2muchroad

I'm saying the likelihood of structural failure is greater.

Even straight out of the factory, there may be quality or material aberrations that can lead to problems later on.

I'm speaking in terms of MTB riding though. If you're on trails or courses often enough you'll encounter people with frame issues almost regularly.

With road bikes it's a different story. In that case I'd agree that there is only very little risk of failure and even if it does happen, the consequences probably won't be catastrophic.

What was it in particular that broke on the aluminium frames and what were you doing with them lol?
People in California with a weed card have done more to reduce the national debt than Biden could in 8 years.
Are you riding those super expensive bikes or are they hanging on a wall? If I spent over 5K on a bike I'd probably make sure it's rare, hang it on a wall and sell it for double in a couple years.

What's the manufacturing date on those again? They look immaculate, the red one in particular. Rims, spokes, paint and even the branding looks fresh. Probably kept them in a hyperbolic chamber.

Trakhak

Bike Forums tends to be a hyperbolic chamber.

BillyD

Truth.

Bob Ross

Well, right now one of them is indeed hanging on the wall, another one is leaning against the wall below that, and the third one is still at Joe Bell's shop getting repainted. But in about an hour I will be riding the one that is currently hanging on the wall. They all get ridden regularly; a week doesn't go by where I don't put some miles on every bike I own.

That seems like the stupidest way to acquire wealth or wall-worthy art. You do know there are much better investments than "rare" bicycles, right? ...and that even the best investments rarely "double in a couple years".
Sounds like you're just looking for an argument.

DangerousDanR

I have read the claims for the wave pattern wheels, but like you said, I am far too cheap to replace a one year old wheel set.
Also, I regularly ride in strong cross winds and I haven't had any issues with the Winspace wheels.

2muchroad

What would be your max amount that you're willing to pay for a new road bike? Also, are there any particular parts that you swear by and can't go without?

Probably just training to defeat Cell.
Who said anything about acquiring wealth? I know it won't make you rich, I've been selling bikes for a while. Thank you, there I was investing in Pinarello when Amazon was right there and now it won't even double next year. Relax, it's just hyperbole.
Also, calling something you made up "the stupidest..." is probably a better way of starting an argument.

Koyote

Agreed.

Oh, I've got nothing against aluminum. But the alu Tourmalet frame was not great.

Bob Ross

The guy who wrote:

2muchroad

Yeah, that's profit.

The word wealth has some additional connotations which I didn't mean to imply.

Also, "selling for double" is a hyperbolic phrase which you're still choosing to understand literally.

Anyway, that's fine. Thanks for your contribution and my apologies if I was unclear.

BillyD

Shelby ….

Steve B.

I just spent $5500 on a 2023 Trek Emonda SL7. It was a very good price for an Ultegra Di2 equipped bike with carbon wheels. It replaces a Chinese open mold carbon that I got for $358 (frame) about 9 years ago and that held up and has seen near 9,000 miles, so good value. Thing is, the Emonda is a much better riding bike, much smoother and more comfortable ride over road imperfections and the like. A combo of better designed frame, carbon wheels, bar and seat post. I enjoy finding this bike much more, and as it’s more modern I will run 28mm tubeless tires that means less air pressure and an even better ride.

So sometimes you get what you pay for.

2muchroad

Very nice, the SL7 ones are sick. I was able to try an SL5 out briefly and the feeling was amazing. How has electronic shifting been so far, noticing anything different?

I just bought the Emonda ALR 5 used for 600€. I originally wanted to do a build with just the 2023 frame, but this 2018 version still had the 300 Alpha Aluminium Frame with carbon fork weighing 2kg so I thought wth.
I'm currently upgrading the wheelset (Lamda Carbon Competition Series), crank, saddle and stem. When it's all done I'm looking to resell it.
Here is a shoop of just the carbon wheelset on the stock frame, I like the darker grey. With the carbon crank and saddle the whole thing will be <9kg and about 900€ in total expenses. I was going for minimum investment and maximum resell value on this project and I think it could do ok.



But of course the carbon frame lamda previewed them with and similar color scheme the wheels just pop different.

Steve B.

[QUOTE=2muchroad;23232874]Very nice, the SL7 ones are sick. I was able to try an SL5 out briefly and the feeling was amazing. How has electronic shifting been so far, noticing anything different?

Nothing different, I had a Chinese carbon that had 11 spd Di2 installed, as well as a mt bike with XT Di2 so am familiar with the system.

2muchroad

[QUOTE=Steve B.;23232891]Everybody who bought it loves it, there doesn't seem to be much complaining. Battery life is apparently a non-issue so I'm sold if I can find a really good deal.
The bike/frame I'm about to buy actually comes with Ultegra R8150 Di2, but the seller wants to get rid of it separately.
I love the frame design of the 2023 model, but tomorrow I'm checking out (and probably getting) a used Trek Madone SLR 7 Gen6 frame for 1,300€.
It appears to be in good condition, but these lazybones don't even clean their bikes for pictures anymore.
For wheels I'll go with a set of Roval CLX60 Carbon, already got the seller lined up. Total is probably gonna be around 2,000€ including residuals and weight about 7 - 8kg.

Eric F 

This might interest you...

You're still guessing about stuff.

Eric F 

Ummm...wut? What isn't clean?

tomato coupe

You’re just flipping bikes — isn’t cleaning them something you can do?

2muchroad

The Madone is gonna be my personal bike, I'm not reselling this one, most likely. I mean once it's finished I'll still put in an ad for about 2.6 - 3K just in case. If somebody buys it fine, but I'll be riding it constantly until somebody does.

shelbyfv

I expect we'd all be interested in what you think about it when you are able to actually put a leg over a road bike.

tomato coupe

Riding bikes doesn’t seem to be high on the list of priorities.

shelbyfv

Maybe the new bike will be enough encouragement to make the leap.

2muchroad

I rode the ALR 5 a bit before disassembly, but I'm trying to keep this one fresh because it's in very good condition with practically no miles on it. Can't risk a scratch if I wanna sell it like new.

I did keep track of my time and output though. It's a bikeway that I've done many times on a MTB and the difference is impressive. Strain gauges are pretty old but should still work.

Ubie

In response to the thread title question:

2001 Trek 2200
Bike cost: $19.50
Shipping + tax: $180.00
Tune up: $123.00 Including new brake cables, Kool stop pads, bar tape and water bottle bolts
Fabric Scoop Radius Pro Saddle: $91 (actually free due to REI dividends)
Ultegra pedals: $110
2x Planet Bike water bottles: $16
Topeak underseat bag: $21
Garmin knock off mount: $9
Garmin HRM: $54 (free, REI)
Garmin speed/cadence bundle: $54 (free, REI)
Topeak Hexus X, Planet Bike CO2 head, tube: $35

rsbob 

a tune-up for $123 is ridiculously cheap. I paid nearly 3X on my Bianchi. They thoroughly cleaned the entire bike, checked all the bearings, trued the wheels, replaced pads, dialed in the shifting, new Ultegra chain and replaced a GP 5000 on a spare rim with new sealant. May have to check out REI next time. Been a member for decades.

Jrasero

Ridiculously cheap no, but a great value yeah. Cables maybe $25 max. Pads $8. New tape $15-$40. New water bottle bolts sub $10 easily. Thus max that's $83 and that's if the splurged on a really high end set of bar tape, thus if the tuneup was just a basic run of the mill one $123 isn't insane