When is it time to buy a new bike or invest in the "old" one??

A friend asked me (since I have such superior biking knowledge – sort of) about upgrading her bike in either components or getting a new bike altogether. We have KB (initials to protect the innocent) with a relatively new bike (2 to 3 years old), in good condition (not the best fit) and KB wants to add components for performance (mainly aero-bars). But, she also sees getting a new bike in less than a year. THEN, if you can imagine, the bike store she stopped at for bars recommended either getting a complete bike fit and serious changes to her current rig or getting a new bike altogether now but with less capital you could have next year…

So, the options:
A. Current Ride as is, buy new next year
2. Upgraded Ride with aero-bars, buy new next year
ii. Upgraded Ride with complete bike fit modifications, buy next year, buy much later
z. New Ride, ditch old ride
45. Super New Ride – debt - divorce

What to do… what to do…

Here are a few questions and tips that I sent KB and that you think about yourself:

If you are thinking of the new bike direction now, don't waste money on the fit for the old bike. Make your decision of new bike before pumping any money into the old bike.

What all do you want to do with the bike, what types of rides?
Races?
For fun?
MS 150 and other long tours?

What if you want something for long rides AND racing?

How long do you want to keep the new bike?
5 years?
10?

Do you think you would ever want anything fancier than what you want right now?

Can you live with your bike and add aero bars for this year, save money, and stretch the bike you have out for a little longer?

Here’s some advice I offered from my experiences.

Choose a bike for what you want to use it most if you are going to buy a new bike. However, if you want to buy a tri bike and use it for tours and every day cycling, it won’t work. The setup is such that it would be unsafe to ride around traffic or around other cyclists in tight groups.

If you want comfort on a long tour ride, carbon fiber is the way to go, but you aren't going to get one of those for very cheap. CF is not as rigid and will absorb road imperfections (less shaking on the rump) but you give up some energy into the frame flexure. Carbon fiber also does NOT guarantee the lightest bike. There are some aluminum frames out there that weigh less than CF.

If you are thinking you would get another bike later even after buying a new bike now, keep the one you have and set it up to ride for a couple of seasons until you have saved up enough for your dream rig, unless it’s $10,000. In that case, don’t buy that bike unless you’re a pro or have sponsors! =) Don’t waste your time and money going through multiple bikes (sales tax, resale, etc).

If you have to buy a lesser bike now since you would buy earlier than planned, don’t buy it now. Set up the existing bike minimally to get you to next year and stick with your plan. Buying a $1000 bike instead of that $2000 bike you really wanted since you didn’t have all your chickens hatched will leave you with buyers’ remorse!!

Make sure to shop the right time of year. EVERYONE wants a new bike in spring and demand is high, so bike stores don’t need deep discounts to get buyers in. Also, getting a new bike that’s a year earlier in model can save you BIG BUCKS. That’s how I got my new bikes… without going broke and getting a divorce.

Now if money is now object… I recommend one of each of the following along with the top of the line road and tri bike:

WHEELS

AERO BARS

HELMETS

If you have enough left over, I’d like double your order, please!

KB is still in the midst of deciding what to do, but we shall see if my sage advice makes a difference or if she goes AWAL and does something completely different.

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