After longer than I care to admit to being out on my road bike, I am getting the urge again – I regularly do extended spin sessions at the gym (at least 3 x 1 hr sessions a week in either cardio or peak heart zone) but I fancy restarting my road riding again (and have also been asked to take part in a 100k charity ride).

So my question is – would there be a marked difference in the ride of a nice new spangly carbon bike (looking to spend around £1200) over my 10 yr old Specialised Allez with alu frame.

As the owner of a 10 year old Spez Allez and currently fighting the itch for something new, will watch this thread with interest.

I would think a £1200 carbon would have quiet a low spec groupset on it. Why not upgrade some bits on your current bike? Wheels and tyres are a favourite for around £250, some new bar tape, cables and a bit of a service will leave you £100’s still in the bank 😀

I find the biggest plus of a new bike is always wanting to ride it more than your old one.

£1300 on a carbon Defy with 105 is what I’d do !

The easy answer to this is no not really

Sadly not nearly as much difference as you might think. A new set of decent tyres would be a worthy upgrade. If you must spend £1200, this is really alloy bike territory for good 11speed. You already have a nice alloy framed bike.

There are plenty of carbon bikes at your price point now, but they are skimping on wheels, tyres and to some extent group set. Nice wheels are always a good upgrade. I’d spend your money there.

Why not buy a nice new frameset, transfer your existing bits over and then upgrade as they wear out? If I only had one roadbike I’d go for Ti I reckon.

Can’t really see the point in spending money on an old bike – I think I might just rock up on my old bike and (try to) shame all the other dads (it’s a charity ride for our school) on their very expensive bikes.

Thank though – it has just saved me quite a bit of money I think.

🙂

EDIT: BTW, the £1200 figure was based on a bike I saw reduced from £1500

You want something shiny to slobber over or interested in getting from A to B faster or in more comfort?

If its the A to B, I’d get a power meter and keep the old bike. Maybe a garmin head unit to plan new routes more easily to keep your head interested.

The new bike itch is strong with this one. I sense this isn’t the last we’ll hear on this matter

❓

I changed bike about a year ago for about £1k and there was a distinct difference.

However I was changing from a 15 year old Carrera alloy frame/fork with upgraded (32 spoke decent hubs, Open Pro rims, decent tyres) to a £1k carbon PX with a nice enough (well, it has carbon cranks) but 10s groupset, saving 2kg or so.

If you like your current bike and you aren’t too worried about it cracking any time soon, stick with it, maybe put some new tyres on or wheels if the rims are in a bit of a state. Ride more and enjoy passing the “better” bikes. Remember you can’t change the engine.

I’d spend 1200 quid on putting a full Ultegra DI2 group, Ultegra tubeless wheels and Schwalbe Pro one tyres onto your existing frame. It’ll be faster, and it’ll have whirry gears!

Then you also have some decent kit to hang on a new frame in a year or so.

Just to throw in a curve ball if you get a new carbon disc bike it will likely have clearance for bigger tyres. I just put some cont gp4000 28s and latex tubes on my Defy and the increase in comfort is very noticeable, takes the edge of bumps and really cuts down on buzz too. Haven’t noticed any reduction in speed at nobber level either

New wheels, drive train,bar tape, tyres etc. To be honest, if you stick at it then treat yourself a few ,000km down the road. If you stop again you then have 2 £1200 alloy bikes you dont use

Buy last years Scott Addict and stop messin’ about!

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Scott-Addict-30-2015-Road-Bike_73146.htm?sku=228883&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google_shopping&gclid=COHFp-PGgs4CFVXNGwodwX8DQQ

I think I might just rock up on my old bike and (try to) shame all the other dads (it’s a charity ride for our school) on their very expensive bikes.

what i did at my schools charity bike ride.Dish out a lot of pain on the first climb.
This is much more a sign of their fitness that it is mine.

While I get upgradeitis for mtbs, I don’t really get it for road bikes. The limiting factor is how fit/fat I am and no amount of shiny is going to change that.

So I keep hacking around on my 6 or 7yr old spesh that just doesn’t seem to wear out. I’ve been through about 8-9 mtbs in that time.

I am looking at doing similar but spending quite a bit more for a Defy Carbon with discs & Ultegra groupset. Spending more gets better wheels as well. Upgrading from my SCR2 (2007) so the defy should be a more comfortable ride to aid me in my advancing years. Can’t really justify it mind you but sometimes you have to scratch the itchI tend to keep stuff for a long time so it should see me ok for a few years

Keep thinking the same about my DeRosa.
It’s a 2006 frame and forks, but it’s like Triggers’ broom… The F&F are the only original bit..
I just keep uograding it..
Maybe next year..

