Should I sell my fancy bike

[darkskys]

I have a nice bike I bought a 5 years ago that was quite expensive. It is a gravel bike that cost close to 3k. It was my daily commuter and training bike.

Times have changed and I haven’t rode my bike in two years. Anytime I spend outside is now on foot since I have a dog and it needs plenty of walking. We cover 20-30mi a week. My other exercise is rounded out by other outdoor hobbies and strength training.

So why keep it? I keep thinking “some day” I will use it again but I just am not prioritizing it’s use. According by of the bike blue book it’s worth 1200-1500 or so, but I could probably get a bit more with the gear I can sell with it. I guess this is the age old question of getting the courage to sell the things you don’t use anymore but are still attached to. The sad thing needs a little tuneup but other than that it looks great.

It’s possible I change my interests back to biking but I just don’t see it happening while I have a dog.

[Askel]

When my lifestyle changed a bit a few years ago (went to grad school), I sold off a bunch of toys I wouldn't be able to use for a while.  I'm getting back to where I have time for them again. Don't regret selling them. 

Bike tech changes pretty rapidly, when you're ready to get back into it- you can buy another fancy new bike with the latest tech rather than get back on some outdated thing.   

[GuitarStv]

If you're not using it, then I'd lean towards selling.  No point keeping stuff around just because you used to like it.

[darknight]

+1 on selling.

The market still varies with supply chain issues, so you may actually get more than blue book price.

[cool7hand]

+1 on selling

[Dave1442397]

Sell it. If gravel bikes are still in short supply, you can get good money for it.

I got my current bike in late 2020, and a friend who works for Trek said I'd pay 50% more if I ordered it today.

[STEMorbust]

Let's see the bike! Some of us could give a pretty accurate estimate on how much you could sell it for.

I'd also encourage replacing it with something cheap but well built. If you have a local bike co-op, that's a good place to start. I can't imagine life without any bike at all. Something like a 90s mountain bike with a riser stem would do the trick.

[ChpBstrd]

A better solution would be to add a bike training routine to your dog walking, strength training, and outdoor hobby routine. The dog walking probably involves less aerobic peak exertion than a bike ride potentially can do, although the dog has the benefit of being more likely to drag you outdoors when the weather isn't perfect or you have distractions. That said, we all have a finite amount of time for outdoor exercise, so you're optimizing the best you can. If the dog is keeping you active in a way the bike didn't, you're making a fine choice. Just maybe incorporate some uphill sprinting or agility exercises in the walks if the dog agrees.

Keep in mind that about the time the dog reaches 7-9 years old it might no longer want to do 4 miles per day, and this will slow you down as well. At that future time, you can withdraw your deposit from the Bank of Craigslist and get back into cycling on a very similar fancy bike.

[GuitarStv]

I'm just throwing this out there . . .

[roomtempmayo]

Sell it.  You can buy another bike later if you decide you want one.

Thinking about "someday" is how so many Schwinn ten speeds ended up on the garage rafters covered in dust.

[jnw]

Sell it, if you need one again, buy a used one in similar condition for the same price you sold it for.. perhaps with the capital gains alone from the $1500 invested :)

Perhaps buy more used things in the future? Maybe you already do.  I used to buy new things but now I wait and find the absolute best deals on used quality items.  When I tire of them I hopefully sell them for what I paid for them, thereby using the item for free essentially.

Discretionary items aren't an expense if you pay less than what you can easily sell it for.  It's a transfer of assets (instead of expense) and sometimes an investment. It's only an expense when you have to start depreciating the item.. that's where the expense is.

[rothwem]

Sell ASAP.  The tech and standards for gravel bikes are changing really fast right now since its not really a mature product, so I'm forseeing pretty massive depreciation for current product.   The "good" gravel tires are getting wider so the required frame clearances need to get wider, the "good" wheels are all thru-axle, the debate between 2x and 1x is still not really solved yet, and geometry is currently bouncing between road bike short and mountain bike long.  A gravel bike with QRs, post mount brakes, "old" geometry and room for "only" 35s will be pretty worthless pretty soon. 

[ChpBstrd]

Sell ASAP.  The tech and standards for gravel bikes are changing really fast right now since its not really a mature product, so I'm forseeing pretty massive depreciation for current product.   The "good" gravel tires are getting wider so the required frame clearances need to get wider, the "good" wheels are all thru-axle, the debate between 2x and 1x is still not really solved yet, and geometry is currently bouncing between road bike short and mountain bike long.  A gravel bike with QRs, post mount brakes, "old" geometry and room for "only" 35s will be pretty worthless pretty soon.

Maybe all the gravel grinders will eventually discover the joys of lightweight 26" cross-country mountain bikes with 1.95" tires from the late 1990s to early 2000s. We'll know for sure when we see SIDs and Thudbusters on high end "gravel bikes".

[nereo]

I'm just throwing this out there . . .

I lol-ed

[Askel]

Maybe all the gravel grinders will eventually discover the joys of lightweight 26" cross-country mountain bikes with 1.95" tires from the late 1990s to early 2000s. We'll know for sure when we see SIDs and Thudbusters on high end "gravel bikes".

Man, you show up on a vintage hardtail 26" mountain bike to a gravel road race, you will be welcomed as an old's cool god.  The last gravel race I did I was on my still-new-to-me 2008 Fargo and that bike was treated as some kind of epic vintage ride.   

[rothwem]

Sell ASAP.  The tech and standards for gravel bikes are changing really fast right now since its not really a mature product, so I'm forseeing pretty massive depreciation for current product.   The "good" gravel tires are getting wider so the required frame clearances need to get wider, the "good" wheels are all thru-axle, the debate between 2x and 1x is still not really solved yet, and geometry is currently bouncing between road bike short and mountain bike long.  A gravel bike with QRs, post mount brakes, "old" geometry and room for "only" 35s will be pretty worthless pretty soon.

Maybe all the gravel grinders will eventually discover the joys of lightweight 26" cross-country mountain bikes with 1.95" tires from the late 1990s to early 2000s. We'll know for sure when we see SIDs and Thudbusters on high end "gravel bikes".

I mean, the current best gravel tires are 42-45mm, which is really damn close to 1.95", Fox and Rockshox have already introduced some 40-50mm travel suspension forks, and Specialized sells their gravel bike with a flat bar option.  We're not far off.

[darkskys]

Wow some really good responses. I could add bike training to the routine for sure and I’ve thought about it but I do some metabolic conditioning on strength days so I do get plenty of cardio. I think I will add in some sprints with the dog though because I enjoy that type of thing vs. any sort of long distance running. I do have someone I know invite me to their casual bike club rides on weekends and I’m trying to make new friends so I suppose maybe that’s the only reason I’d keep it. Although it would take me a bit to work back up to 20-30mi rides

The bike is a specialized diverge comp from 2018 so might still be worth 1500 I’m sure.

Someone made a comment about buying more used stuff, and I agree with that statement. I often buy new when getting into a hobby. Biking for me wasn’t passing though as I did it for years. I miss it but definitely have to prioritize my hobby time.