stevage

Hi guys,
I'm getting to that point with my 2010 Specialized Tricross Sport where I'm not sure if it makes sense to keep maintaining it, or plan to replace the whole thing. It's seen 30-40 cycle tours including a couple of pretty rough off road trips, endurance mountain bike races, lots of road training, lots of commuting, the odd random mountain bike adventure and even an actual cyclocross race. It's pretty well beaten up, and just doesn't run as well as it used to. I get it serviced fairly often: 2-3 times a year, depending.

Here's where the components are at:
- wheels: both replaced twice, pretty recently. (Front now has a dynamo hub)
- cassette/chain: both replaced at least three times
- RD: replaced twice (catastrophic failure)
- pedals: replaced twice
- chainrings: middle replaced twice, new small, maybe a new big as well.

Here's what's original:
- FD: squeaks, but seems ok
- brakes: seem ok
- cranks: pretty beaten up, but no issues
- shifters (9 speed Tiagra): functional (just) but very rough, squeaky etc. The right one often skips sprockets when shifting up.
- interrupter levers: no problems
- seat, missing about 3-4 cm of foam at the front
- BB (although I used a different one for a couple of years)

Other issues:
- handlebars bent (as pointed out by many mechanics over the years)
- some rack mount brazeons worn - not sure how many more times I can screw and unscrew into them without destroying the thread entirely
- headset (I think) squeaks, despite servicing

So...how do you decide whether to keep on replacing bits, or whether to replace the whole bike? The shifters are obviously the biggest concern, and if I was going to replace them, I'd go 105 (for better cable routing), but they're getting hard to find.

If I was going to replace the bike, I'd be looking at something fairly similar, or maybe a Salsa Fargo. The road/dirt combo (cyclocross/gravel grinder/light tourer/...) seems to work very well for me. I don't want more than one bike, I think.

Advice? Suggestions?

mrFreel

It sounds like you have already decided to replace the bike and just need a little confirmation. If that is where your head is their is time to replace it. I do agree that it seems to have served you well and a lot of new technology and refinements have came about lately. So I say go for the new bike.

mike

zacster

I ride a 10 years old road bike as my "new" ride. It still rides like new with silent precise Campy shifting, true wheels, good braking. The only problem I've had is with the crank bolt loosening. However, my components were all Campy Chorus 10sp, a much higher line than Tiagra, especially 9sp. I probably have higher end wheels and a better FSA crank too. I've replaced the cassette and chain a few times, but that is expected, and I think I'm due a new set again.

But I have to ask, are you really that hard on your bike that you NEED a new one in 5 years? This is different than wanting one, which is OK too.

If you buy a new bike, get a better model that what you have now otherwise you are replacing like with like and you'll end up in the same place in a few years.

LesterOfPuppets

I'd get the Salsa AND rehab the Spec. Shop around for parts. I found some decent used Ultegra 9-speed levers for $45. Charge Spoon saddle is nice and cheap. Drill and tap rack/mudguard holes to M6 and get a buncha M6 bolts for them.

HillRider

You sound VERY hard on your bike as that list of failures and damage on a bike only 4 years old is huge. I think a review of your riding style is definitely in order before you replace or repair anything.

Willbird

M6 ?? That is pretty darn big ??

Bill Kapaun

1mm difference and MUCH stronger.
What would be your option?

Willbird

Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa Maxima on my part, I had never mounted fenders on my bike yet and that just seemed like a HUGE bolt for that task :-)...with good bolts you could hang the whole bike from one bolt probably hehe either M5 or M6. Measured mine and sure enough 4mm minor dia.

I guess I learned at least one thing today so far, and it is early yet :-).

Bill

Bill Kapaun

Fenders are no big deal. A rack is a much greater strain.
On my "grocery getter, I have a rack with folding baskets.
A couple times/year, I have a 50 lb. load (2 bags of lawn food), plus the weight of the rack & baskets.
5MM seems a bit puny in those instances.
40+ lbs. is a rather frequent occurrence.

Willbird

Well yes in that situation the bolt is in single shear......I'm far more used to thinking about tensile strength (although my understanding of engineering is mostly peripheral hehe) than shear strength. Was a paper boy as a kid and I'm sure 100 newspapers loaded the bolts that held the basket to the front dropouts pretty heavily :-).


Bill

stevage

Heh, that made my day. Most of the wear is really due to riding in mud or on wet rail trails and not cleaning the chain/rims/brake pads. Definitely something I intend to improve. But that's just a cost thing really.

The only catastrophic failures were the two rear derailleurs, both from hitting branches while mountain biking. The first one was a bit dopey - intentionally riding over a branch full of leaves, but I didn't even see the second one.

Thanks everyone for the comments - maybe it sounded like I had my heart set on a new bike, but that wasn't really true. And the matter's now sort of been decided for me - I had a service booked in, and the LBS highly recommended replacing the shifters, so it's a done deal. Locked in for a few more years I think