BasicJim

I have been working on the Mrs. for a while and I think I have her convinced that if I get below 200# (a long way off), I need a new bike. This seems like good incentive for me and she want's me to be alive for the kids graduation from High School, so she likes it as a carrot.

I think I can get her to agree to about a $3000 bike.

Just curious, what would you get if you had $3000 laying around and needed to get a new bike?

I am riding an entry level Trek 1000 right now and it's been a decent bike. I am holding it back, it's not holding me back. At 200#, I could actually start looking at LIGHT components rather than ones that can stand my weight. I'd love an Orca, but that's 5 bills and I can't swing that!!



Jim

EKW in DC

Personally, I'd get an LHT, custom front wheel w/ dynohub, great lighting, some top of the line racks and panniers, maybe a Brooks saddle, and a bunch of other random accessories. I'd use whatever $ I had leftover to finance a longer tour or I'd spend it on something for my wife to thank her for letting me spend so much $$$! But that's just me. I'm a commuter and budding touring cyclist. Sounds like you have different priorities.

Good luck getting down to 200 and have fun w/ the new bike whatever you get. Ride the heck out of it!

TrojanHorse

https://www.spectrum-cycles.com/

https://waterfordbikes.com/now/home.p...ommand=showall

Get a custom steel or Ti bike... now THAT would be a reward. I'm not sure what the exact pricing would be, but it's really attractive when you compare it to some of those carbon bikes out there.

Neil_B

I'd upgrade parts on my current bikes and go for a long tour.

CliftonGK1

I'd get a Boxer lugged frame/fork and transfer my current components.

cyccommute 

Expand your horizons. Rather than buy another road bike, find another bike to drool over. Get a commuter bike. Get a mountain bike. Get a touring bike (and go wandering on it). Life's too short to spend it on only one kind of riding.

wild animals

Pretty much. Or I'd get a Rivendell Atlantis frame and build it up as I could. I'd really love a Rivendell Atlantis.

But I think I am to the point where I need to get a recumbent or other crank-forward bike to feel comfortable, so that's what I'd really get. I don't know enough about them to have a dream model yet, but a Greenspeed or ICE Trike would be rad.

Pamestique 

Something custom... I would stay away from the stock brands Trek and Specialized - they make good bikes but they are very overpriced. And paying $5000 for an Orbea? Foolish when for $3500 - 4500 you can get a custom Ti bike (maybe alittle more if you opt for pricy wheels).

Pamestique 

BTW in 3 weeks (I think) I will be picking up my first custom bike - a Landshark. The builder (John Slawta) is painting it this week (customer paint design - very cool). I have my own wheels (Chris King hubs/Mavic rims) and some of the components (10 speed Ultegra) but will be adding a new crank (Dura Ace) and rear derailleur and cassette (Sram - mountain bike gearing because I weill use the bike touring) - the entire bike will end up costing me around $4300. It will most likely last me a lifetime. I just hope I am still riding! This is my reward for riding over 35 years!

colombo357

The only thing "foolish" here is imposing your own opinions on others while calling the opposition foolish.

Brightwork

If you'd love an Orca, just hunt for a deal on a demo/last years model. Some good deals out there. I looked at an Orca this week that was discounted by almost $2k. Sweet ride, but wrong size for me.

Pamestique 

I apologize - you are right... I use much too strong language to express my views. I should have said It doesn't make sense to me to pay that sort of money when one can get a custom bike for less.

Mr. Beanz

Myself, I'd spend $2,000 and spend the other $1000 on my wife. That's only if my bikes were broken and I needed another. MY current bikes were less than $2000 and they are more than fine for my style.

Anything over $2,000 would be too much bike for my abilities. Honeslty, after sitting on a $2000 bike for a hundred miles wouldn't feel much different than sitting on a $3000 bike for a hundred miles after I add my favorite seat and build my favorite wheels for the bike.

Pamestique 

Beanz you are right - my Lemond Zurich (which I bought in 2002 for around $1700) has been a good bike and well suited for my abilities - it is foolish of me to buy the new bike - I seldom spend on myself like that. I don't have a new car (mine's 14 years old), I don't have new electronics (no flat screen TV yet, an old, slow computer), I have no fancy jewelry or clothes... this is it, my one indulgence. No doubt I will regret the money at some point.

canopus 

Mercian Vincitore. Using my components.

Mr. Beanz

No, not foolish, rewarding! I'm just the type of guy that feels good on just about any decent quality product. I don't care about the brand or color of my bike, as long as I keep it running smoothly. I feel more the physical workout of my legs spinning, the wind in my ears, the rider's high type elements of riding.

But I can see why another rider would want the personal aspect of a custom made bike. The smoothness of the steel or carbon, the personal paint scheme. Nothing foolish about that. Just like I said, I don't know if my bike is yellow or orange once I start riding.

I'm one of them simple dudes. Lay me down a blanket in the sand, rub suntan oil on me, blindfold me and I won't know if I'm at Huntington Beach or in Hawaii! Either way, I wouldn't care!

Pamestique 

So how old are your cars? You must have some vices....

Tom Stormcrowe

Pam, his sole vice is chasing Mrs Beanz with a camera.

Pamestique 

At least it's Mrs. Beanz and not some other cute little thing's booty. I say that's a good thing!

TrojanHorse

It's not so much that... but why lay out wads of cash for an off-the-shelf frame that only comes in 3 sizes when you can get exactly what you want *for less money*.

I'm riding on a 20-25 year old Ti frame with no decals... if it weren't for the crappy square taper BB I'd probably keep riding on it for the next 25 years too.

CliftonGK1

You know you can replace that, right?

Tom Stormcrowe

Get the bike that makes your heart race, not from effort, but from LUST!

Mr. Beanz

I drive a 2001 Chevy Silverado shortbed, original owner. My thing is to keep things nice for as long as possible. Plenty of people think my tuck is new even after 9 years. Wel lthat was until about a month ago in the rain. I told Gina to take my truck to work since she drives the fwy and figured it would be safer if some "dummy" was to lose control and hit her (She drives a Neon). Guess what!

She did a solo spin on the fwy and hit my bumper against a guardrail! You can see where it separated the black cover from the front bumper. Thank goodness it was only the corner of the bumper!...that's it, now I'm going to be in a bad mood alll day!

I took it in for a recal on the tailgate cables couple years back. The service person was shocked that I had no dings or dents.

That's my thang, taking car of my thangs! Other riders think my 1998 tandem is still new.



My Poor bumper!

CliftonGK1

You can take the UBI framebuilding course and ride a custom you built yourself!

Mr. Beanz

Ya guys got me!.....Mrs Beanz plays dingy at times but let's just say, a smart woman does not need to worry about her man wandering!