To splurge or not
#1
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To splurge or not
I don;t have any tours planned for the near future that are likely to warrant a new bike purchase. I really don't expect to do anything before the fall at the soonest and that is likely to be less than two weeks long on one of my 30+ year old bikes (by choice).
My next month long or multi month trip, assuming I manage another one at my age, I had thought I might treat myself to a nice carbon fiber gravel bike with high end components. Then I looked at the spec for the various models... I have always been fond of Cannondale bikes so I tended to look there. Splurging for something $4k or more didn't seem out of the question, but looking at the specs for the alloy models that might be less than half that I have to wonder if they wouldn't be as good as or maybe even a better fit for the task at hand. Some of the Topstone alloy choices look like a pretty good fit for my needs and a budget price. It looks very versatile, but many of my needs seem to be in a sweet spot for it.
My next month long or multi month trip, assuming I manage another one at my age, I had thought I might treat myself to a nice carbon fiber gravel bike with high end components. Then I looked at the spec for the various models... I have always been fond of Cannondale bikes so I tended to look there. Splurging for something $4k or more didn't seem out of the question, but looking at the specs for the alloy models that might be less than half that I have to wonder if they wouldn't be as good as or maybe even a better fit for the task at hand. Some of the Topstone alloy choices look like a pretty good fit for my needs and a budget price. It looks very versatile, but many of my needs seem to be in a sweet spot for it.
#2
Hooked on Touring
Ya only go around twice.
If you got the bucks, why not spend a few?
My brother is a money hoarder and my sister-in-law has always said to him,
"When you die, I'm gonna stuff your coffin with $100 bills and bury you with it all!"
She's right.
If you got the bucks, why not spend a few?
My brother is a money hoarder and my sister-in-law has always said to him,
"When you die, I'm gonna stuff your coffin with $100 bills and bury you with it all!"
She's right.
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Also I look at the choices I do question how much more I'll enjoy an almost $5k CF gravel bike than one that is about half that from the same line in alloy.
#4
Miles to Go
How about spending less on the aluminum bike, and use the rest for the trip?
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#5
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I don;t have any tours planned for the near future that are likely to warrant a new bike purchase. I really don't expect to do anything before the fall at the soonest and that is likely to be less than two weeks long on one of my 30+ year old bikes (by choice).
My next month long or multi month trip, assuming I manage another one at my age, I had thought I might treat myself to a nice carbon fiber gravel bike with high end components. Then I looked at the spec for the various models... I have always been fond of Cannondale bikes so I tended to look there. Splurging for something $4k or more didn't seem out of the question, but looking at the specs for the alloy models that might be less than half that I have to wonder if they wouldn't be as good as or maybe even a better fit for the task at hand. Some of the Topstone alloy choices look like a pretty good fit for my needs and a budget price. It looks very versatile, but many of my needs seem to be in a sweet spot for it.
My next month long or multi month trip, assuming I manage another one at my age, I had thought I might treat myself to a nice carbon fiber gravel bike with high end components. Then I looked at the spec for the various models... I have always been fond of Cannondale bikes so I tended to look there. Splurging for something $4k or more didn't seem out of the question, but looking at the specs for the alloy models that might be less than half that I have to wonder if they wouldn't be as good as or maybe even a better fit for the task at hand. Some of the Topstone alloy choices look like a pretty good fit for my needs and a budget price. It looks very versatile, but many of my needs seem to be in a sweet spot for it.
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
The Topstone aluminum now has a GPX group I believe and simply one of the best bikes (mines a 105 group) I've owned in 30 years. I tend to use my road wheels/tires and ride asphalt, its a great regular road bike. I'm less impressed with the carbon Topstone which has a funky rear suspension and which has its rear wheels in an odd dish to make the wheel fit the rear with the suspension. Thats a bit funky for me, though folks owning them on the Topstone FB page love them. If I were looking at a carbon gravel, I would look at a more traditional design.
Great to hear from a happy owner.
#7
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#8
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#9
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#10
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#11
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Thread Starter
I'll have to be careful about the wheel spec. Needing to use proprietary wheels would be a bad thing to find out about after the purchase.