Spend some of the cash on new tyres and tubes and some new smart roadie kit then get out and ride the Allez a lot. Once you’ve got a good few months under your belt go for some test rides if you still have the new bike itch, you’ll be in a much better position to make your own mind up.

I hated my Allez. I’ve never ridden a £1200 carbon road bike, but my more expensive road bikes have always felt so much better. It didn’t necessarily translate to more speed, but they felt better, which IMO counts for just as much.

Tarmac 105 can be had for 1150 or 1050 for a 105 roubaix at the moment in the sale.

11 speed and carbon frame would be a worthwhile upgrade I’d say.

Chain Reaction have some really nice DT Swiss wheels (R24) for just over £100. Total bargain for nice hubs, wide, pre taped tubeless rims and 1700g. Get them and some Schwalbe One tubeless tyres for another £50 and it’ll like a new bike.

You could also get a new other groupset (take off from a new bike or whatever) on eBay – 105 11 speed maybe and you’d be good to go

I have a 2006 Allez and a couple of newer carbon bikes. All my bikes are set up the same handlebars etc.

My first carbon bike was more about motivation, just getting something new gave me the encouragement to put the miles in and loose some weight.

Both bikes are better than the Allez in terms of weight and rigidity but if you are measuring performance by average speed or strava segment it is so overwhelmingly about your power and weight that the marginal difference between a good bike and very good bike will make little difference. The Allez is a lovely bike to ride and probably my favourite bike of all time.

That said I’m about to spring the more than they all cost combined on a new bike just cos its nice and light and purdy.

I recently brought an planetX RT80. I had a merida cyclocross with stans alpha 340 schwalbe tyres.

The RT80 is about 1/2 km quicker. My first ride I beat my usual route by about 4 mins (@over ~ 1:22).

The stiffness of the frame was the first thing all the power from my feet felt like it was going in the wheels.

Also the wheels were heavier but appear to be quicker.
1. More aero
2. Stiffer
3. Probably in better condition.

The bike also seems more aero and rolls better.

I would say if u can afford it get a new one it will be quicker.

Keep the old bike and give the £1200 to the charity??

if you are trying to show up the other parents, surely just a £50 gumtree special, complete with cobwebs, clarkson jeans/shirt combo.

new tyres, brake pads and good breakfast.

gauss1777 – Member
Keep the old bike and give the £1200 to the charity??
POSTED 1 HOUR AGO # REPORT-POST

Do this.

If I did that, wouldn’t I come across as a bit of a knob end show off?

No. I’d be impressed.
Spending £1200 for one ride, when you’ve barely ridden your old bike and have little reason to believe you’d get much use out of the new one, well …

The best approach is to keep the bike, use the £1200 make sure the Allez is in good order cables chain etc, pay for a professional bike fit and maybe buy a new stem as a result of this, and make sure you have decent cycling gear and accessories. You’ll have change left to go towards a nice holiday or something.

I recently bought a spangly new carbon Defy as my 8 yr old Alu Team Boardman was getting past it’s best.

I considered spending some money on the Boardman is very light and nice to ride but decided on buying new after a very long ponder – 12 months or so.

Best decision I’ve made in a long time.
You get new bike syndrome, so get get out more.
The frame and wheels are so much stiffer – I didn’t think I’d notice but it’s like night and day.
It’s a more comfortable ride and more responsive.
Disc brakes – say no more.
It’s lighter.

Mind you buying any bike that is 10 years newer should give a better riding experience (equivalent cost) Technology changes in that time have been massive and you will notice the difference. Whether it’s worth the money is something only you can answer.

I’d agree with Dave more now. I used to spend alot of time keeping my old bikes working / up to date.

But now adays its easier to sell the old one, and get a new one on cycle to work/interest free.

You have to do less maintenance + you just buy a new bike with all the new standards.

Upgrading is such a pain now.

have also been asked to take part in a 100k charity ride for our school with all the other dads

You need to go full MAMIL then 😆

🙂

I do have to say now you mention it, disk brakes on the road is an inciting upgrade.

I’ve always found Tiagra level cantis/STI slightly lacking in power, especially on grim wet grimy days. I replaced my front cantis with with some planet-X superlight ones that performed quite a bit better.

The rest of the stuff doesn’t make much practical difference and just makes you more likely to be the guy on shiny expensive bike getting overtaken by guys on older bikes rather than the other way around. But brake performance is something that might one day be a life saver.

So – the day beckons. I ended up staying with the old bike (and a £20 service) but got myself a few new bits (gloves, helmet, packable waterproof etc). Now time to join the ‘fast’ group on their £5k bikes and Rapha kit…

8)

Let us all know how it goes