When/how often do you upgrade your bikes? I'm on the fence about bringing the upgrade question to the boss this spring, but not sure if she will bite. Money isn't a big issue, but we are typically careful with it and would try to keep it under $2k. Kinda doesn't help I have a broken clavicle right now from crashing my new mtn bike I got this summer...but anyways:
85% of my riding is gravel. My main bike currently is a 2016 Motobecane aluminum round tubed CX bike with Tiagra components. I paid $800 4 years ago, has about 6k miles on it. Its my daily rider and it fits me perfectly. Realistically, it gets about an hour a riding in 5-6 days a week. Maybe 2-3 hours on the weekends. In rides/races I'm about mid to upper mid in the pack.
What I like about it:
-I got my fit nailed in perfectly
-I upgraded bars to flared handlebars, better cable disc brakes, so its what Id like it to be for what I can upgrade.
What I dont like:
- cables are open and on top of the top tube which irritates me. Its just kind of ugly and annoying with any sort of bag.
- crankset is a 46/36 I'd prefer a 46/30, easy upgrade but debating on this if I look at a new ride
- rides very twitchy: its a CX bike, I get it, its made to be twitchy
- its a bit harsh of a ride, Id like to see how other materials ride if I look
- max tire width is 38mm, I don't need much more as my gravel roads aren't that bad but Id like the option
With all of that being said, what does Slowtwich say? Look at an upgrade? Or am I falling into the marketing of upgrading for little benefit? Keep riding it for a few more years?
85% of my riding is gravel. My main bike currently is a 2016 Motobecane aluminum round tubed CX bike with Tiagra components. I paid $800 4 years ago, has about 6k miles on it. Its my daily rider and it fits me perfectly. Realistically, it gets about an hour a riding in 5-6 days a week. Maybe 2-3 hours on the weekends. In rides/races I'm about mid to upper mid in the pack.
What I like about it:
-I got my fit nailed in perfectly
-I upgraded bars to flared handlebars, better cable disc brakes, so its what Id like it to be for what I can upgrade.
What I dont like:
- cables are open and on top of the top tube which irritates me. Its just kind of ugly and annoying with any sort of bag.
- crankset is a 46/36 I'd prefer a 46/30, easy upgrade but debating on this if I look at a new ride
- rides very twitchy: its a CX bike, I get it, its made to be twitchy
- its a bit harsh of a ride, Id like to see how other materials ride if I look
- max tire width is 38mm, I don't need much more as my gravel roads aren't that bad but Id like the option
With all of that being said, what does Slowtwich say? Look at an upgrade? Or am I falling into the marketing of upgrading for little benefit? Keep riding it for a few more years?