How long does a bike last?

[bortho 27]

Hi all,

Wondering after finishing Port Mac on the weekend, how long do people get out of their TT bikes? I have a Merida Warp, 2016 year model, I do my long training rides on it during an ironman prep but not all my training and it never goes on the trainer. At 100kg i'm wondering how much punishment it will handle before failure? I love the fit and don't really want to change the bike out, am considering sending it to a decent tri bike shop (anybody recommend a place, I no longer have a bike shop in my town, it closed down) and spending a few dollars on it to give it a birthday and just keeping it but am worried about the frame cracking eventually and if I am best to upgrade before it happens?

Thoughts?

[ComfortablyNumb 827]

5 minutes ago, bortho said:

Hi all,

Wondering after finishing Port Mac on the weekend, how long do people get out of their TT bikes? I have a Merida Warp, 2016 year model, I do my long training rides on it during an ironman prep but not all my training and it never goes on the trainer. At 100kg i'm wondering how much punishment it will handle before failure? I love the fit and don't really want to change the bike out, am considering sending it to a decent tri bike shop (anybody recommend a place, I no longer have a bike shop in my town, it closed down) and spending a few dollars on it to give it a birthday and just keeping it but am worried about the frame cracking eventually and if I am best to upgrade before it happens?

Thoughts?

I'm still using my 2006 P3 (though for the past 7yrs, it's had very little use).

Are you telling me  Hoynesy has closed down the Inverell shop !!! 😲 Loved catching up with Mick, damn he is a character.

I'm in Armidale, but had my P3 serviced at TRS Cycles in Port Mac, as they see far more specialised TT bikes than the 2 bike shop here - though that is probably changing as many of the cyclists here now also have a TT rig, so in that case, I'd suggest Armidale Bicycle Centre, as the other bike shop here (Bicycle Central) are more MTB specialists.

[AA7 1,737]

My race TT is a 2012 Trek Speed Concept. Still goes alright. Sure, I'd love an upgrade to something shiny and new, but I like to spend money on other things like holidays.

[ComfortablyNumb 827]

9 minutes ago, AA7 said:

My race TT is a 2012 Trek Speed Concept. Still goes alright. Sure, I'd love an upgrade to something shiny and new, but I like to spend money on other things like holidays.

Yeah, that's how I roll too.

Besides, I'm not convinced anything new is much better than a 2006 P3!  Wasn't it the blueprint for everything since?

 

[more 436]

I'm actually surprised there are people out there willing to spend so much on a new bike when there is little to no tangible benefits over an older one. I picked up my P5 for a fraction of what it cost, or what a new one would cost today. 

I'm like AA7-would much rather spend the difference on a holiday (or a coach if I had the time to train consistently..)

[Cape_Horn 306]

2011 Argon here, about 4k on the road, and another 15-20k on the trainer.

Same as AA7 - while I like the idea of replacing the bike, there is no technical need, and a bike replacement would cost the same as 3~ seasons of racing.  

Is there any reason to replace the bike? It won't wear out that quickly.

[dazaau 323]

Don't frames basically last forever? Your 2016 frame isn't going to just crack. Just maintain the components and it will last as long as you like. 

[Bored@work 3,687]

I get a new one everytime I come out of retirment..............

I get bored of my road bikes more than needing a new one. I have a Wilier Cento with Campy Record (nothing wrong with it) I just want a new shinny one with disc brakes & etap.

I look at the amount of time I spend riding, the enjoyment of riding. health benefits and the money I no longer spend on drinking. Buying a new bike every year or two is a no brainer.

It's need v want.

Mate of mine won a B grade road race on an old 9 speed USPS trek a couple of weeks ago............ So if you're happy rolling on an older bike stick with it.

 

 

[Peter 3,481]

2010 or 2011 argon here.

Still goes okay. Been very well looked after.  No scratches or crashes.

I would like to upgrade the groupset, and might before next season.  But not yet.

[Katz 1,426]

Not a TT or carbon frame, but my 9 speed roadie is 10 years old and still going strong, though desperately needs a service at the moment. I'd like to upgrade the groupset and the wheels but might just do the wheels with powertap in the short term (assuming I can later put an 11 speed cassette on the hub) and am thinking of upgrading the whole bike in a couple of years time. It's more a want than a need though, hence why I am thinking I will wait.

My TT is 6 years old, but has only done about 18 months of actual work. She has many, many years in her I am sure.

[willie 1,546]

54 minutes ago, Bored@work said:

I get a new one everytime I come out of retirment..............

I get bored of my road bikes more than needing a new one. I have a Wilier Cento with Campy Record (nothing wrong with it) I just want a new shinny one with disc brakes & etap.

I look at the amount of time I spend riding, the enjoyment of riding. health benefits and the money I no longer spend on drinking. Buying a new bike every year or two is a no brainer.

It's need v want

You can gift the Willier to me if you like I neeeeed it and you waaaant to gift it right

[bert40 20]

I can trump all those. My main rig is a 1991 Cannondale SC800, 3.0 Series Criterium frame. Came standard with Ultegra 7 speed, downtube shifters. I did have for many years an old made up commuter with 105 STI 8 speed for the 50k round trip to work but that ended up on the trainer and now the Cannondale is my TT bike and a 1996 Cannondale CAAD3 as my roadie and a 2014 Cannondale Trail 2 for MTB. Do all my training on these three now, depending on which I feel like riding of a morning. Have upgraded over the years to 9 speed Dura Ace on the TT and ZIPP wheels (90's vintage) for racing (10 speed on the CAAD3). Still outperforms me, still very stiff and light, so not looking to upgrade anytime soon. When retirement comes around can see an upgrade then to whatever is the go in 2024. Might be a bulk buy, upgrade all three.

[Ex-Hasbeen 7,462]

22 minutes ago, bert40 said:

I can trump all those. My main rig is a 1991 Cannondale SC800, 3.0 Series Criterium frame. Came standard with Ultegra 7 speed, downtube shifters. I did have for many years an old made up commuter with 105 STI 8 speed for the 50k round trip to work but that ended up on the trainer and now the Cannondale is my TT bike and a 1996 Cannondale CAAD3 as my roadie and a 2014 Cannondale Trail 2 for MTB. Do all my training on these three now, depending on which I feel like riding of a morning. Have upgraded over the years to 9 speed Dura Ace on the TT and ZIPP wheels (90's vintage) for racing (10 speed on the CAAD3). Still outperforms me, still very stiff and light, so not looking to upgrade anytime soon. When retirement comes around can see an upgrade then to whatever is the go in 2024. Might be a bulk buy, upgrade all three.

Sorry Bert.

While not racing now, I still ride a little. My steed is a 1985 Daccordi LoPro TT bike. No front derailleur, and a friction rear lever. The advantage of that is that while it was made for a 5/6 speed cluster, if you can jimmy the wider axle in, you can run a 10 speed. I still have the 6 speed campy wheel, but have swapped over to using a Dura-ace 10 speed hub, but had it laced to a Mavic GP-4 rim. The front is still the Campagnolo Record hub in a Mavic GL280 rim.

[Bored@work 3,687]

Can the mods please delete before my wife reads this thread

[bortho 27]

 

Roger, so keep the current steed, how much would it cost to upgrade to DI2?? 

[Ex-Hasbeen 7,462]

35 minutes ago, bortho said:

 

Roger, so keep the current steed, how much would it cost to upgrade to DI2?? 

If you want to do that it may very well work out easier to buy a new bike.

[willie 1,546]

50 minutes ago, Bored@work said:

Can the mods please delete before my wife reads this thread

It'll cost you a Willie-r

[IronmanFoz 1,337]

I have one bike. I train and race on it. Purchased Jan 2012. Just completed it’s 10th Ironman...... all on the same wheels.

[BigRig 176]

I have a 2010 Cervelo P3. Pretty much all the same gear on it since new. Well maintained.6,500km on it.Still looks new and rides brilliantly with 100kg on it.

[Turts 3,046]

2010 Kestrel here (carbon frame)

I don't do a heck of a lot of training on it, but maintain the parts and drivetrain and it's good as new. 

Only thing i think about as time goes on is fatigue in the carbon. 

It's an airfoil pro, with no seat tube. 

[rory-dognz 650]

11 hours ago, bortho said:

 

Roger, so keep the current steed, how much would it cost to upgrade to DI2?? 

May be easier to go etap. No wiring runs

[dazaau 323]

I'm still on a carbon 2003 trek oclv 5500. Only road bike I've ever had and can't see a reason to upgrade since it won't make me any faster. 

[Horowitz 57]

22 hours ago, Ex-Hasbeen said:

Sorry Bert.

While not racing now, I still ride a little. My steed is a 1985 Daccordi LoPro TT bike. No front derailleur, and a friction rear lever. The advantage of that is that while it was made for a 5/6 speed cluster, if you can jimmy the wider axle in, you can run a 10 speed. I still have the 6 speed campy wheel, but have swapped over to using a Dura-ace 10 speed hub, but had it laced to a Mavic GP-4 rim. The front is still the Campagnolo Record hub in a Mavic GL280 rim.

My commuter is a 1980's Bianchi LoPro Track ....I think we need a new thread with pictures

[bert40 20]

Piccies would be nice to celebrate the few retro bikes still going strong. I remember the GP4 rims, had a wheel set made up with these to use the old tubulars for club cycle races. For their era, they were a very nice rim. Still have a Mavic 501 front hub in the CAAD3 with a Velocity Deep V rim. Nice hub, still plenty of life in it.

[trilobite 245]

Is this a bit like the business owner who keeps multiple sets of accounts (ie a set of management accounts, a set for the tax office, a set for the bank, as set for his/her spouse, etc)?