new bike - only one though - what to get?

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  1. bodynazi

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    OK - looking at 2011 EOY bonus situation = decent - will hopefully north of 13 large after taxes. I may be able to finaggle a new bike out of this (plus new windows for the house = a lot...).

    Options - get a new cross bike - I have a Lemond Poprad which is my snow commuter = pretty beat up & needs a full overhaul. I'll never race cross - and am not unlike the dude from the 'what bikers say' video about always talking about racing cross - but reality is I probably never will. It sounds too hard - lol.

    Option 2 is to get a TT bike. The Trek 7.8s don't have the integrated front brake - but otherwise are similar to the 9 series without getting a 2nd mortgage -and how many TTs will I be doing? Half a dozen/year?

    Option 3 is to get an actual commuter bike - belt drive, disk brake full fenders and have that as my crappy weather bike - lots of melt here lately = filthy bike in very shot time - this will be the cheapest option at < $1K

    Option #4 is to build up one of two frames I have hanging in my garage - Lemond Tet CF/TI bike (super light weight fixie?) and I also have a Bianchi track frame /crank/HS/wheels if they every build that 250m outdoor track in Erie... also < $1K option

    Option #5 is to get a crit type bike - I wish I had not sold my C-Dale 613... maybe CAAD something w/ Force which could be a training type bike.

    .... or just realize I have plenty of bikes and bank the $$....
    or... realize

    Posted 2 months ago

  2. Cosmic Kid

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    Option #6 - get an aero road frame that you can convert over for TT's when necessary. Best of both worlds.

    Toss some Zipp 404's or sumthin' similar on there and you have a kick-a$$, versatile race bike.

    Or bank the cash....

    He who dies with the most bikes wins!!

    Just say "NO!!" to WCP!

    "Want to get faster? Work harder, eat better, cut the crap. Instead of talking the talk, work the work"
    Posted 2 months ago

  3. hoshie99

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    What type of riding you plan to do? If you are replacing the commuter - what else is in the stable? ie can anything take it's place

    If you don't plan to TT much, those things are a bit of a waste and CK suggestion is a good approach.

    I tend to go to the middle (ie want a bike for this and that) and you wind up with a bunch of the same rides, so I'd decide what I want a new bike for and the rest follows/.

    On a side note, I am one of the few who decided I wanted a versatile cross style bike and actually raced it. It's hard but fun, so never say never!

    Posted 2 months ago

  4. Orange Crush

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    We put 16 new windows in house today = $14.6k poorer. Depending on how many windows you've got and the deal you can get, that bike may have to be cheap. So Option 3 or 4.

    Posted 2 months ago

  5. bobswire

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    You can probably snatch this one after NAHBS except it will be painted and wearing components. http://www.kirkframeworks.com/blog/2012/02/01/new-stuff-part-deux/

    "A computer is like a bicycle for the mind". Steve Jobs
    Posted 2 months ago

  6. KidWok

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    Bank it! Not just the money, but also the free pass with the wife! The latter is worth keeping in your back pocket.

    Tai

    http://www.thepeoplescoastclassic.org/
    Posted 2 months ago

  7. Hey There

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    Buy what you'll ride most. Sounds like the crit bike would suit you. Or bank the money.

    Posted 2 months ago

  8. Orange Crush

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    KidWok - "free pass with the wife", those have an expiry date on them, you don't want to bank on being able to bank them. By the time you want to make the withdrawal that free pass may well be gone :-)

    Posted 2 months ago

  9. bodynazi

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    Thx for the input

    Copy on windows being high dollar Orange - we're getting 21 replaced - and it's north of 15 large = ouch. Our current windows are a joke - house is square/solid - but the builders used the s#ittiest windows about possible - so the new ones should have a significant impact in keeping the house warm/cooler. The good news is that the wife has a 'better' job than me working for a major pharmaceutical company as a RSD.

    I do like the idea of the aero road bike frame w/ the conversion to a TT bike Cosmic - that's a good idea vs a tt bike. Unfortunately my significant deal is through a manufacturer that does not yet have an aero frame (being released to public this TDF time) and likely available to me in the fall...

    That's a beautiful frame Bob - a utility bike would be cool - I would want to be able to get full fenders on it for commuting.

    i may snag the commuter rig & prolly bank the rest and wait to see what happens in the aero-frame department - also see what kind of team deal is available... think it's some generic carbon frame that does not come in my size..

