Does your 'older' bike still look new?

Triathlon Forum
1

I’m on a 2008 Cervelo P2c. I don’t baby it, but I do keep it clean and well maintained.

I still get comments from bystanders and race spectators all the time ‘wow - nice new bike!’ when I’m walking (not riding) by, and I’m not even rocking aero wheels.

I honestly thought that after 5 years of serious use, my bike would look beaten, battered, and worn, but it’s looking pretty good. At least that’s what people told me to expect after 4-5 years on it. Sure, there are a handful of tiny dings and scrapes on it if you look really close, but otherwise it hasn’t turned out that way at all.

Curious - does your ‘older’ bike (however you want to define older) still look pretty good, or even like-new?

2

I have a 2009 P2C. Still looks brand new. No idea why it looks so good.

3

I’m on an ever older Cervelo; an Eyre…green. I have never seen one this colour. Those who know the model have never seen one in this shade and all others comment on my nice new bike.

I too find it weird.

T.

4

My c.1987 Derosa SLX still is in very good shape, but I do pamper my bikes… come to think of it, every other bike I’ve owned since the Derosa also are holding up very well. Heck - I almost wish they would ‘wear out’, which would help justify acquiring newer bikes :slight_smile:

5

In the same boat as you. I ride a 2009 Trek Equinox 9.9. I get questions all the time asking if I got a new bike. A little cleaning and easy maintenance go a long way!

6

I have a road bike I bought off of craigslist a year ago and it still looks great (2006 model year). Not even sure how many miles are on the frame or how many owners there have been prior to me but I do know (when I bought it) the components were cannibalized by somebody and replacement parts (not that great) were put on there. I’ve since upgraded it this winter for almost all the drivetrain parts except the rear deraileur and front right side STI shifter including a new custom build wheelset (near bombproof approved). This is my main training steed from the stable.

7

Yep - my 2001 Litespeed Ultimate looks damn near new. Stripped it to the frame a few years back, removed the old decals and gave it a once-over with some fine steel wool. Put on new/updated decals and rebuilt it with 10-speed DA. Voila…brand new bike. To look at it, you’d never know how many miles she’s got on her.

8

still on the Cervelo P3-SL (only made one year in 2005). Still looks pretty good and someone rode by me in race recently and said love that bike.

9

I get it once and a while from other athletes when my race wheels are on (especially now that I’ve got a PT and Di2) but the common man is more awestruck by the shape of the cam-tail… has nothing to do with new or old. They see the shape and think it’s worth $10k… suckers!

10

Other than some scratches and a peeling decal, my 2004 Litespeed Ultimate looks great. Somewhere between 45 and 50k miles. At least an 8.5 out of 10.

But it did get a new head tube, rebrushed and new decals in 2011.

11

I have a 2004 P2K. I repainted it red as soon as I got it. Except for a chip on the top tube that I got on the first time I put in on the bike rack (it was so light it just flew up and hit the rack!) it’s in arguably perfect condition. After getting a 2013 P2, TriSpouse says I have to sell the P2K. Thankfully I put way too high price on it and it hasn’t sold. LOL. I think I might turn it into a wall hanger and just admire it until my son inherits it :slight_smile: