cwilly8

I still own every road bike I ever bought -- total of four since 1994. With the latest purchase, I need to get rid of at least one:

• 1988 Mangusta 5000 - Aluminum composite frame, came with down-tube shifters but has been upgraded to 8-speed Ultegra STI.
• 1999 Litespeed Classic - Titanium frame, Dura-Ace 9-speed components, carbon fork, Mavic Open Pro wheels.
• 2010 Fuji SL LE Pro - Carbon frame, Ultegra 10-speed components, Reynolds Solitude wheels.
• 2017 Fuji SL 3.2 - Carbon frame, Ultegra 11-speed components, internal cables.

At 63, I'm approaching middle age. I expect to ride more now that I'm retired (strictly recreational and fitness riding). Annual mileage was about 800 to 1500 miles before retirement, but has been 3000 for the last two years.

The Mangusta is my basement trainer bike, and it will probably keep that role.
The Litespeed has that great titanium feel -- silky smooth. Has about 15,000 miles on it.
The 2010 Fuji is in great shape with less than 7,000 miles. New cables and bottom bracket in 2017.
The 2017 Fuji is brand new and need minor tweaks before its inaugural ride. Mail-order bike at closeout price!

I guess the decision comes down to keeping the Litespeed or the 2010 Fuji. Considerations are marketability of the bike I don't keep and upgrade options for the one I do. And I should mention that I'm keeping a "backup" bike to ride when the new bike is out of service for maintenance and for iffy weather rides.

Opinions (and reasoning) are appreciated.

CliffordK

Hmmm.. tough decision.

I'm assuming the 2017 Fuji is the "new" bike... or is another one coming?

You could probably use the Litespeed on the trainer, and keep it as the "spare".

You'll probably take a beating on the value of the 2010 Fuji, but perhaps this spring would be a good time to sell it.

kbarch

I wouldn't have gotten the new Fuji in the first place. Not that there's anything wrong with it, but other than being shinier and newer, just not sure how much it improved the options provided by your stable. Now that you have it....
The Ti bike is the kind of bike a lot of folks who know a thing or two about bikes have for their ONLY bike, isn't it? That would be the last one I'd get rid of.
I wouldn't be too concerned over the marketability of the older Fuji - it's just the first one I'd ditch.

Maelochs

And everything else in this post---Right on.

Selling a Litespeed is a really good idea---for whoever buys it. That would be the kind of sale you'd regret for the rest of your life.

The trainer/back-up bike could be the same bike.

The new Fuji is just like the old Fuji but seven years newer. Every bit of it has benefited from several seasons of research and design. Keep the best components from the old Fuji and dump it.

Never buy a bike with an eye for resale value. Unless it is literally a collector's edition (an one-in-a-numbered-series special edition) every bike loses two thirds of its value in two years. Your 2017 Fuji? End of this year I will get the same deal on a 2018 Fuji with 80000 Ultegra and maybe electronic shifting .... or a much better deal on any leftover 2017.

Sell the 2010 Fuji. There will be someone who thinks about it seriously and balances older but still very high-quality components, and old but hopefully cared-for CF frame---probably heavier and less compliant than the 2017 frame, but still a top-tier frame in its day---versus his/her Actual needs (not a racer, not buying an ego-supporter) and will pay a Fair price for a bike you really don't want any more.

You get the a Litespeed---a classic, and probably a bike whose ride qualities you will appreciate more every day you ride it as you continue to age and take longer rides---and an excellent modern CF sport bike.

The 1988 Mangusta really is a "classic" which means you will take a beating on price and the seller will get a huge value. if yo don't ride it a lot, go ahead and sell it to some C&V person. Otherwise, it is like any well-maintained antique vehicle---fun to ride on its own merits, a tie to the past, and in this case, an old friend, since you are the original owner.

Just one person's opinion.

@kbarch said it all better in far fewer words, but I am using this post as a way to keep from logging in to an online meeting .... sorry to abuse you.

jitteringjr

I'd ditch the oldest one and relegate one of the others to trainer duty if it were me.

noodle soup

At 63, you are way past middle age.