    Posted 2 months ago

  10. Gonzo Cyclist

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    #1 for sure, love my cross bikes, but #3 sounds very cool

    EOY Bonus coming my way also, plus a B-Day coming this Friday, as for me, looking at either Pugsley, or a Salsa MukLuk, but also have been thinking about building up a Canfield Niner, plus another cross bike has crossed my mind quite a bit, Ibis maybe?

    Photobucket
    Posted 2 months ago

  11. jpouchet

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    bodynazi, believe you ride a 60 cm, look for a deal on a Cervelo S5 frameset or the Scott near-twin. That is one very aero bike. Build it up as a crit ride and you can always change out seatpost, bars, and wheels to have a killer TT bike. Almost as aero as a full-on TT machine but with a geometry that can be ridden every day.

    We did a batch of windows last year. Worth the investment but oh, it was pricey. Next home we will call Bobswire and have it built right the first time!

    Posted 2 months ago

  12. jpouchet

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    And congratulations on the bonus! Really glad to know that your business is going well. Great for the economy.

    Posted 2 months ago

  13. vtguy

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    Forget banking it. You owe it to your fellow citizens to use your bonus to stimulate the economy. To that end, option 5 makes sense if you intend to keep racing. Otherwise, if you live in the country, a cross bike is a ton of fun both offroad and on gravel roads.

    Posted 2 months ago

  14. Orange Crush

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    BN - Commuter bike that can deal with the elements is the wise choice. I've pretty much got what you describe except for the drive train. Next time I'd change derailler for a Sturmey-Archer setup. Part of my commute is a 5k gravel/clay path. When it is shitty out the derailler will work fine at beginning of trail and be worthless at end on some days.

    Our windows were going on 50yrs; they built them paperthin in those days, not much protection against the elements. And with your wife's job you shouldn't need to work at all. My wife's sister is R&D at J&J and rakes in a ton of cash. Anyone wearing those contacts that you can keep in for several days, that's likely her patent.

    Posted 2 months ago

  15. mahoba

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    I like the belt drive scenario. The bulk of the bonus should be spent on strippers in Vegas.

    Posted 2 months ago

  16. rnddude

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    Is anyone doing a belt drive/sturmy archer combo? That sounds like the cat's meow for a commuter....

    "To be free and to live a free life - that is the most beautiful thing there is."
    Miguel Indurain
    Posted 2 months ago

  17. nightfend

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    If I was building a commuter, I'd get Curtlo to build me a custom road frame with disc brakes and the ability to accept 34mm tires. The frames are about $1,000. Which is dirt cheap for a custom.

    Posted 2 months ago

  18. jacques_anquetil

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    +1 mahoba!

    "I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered."
    - George Best.

    my vote is Option #4 to build up that sweet Lemond Tet as a lightweight fixie, as well as Option #5 a hard-as-rock crit bike that you won't cry over wrecking in the local office park race series.

    Posted 2 months ago

  19. Habanero

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    "He who dies with the most bikes wins!!"

    There is nothing to contest - Bob wins by a friggin mile!!

    "My strength was that I am more balanced and calmer than most other riders."
    Miguel Indurain
    Posted 2 months ago

  20. bodynazi

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    S5 is sweet - but 8 large for a bike = ouch

    Who will meet me in Vegas? :)

    Posted 2 months ago

  21. timmsteiner

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    Bank it.

    If not, post some pictures.

    Posted 2 months ago

  22. Mike

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    If I had spare cash, I'd try electric shifting on my race bike .. just to see what it's like. I'm currious.

    Posted 2 months ago

  23. Gonzo Cyclist

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    ha ha ha HAB!! Yup, bobswire wins for sure.........
    the Nature Boy is calling your name Bodynazi.....you know it is....LOL
    The Nature Boy is getting some new wheels today, and it's loving the new FSA Brakes
    Photobucket

    Posted 2 months ago

  24. jacques_anquetil

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    let's hijack this thread and get everyone to say how many bikes they have. Bob, how many bikes DO you have? for my part, i have 8, and i love each and every one of them like my own children.

    Posted 2 months ago

  25. Gonzo Cyclist

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    4 today, will be five complete's by this afternoon possibly, and three projects in the works, a Merckx Cross Bike, a niner, and a Fat Bike
    all not very expensive, but they all get ridden regularly, and yes, these are my babies, they have their own loft, heated, and indoors, don't want the children getting cold!!

    Posted 2 months ago

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