Helderberg

I am looking at the possibility of adding a second bike, it is a better version/model than the one I currently ride. I have a Quick 7 and am looking to add a Quick 3 disc, but why? I have looked at other brands and I do not see a reason to change that as the quality and fit of the Cannondale bike is very good for me, that said the lure of better components is very tempting. To answer the obvious question, I can not ride a road bike and have no intention to ride trails so a MTB is not on the table either. I like the quasi road bike set up of the Quick line but have my doubts that I would ever go back to riding the 7 if I owned the 3. Trying to talk myself out of spending money on something I do not need so I guess I am looking for a reason to have both. I also have the option of just upgrading all the components on the 7 and, except for the brakes, make my own 3. Truth be told I ride about 15 miles a ride, one or two times a week with 10 mile rides in between. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Frank.

bruce19

And, so it begins.

Retro Grouch 

What do you expect a bicycle to do for you?

It's hard to quantify the value of "fun". If you think that a new bike will be more fun, and you can afford to buy it without affecting your lifestyle, why not?

Check out my signature line.

MRT2

The truth is, for the riding you do, your current bike is more than adequate. On the other hand, if money is burning a hole in your pocket, then who am I to tell you no. My only concern would be, the Quick 3 isn't enough of an upgrade to justify the expense. Maybe get a few years of riding under your belt and revisit the issue.

Maelochs

To me the only sensible course of action would be to buy the Quick 3 and sell the Quick 7. As you say, it would be unlikely that you would ever ride the 7 once you had the 3.

The main reasons for having two bikes (besides having two bikes) is so that if one is down, the other is up, and to do different things. it doesn't seem like you ride hard enough to frequently break your bike, so the first reason doesn't really apply, and you like one type of riding, so the second reason doesn't apply.

Getting a better bike is a great idea ... it will do everything just a tiny bit better, and it will be new, so whatever might be worn on the old bike, won't be.

So get the 3 ... but sell the 7, or donate it to a good cause.

​​​​​​​If you think you are worth a better bike, you are. And someone else could benefit from the good bike you would be setting free. Win/win.

daoswald

I would sell the 7 and buy the 3 if you really wanted upgraded components, and if the rest of the bike were meeting your needs. I don't think you'll ever use the 7 again.

If there's some other aspect of cycling you're not venturing into because your Quick-series bike doesn't fit that use-case well, then it's time to get a second bike. But two of virtually the same bike, targeting the same use cases... that's not necessary unless you've already filled the other niches and are just looking for a back up bike if the primary is in the shop.

Helderberg

Thank you all for your honest and thoughtful answers. My 7 is only about three months old so the parts are hardly worn. In this area the hills are impossible to escape unless I take the bike elsewhere to ride so I don't get in a lot of miles. The information I have taken away from the posts is what I thought to myself but did not want to admit. In my case, at age 70, a better bike is just a bike I will never extract the benefit of with my riding. I am not exactly suffering with my 7 so I think I will save the money and just go ride the darn thing. I find it a great escape and extremely relaxing to just be on the road, by myself, moving forward.
Thanks again to all of you for your honesty and for not just writing my obvious question off. It is much appreciated.
Frank.

MRT2

A sensible approach. 3 months is barely broken in. Guessing you don't even have 1,000 miles on the bike yet. Ride it a few years and you will get a sense of if you want, or need another bike. If you buy a decent bike, and I think your 7 counts as a decent bike, you should be able to get 5 to 10 years out of it without a major overhaul.

Flip Flop Rider

have a rain bike and a good weather bike

davester

Blasphemy! I believe that actively discouraging another member from acquiring additional bikes is a violation of the forum terms of service, punishable by banning. You'd better be careful what you say next!

Maelochs

A sensible upgrade might be a Wolf's Tooth derailleur hanger extender and a 42-tooth rear cog.

bobwysiwyg

Err, you forgot the smiley.. right? 😁

davester

Guilty as charged. Seems obvious to me, but sometimes humor doesn't come across as such on the internets.

Helderberg

Thanks again all.
Frank.

daoswald

It's too soon to sell that bike. Keep it!

Where I live, I cannot ride anywhere without hills. It takes time to build up hill climbing legs and a cardiovascular fitness to go along with them. I know how it can be. If I go from my home east 9 miles I go from 5000 feet to 9600 feet of elevation. If I go west four miles I drop 800-900 feet. If I go north or south I'm immediately in the midst of rolling hills. My 20 mile nightly ride has about 1400 feet of elevation gain. These aren't huge numbers (well, except when I go east), but they're enough that there's no such thing as an easy ride close to home. But with practice it gets better.

If your Quick 7 is not enabling you to enjoy riding near where you live consider swapping out the rear cassette to one that provides a larger gear range. The Quick-7 comes with a Shimano CS-HG31 8-speed cassette in an 11-32 range. For under $20 you could buy the 11-34 version of that rear cassette, and pay your local bike shop a few bucks to install it. You may need a longer chain to accommodate the extra two teeth. The gear ratio of your current 28/32 is 0.88 (28 tooth small chainring in front, 32 tooth rear cog). The gear ratio of 28/34 is 0.82. There is a difference there -- not a huge difference, but enough that you'll feel some relief on the steeper hills. For under $50 total you could possibly expand your local riding range and give yourself enough relief that you'll be able to ride close to home on a more frequent basis, which is the beginning of getting better at hills.

irwin7638

Marc

treebound 

Shimagnolo

John E

I find a stable of five bicycles to be adequate:
mountain bike
transportation beater with rear rack and panniers
fast road bike
road touring bike
classic perennial project bike

Wildwood 

Classtime 

tagaproject6

I despise sensible. Having only one bike is unnatural
My sensible old self says "sell the 7 and get the 3 if you must insist on having only one bike. It's just nice to treat yourself once in a while

Dave Cutter

Assuming that the kids won't go hungry.... or utilities won't be disconnected.... get the bike. Maybe take the time to test ride... a step-up better yet... bike.

There is lots of comfort in having a back-up, spare, rain bike. Bikes do break, need parts, get damaged in wrecks, or even get stolen. And it's always nice to have a rain/snow/foul weather, and a "the street department has every road in my area under construction"... bike. Assuming of course... you have room for 2 bikes.

Terex

My wife had a Quick (I forget which model) and it constantly needed the brakes and derailleur adjusted. If your bike stays solid on the adjustments, it will probably be fine.

JanMM

Gotta have a Backup Bike.