Sorry to be the one that broke it to you.

rpenmanparker 

I don't disagree with the above, especially the good advice about keeping the Litespeed. But I would suggest you ask yourself one more question: Would the answer to which bike to sell change if they were all in absolutely up-to-date, totally modernized condition including carbon threadless forks and 11-speed components? I'm not sure what to do with the answer to that question, but it might shed a little light on what each bike means to you and what you would want from it.

Here is what I would do: sell the 2010 Fuji. Have the Mangusta repainted with original decals and outfitted with a carbon threadless fork and the latest components including very light wheels. No reason you should not experience that bike out on the road with today's features. Except for the paint do the same with the Litespeed. Oh my, what a stable that would be. You will love the vintage frames with carbon forks, modern components and light wheels.

raria

Right. Don't sell it or sell it to me.

Not if he lives to 120. Maybe he's thinking positively!

Seattle Forrest

I don't have any great advice for you, but I loved this.

Personally, I'd get rid of the oldest bike, and then put the Litespeed on trainer duty, and also ride it outside when the mood struck.

Maelochs

I say take the Route of Penmanparker---sell the 2010 Fuji and update the Mangusta and Litespeed.

The Litespeed .... no need to say more. The Mangusta ... unless it is beat and the lowest model they made, it is a classic worthy of appreciation.

An 8-year-old Fuji is almost the definition of "meh."

By the way ... what is the trainer bike?

CliffordK

If you have the space, you could keep them all for a year, then see which bike is covered with the most dust.

For example, you might discover that you use the 2010 Fuji for commuting, and leave the 2017 Fuji for group rides.

Winter, Foul Weather Bike?

Of course, you may well lose momentum, and find yourself keeping them all.

diphthong

that litespeed is trash. dump it immediately. if it's a 58 or 59, i'll dispose of it for you free of charge.

bikejrff

I feel I am unqualified to give you advice on this subject. I turned 60 in November and I don't want to live until age 120 either.

99Klein 

All my life I wanted a Fuji, then I bought one... I could part with them easily enough. The Lightspeed has got to stay. Just my 2cents.

aplcr0331

I think it's one of those "I'm 63 years young" type things. About as bad as the MILF's on Facebook saying "40 is the new 30!" while they ignore their family and drink the entire bottle of Yellow Tail.

cwilly8

Excellent thoughts, everyone. Yeah, I was being optimistic about "approaching middle age." But optimism is better than the other attitudes!

For many of the reasons cited, I plan to sell the 2010 Fuji.

The Mangusta 5000 frame is in excellent condition -- original paint is in very good shape. The Litespeed frame is also in great shape, except for decal deterioration. I think both of these are keepers. Plus, I have an attachment to both of them -- first bike and first "nice" bike, respectively.

Being in a small town with no LBS conveniently close, I do all of my own maintenance and upgrades. To bring the Mangusta and Litespeed up to date would require more than my meager skills, but at least the option would be available.

The new Fuji was a deal "too good to pass up," in my opinion - $997 delivered.

dmcdam

Good call. The 2010 Fuji probably doesn't do anything better or different than the 2017. The others all are more unique and that counts for something.

CliffordK

I thought cycling was supposed to be the Fountain of Youth.

Wasn't there a 105 year old cyclist, Robert Marchand, in the news recently, still doing Time Trials... And still riding.

Maelochs

Nah ... he was 106.

This poster .... trying to put on a air of false maturity talking about "almost middle-aged." Sit down and grow up, youngster. When you hit 80 we will talk about "middle age."



You got to admire him trying, though.

gettingold

I'm partial to titanium. Keep the Litespeed.

jitteringjr

I'm pretty sure that's a given, based on feedback so far. It's a matter of which of the other two older ones he should give up; or really how much the nostalgia of the Mangusta means to the OP.

noodle soup

Keep the Litespeed, and use the proceeds from the sale of the other bikes for an Ultegra 6800 groupset + 11speed compatible wheels.

texaspandj

According to Google he's still middle-age. Defined as 45 -65 years of age.
I thought he was just being funny. However, since science has the capability to grow new ears ,nose, kidneys from stem cells, perhaps 150 will be middle-age, that is when we can live to be 200. "I plan on living forever, so far so good".

noodle soup

When 120 is a normal lifespan, 63 is middle-age.

Maelochs

He is sneaking up on middle age from behind, to surprise it.

And, he rides some nice bikes.