link in your post looks damn sweet for R2ok

[TopFuel]

The Soloist for R20k with Zipp 404s sounds like a really nice deal. Homeboy with the R3 claiming its worth R80k is a bit optimistic I think