#13
Senior Member
Yeah, being raised by frugal parents who lived thru the depression is a blessing and a curse. On one hand I have managed to retire comfortably, on the other I tend to be too cheap to fully enjoy that.
Also I look at the choices I do question how much more I'll enjoy an almost $5k CF gravel bike than one that is about half that from the same line in alloy.
Also I look at the choices I do question how much more I'll enjoy an almost $5k CF gravel bike than one that is about half that from the same line in alloy.
the gearing and components are the same.
you'll be able to switch/replace wheelsets easily.
it's a difference of what.............a pound?...big deal.
at our age shaving off a little weight on the frame is pointless.
BUT......paying double will keep you awake at night.
you'll be regretting paying the extra $2k for no tangible benefit.
you'll be concerned that weird rear wheel might not be replaceable/repairable in the field.
you'll be worried some baddie might steal your expensive ride.
and most importantly.........................
you'll be concerned that at any moment your hi-tek crabon bike might assplode!
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
then buy the alloy version.
the gearing and components are the same.
you'll be able to switch/replace wheelsets easily.
it's a difference of what.............a pound?...big deal.
at our age shaving off a little weight on the frame is pointless.
BUT......paying double will keep you awake at night.
you'll be regretting paying the extra $2k for no tangible benefit.
you'll be concerned that weird rear wheel might not be replaceable/repairable in the field.
you'll be worried some baddie might steal your expensive ride.
and most importantly.........................
you'll be concerned that at any moment your hi-tek crabon bike might assplode!
the gearing and components are the same.
you'll be able to switch/replace wheelsets easily.
it's a difference of what.............a pound?...big deal.
at our age shaving off a little weight on the frame is pointless.
BUT......paying double will keep you awake at night.
you'll be regretting paying the extra $2k for no tangible benefit.
you'll be concerned that weird rear wheel might not be replaceable/repairable in the field.
you'll be worried some baddie might steal your expensive ride.
and most importantly.........................
you'll be concerned that at any moment your hi-tek crabon bike might assplode!
I am a weight weenie when it comes to my gear, sweating the ounces or even fractional ounces. The thing is that for some reason I never got that obsessive about worrying about the ounces on the bike itself other than maybe in the tires (and tubes if any) and to a lesser extent wheels. I think that is because much of the gear weight reduction is done by leaving stuff home and the rest was done mostly without buying too much super expensive gear. I managed to get the weight way down with no cuben fiber and not much super high tech stuff.
FWIW, the worry that a cf frame would "assplode" isn't something that would keep me awake at night.
#15
Senior Member
I think I am fairly likely to go that way if I do buy a gravel bike. I do feel like I miss out on the feeling of indulging myself with a really nice bike though.
I am a weight weenie when it comes to my gear, sweating the ounces or even fractional ounces. The thing is that for some reason I never got that obsessive about worrying about the ounces on the bike itself other than maybe in the tires (and tubes if any) and to a lesser extent wheels. I think that is because much of the gear weight reduction is done by leaving stuff home and the rest was done mostly without buying too much super expensive gear. I managed to get the weight way down with no cuben fiber and not much super high tech stuff.
FWIW, the worry that a cf frame would "assplode" isn't something that would keep me awake at night.
I am a weight weenie when it comes to my gear, sweating the ounces or even fractional ounces. The thing is that for some reason I never got that obsessive about worrying about the ounces on the bike itself other than maybe in the tires (and tubes if any) and to a lesser extent wheels. I think that is because much of the gear weight reduction is done by leaving stuff home and the rest was done mostly without buying too much super expensive gear. I managed to get the weight way down with no cuben fiber and not much super high tech stuff.
FWIW, the worry that a cf frame would "assplode" isn't something that would keep me awake at night.
so don't indulge by buying an unecessary crabon frame, put your bucks to use with a new lightweight high-quality bike-a-packin' bag system, or maybe that upgraded gps unit you've been droolin' over.
