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Numpty IM Bike Thread
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Specialized Allez - universally well reviewed - £500.
Bianchi Via Narone - £540 but in a month or two will no doubt be discounted. personally i thought the carbon fork on the bianchi was better and looks better the spec allez one.
I think the most anyone's ever spent on me at Christmas is £100. Don't suppose you can get a second hand one for that can you?
No, I shall just save my pennies very hard over the next year and aim for 2007.
Anyway it was just an idea. 2007 in NZ sounds awesome so noone could blame you for waiting and savinf for then.
In the meantime, I shall continue to support the IM peeps and stick around the tri threads. All this serious talk seems to be rather good for my running.
:-)
Cassettes seem to be available in 7 - 10 gear clusters depending on make and model. I think I understand that you cannot change from eg a 7 speed to a 10 speed without changing the gear change mechanism, but if I buy a second hand bike with a (e.g.) seven gear cassette will I still be able to get parts for it or will I be laughed at if I stick my head round the door of the LBS?
Is everyone (ie the manufacturers) going towards a single standard or is it horses for courses?
If its a 7 speed you will have to change enough of it to get to 9 speed to make it a relatively expensive job. However it is relative to the rest of the bike. ie. if you have a good frame but the groupset is rubbish, spending a couple of hundred quid on upgrading it is probably reasonable, if its a 2 tonne steel frame then spending a fiver to upgrade it probably isn't worth the effort.
The 10 speed kit seems to be top endish at the moment, or at least it is with Shimano, 105 10 speed will be available probably in around 12 months although I think its supposed to be sooner.
A
Do the manufacturers change the designs each wear so by this time next year we won't be able to get replacements for a 2004 bike or
B
does the technology move at such a pace that a 2004 bike will still be out on the bike course when 2006 is standing on the podium (post marathon) or
C
is itjust that triathletes are such a poncey lot that being seen with a 2004 bike is akin to stepping outside in miami vice pastel suits (someones gonna tell me these are back in fashion - good job I bought new sunglasses)
new technology is always coming through and prices come down as ideas are taken up - just look at how cheaply you can now get a carbon frame - so it's all about getting a competitive edge over the competition.........
Replace the word bike / bicycle with washing machine, DVD player and what do you get....
Well a load of bollox but the point is, what can be dramtically changed in two years about a bike that basically hasn't changed for decades?
Point B - are you good enough to notice any of tiny adjustments or the grams saved if not then why does it matter.
C - I'm more impressed when the rider goes fast rather than what they're sitting on. Indeed what's worse than someone with "All the gear and no idea"?
The back of cycling weekly/cycling plus often have some reasonable deals (but get a bike ponce to give it the once over just in case it's a mullet)
My frame is about a year old, but it was the 2003 model apparently so I saved about £500 or something there.
but if they stop doing 9 speed cassettes at any point then i'll just change the mech over to 10 speed. its not a problem - bikes are consumables, and so are all the bits that go on them.
arrgh I'm affraid, very affraid.
Never mention them here again!
I worked out the other day how much credit I can get hold of in total and it's getting up to "worth faking death for" proportions.