#16
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If you buy the latest and greatest now, what's to say that you won't have that itch again (for the new latest and greatest) when your next really long tour comes up? Not saying you shouldn't do it though.
#17
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Yes, there is always that. OTOH, once I buy a bike I typically am happy with it for a decade or three
#18
Senior Member
Thread Starter
wheels and tires is where it's at. rotating mass is what saps the greatest energy to move.
so don't indulge by buying an unecessary crabon frame, put your bucks to use with a new lightweight high-quality bike-a-packin' bag system, or maybe that upgraded gps unit you've been droolin' over.
so don't indulge by buying an unecessary crabon frame, put your bucks to use with a new lightweight high-quality bike-a-packin' bag system, or maybe that upgraded gps unit you've been droolin' over.
#19
Senior Member
you need to compare the difference of rotational mass against the whole system weight. Getting 500g off a 2500g tire and wheel combo may seem like a lot. However added or removed 500g in tire and rim compared against say, 90kg of total system mass is practically a difference of almost nothing. And it needs to be emphasized that the difference of rotational vs static mass is present only during acceleration.
Tires on the other hand can have a huge effect due to rolling resistance. But even then it's more important to use the correct pressure rather than using an expensive lightweight tire. Too low a pressure is almost always faster than too high so when in doubt, go low. Thankfully there are some good resources for finding the correct pressure (I use the silca calculator)
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I don;t have any tours planned for the near future that are likely to warrant a new bike purchase. I really don't expect to do anything before the fall at the soonest and that is likely to be less than two weeks long on one of my 30+ year old bikes (by choice).
My next month long or multi month trip, assuming I manage another one at my age, I had thought I might treat myself to a nice carbon fiber gravel bike with high end components. Then I looked at the spec for the various models... I have always been fond of Cannondale bikes so I tended to look there. Splurging for something $4k or more didn't seem out of the question, but looking at the specs for the alloy models that might be less than half that I have to wonder if they wouldn't be as good as or maybe even a better fit for the task at hand. Some of the Topstone alloy choices look like a pretty good fit for my needs and a budget price. It looks very versatile, but many of my needs seem to be in a sweet spot for it.
My next month long or multi month trip, assuming I manage another one at my age, I had thought I might treat myself to a nice carbon fiber gravel bike with high end components. Then I looked at the spec for the various models... I have always been fond of Cannondale bikes so I tended to look there. Splurging for something $4k or more didn't seem out of the question, but looking at the specs for the alloy models that might be less than half that I have to wonder if they wouldn't be as good as or maybe even a better fit for the task at hand. Some of the Topstone alloy choices look like a pretty good fit for my needs and a budget price. It looks very versatile, but many of my needs seem to be in a sweet spot for it.
A Ti frame may not be as aero, but fit is especially important if you are going touring off road and require 50+mm tire clearance. A CF tourer is fine for US travel, but any international remote travel is a bit more risky when you factor in damage, which is trip ending. Ti is tougher on falls etc. But yeah... spend it while you can! haha
#21
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Main question is, what is the usable life span of the bike and midway to that end what will the bike cost/worth in those future dollars.
The window of buying anything of real value at an economical cost is closing fast if not already closed...
The window of buying anything of real value at an economical cost is closing fast if not already closed...
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I only took a quick glance but does the alloy version have braze ons for a rear rack and the carbon doesn't ? If so, I would appreciate the versatility of the alloy frame. And btw, today's top aluminum frames from the top companies ride wonderfully compared to aluminum frames from 30 years or even 15 years ago. Just my take.
#23
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I only took a quick glance but does the alloy version have braze ons for a rear rack and the carbon doesn't ? If so, I would appreciate the versatility of the alloy frame. And btw, today's top aluminum frames from the top companies ride wonderfully compared to aluminum frames from 30 years or even 15 years ago. Just my take.
#24
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I just splurged big time on a custom steel gravel bike. The frame was a bargain at $1600, the splurge was the wheels and rest of the components. One advantage of steel is you can find a builder to build what you want - to get that in Ti or carbon costs much more. For a touring bike I'd always choose metal over carbon.