It's New Bike Day - Sensible Mustachianism or Consumer Sucka-ism?

[kozz1984]

I bought an 8k new full carbon fiber road bike for 2k off of ebay once it was a few years old.
Best purchase ever, I would never buy new.

[big_slacker]

It seems buying a $2400 BRAND NEW Bicycle often has a catch somehow. And this seems it, the steel frame. BUT again, it could be a steal of a deal if he utilizes the bike. Why am I leery? this is why.

1. Steel frames are good for LONG Rides. Newbies aren't known for LONG RIDES. The OP appears to be a newbie, not known for long rides.

2. Steel frames aren't as flexible versus carbon fiber. You can get a carbon fiber frame bike for $2400 but you may be buying used. Nothing wrong with that.

3. Steel is heavier than Carbon Fiber so it's more work for the newbie.

The reason I mentioned the expense is the OP thinks he may have spent too much so he's asking for opinions. I wanted him to feel better. No matter what the worst is, he's not made a mistake if he uses it and the list applies to him, then he's benefited 10 fold. $2400 isn't too much for a bike BUT it might be for his Bike. YET if he utilizes it regarding the list in my post, he's benefited repeatedly even if the bike isn't perfect. It has a steel frame vs a carbon fiber...that one example. But his terrain my be conducive to this, not likely the cards fal that way but possible. I am just choosing that one point for brevity.

People respond differently on these boards because we often forget others Terrain is not our own. Mine is very hilly and twisty, so I need a flexible, light bicycle. YET I prefer to ride my Mtn Bike (which is heavier) because it makes me feel better. Being female, I am not as competitive. Nor do I care if it takes longer to get from point a to point b so much. The OP sounds like a male, and seeing my husband and his friends, I can see he may likely fall into that hardcore mindset once he becomes a serous cyclist. You want the OP to feel good about his purchase, even if it isn't perfect, it can be a steel of a deal if it is used enough. Then re-sold.

Also when I said my Mtn Bike was "about that cost" 8 yrs ago, I meant about the cost of the OP's Rode bike. Not my rode bike. It should've been worded better to avoid confusion. Rode Bikes are more expensive than Mtn Bikes so I'd expect to pay more. I ride my [$2400] Mtn Bike  more than my road bike. Both of my bikes are a bit older. My Mtn Bike is a TREK and again, it cost $2400 new. it is heavier than my Rode Bike but that works for me. I ride it on the road too.

Ok, so you were saying that on a $2400 bike you would expect some kind of tradeoff in terms of quality, features, etc. In this case a steel frame. I get that.

The other stuff doesn't follow though? Steel is more flexible than CF, not less. CF is used for it's stiffness and weight. It's true that a steel frame bike will almost always be heavier than a CF one though, but in terms of being tougher to ride rotating mass has a lot more to do with that than frame material.

Forget frame material and do this experiment if you can: Take a 22 lb bike with a 1500 gram wheelset, then ride it up a hill back to back with an 18 lb bike with 2500 gram wheelset. I guarantee you the 'heavier bike' will beat the lighter one up the hill rider being equal.

Hope none of the above is seen as argumentative given the previous exchange, just bike geek OCD requires the clarification.

Final note about cost, I'm a firm believer in the bike not being the most important thing anyway. I mean, I love cool higher end bikes and have owned a few. But I know damn well 25 year old me on that $500 steel hardtail would smoke 41 year old me on my $3500 full suspension santa cruz. I see the old 'it's not about the bike' play out almost every ride around here because I live in an affluent area, but also an outdoor mecca where there are lots of uber outdoor athlete bums. IT director on a $6000 BMC team machine pedaling up the hill at a decent clip and then some kid on a 10 year old aluminum trek goes flying by like he's standing still. 

Glad to see the OP didn't overpay as much as we thought and I feel like the cross check is an excellent choice for those purposes. And also that he didn't spend too much or is deserving of any kind of facepunch given how much he's riding.

Outdoorsygal, I'm from South Lake Tahoe (now living in the Seattle area though). What MTB trails are you riding up there? Closer to you I've only ridden around Auburn and of course Downieville

[Erica]

 The OP appears to be a newbie

Not exactly.  I've been on a bike more days than not for most of my 41 years.  With my current commute and lifestyle I ride about 100km/week, which is on the light side for me.  I've owned as many as 14 bikes at a time (counting the wife and kids rides - currently 10 with the new addition) and I maintain them all myself.  I've had fancy mountain bikes and shitty town beaters and everything in between.  I've taken mtb-based trips all over North America and logged some pretty hefty rides.

It is true that I have never owned a super fancy European road racing bike, nor have I competed on the racing circuit, or sipped espresso on Saturday morning with my Lycra clad group ride mates...but definitely not a newbie when it comes to bikes.

I know you were posting on my behalf, but that struck a nerve there...sorry. :-)

Most "bikers" with thousand-dollar bikes and top-of-the-line gear who see me on my old $100 bike, wearing my jeans and my hiking boots, probably think I am a newbie too. These guys/gals usually come out in the spring, ride on weekends, and disappear before Labour Day...What they don't know is that like you, I bike practically 365 days a year, sun, rain, fog or -46 C temperature like we have here for months on end, and even at close to 60, I could probably give them a good run for their money if we were on similar bikes with similar gear.

Oh I believe you could give them a good run for their money :)  especially off season when they aren't seen so much.
You remind me of the folks in a group called Fatrac from the Sacramento area (our area). I think you'd jive well with them. http://www.meetup.com/FATRAC/ They are a little more down to earth.

It is regularly about 100+ degrees here so we wait until close to 10 pm to ride in the summertime. And we ride less..but we usually keep up the riding during the wintertime.  And we buy most of our Cycling Jerseys from Goodwill. Cost is usually less than $5.

Ouch, 100 degrees, I can't imagine how it feels, probably like most can't imagine how -40s can really hurt...This being said, I'd love a really nice bike, but my wife is the house comptroller so that won't happen anytime soon, as my list includes a sailboat and a few other toys...last year, I almost told her an elaborate lie that my bike had been stolen, and since my bike was my main mode of transportation, I had no choice but to fork a couple grands on a new bike...in the end, I "backpedalled" and found my old bike :D

Ha. maybe buy her a bike since that might be your only hope. Make her wear blue jeans when she gets fit so the guys in fancy attire won't move in on you

[Erica]

It seems buying a $2400 BRAND NEW Bicycle often has a catch somehow. And this seems it, the steel frame. BUT again, it could be a steal of a deal if he utilizes the bike. Why am I leery? this is why.

1. Steel frames are good for LONG Rides. Newbies aren't known for LONG RIDES. The OP appears to be a newbie, not known for long rides.

2. Steel frames aren't as flexible versus carbon fiber. You can get a carbon fiber frame bike for $2400 but you may be buying used. Nothing wrong with that.

3. Steel is heavier than Carbon Fiber so it's more work for the newbie.

The reason I mentioned the expense is the OP thinks he may have spent too much so he's asking for opinions. I wanted him to feel better. No matter what the worst is, he's not made a mistake if he uses it and the list applies to him, then he's benefited 10 fold. $2400 isn't too much for a bike BUT it might be for his Bike. YET if he utilizes it regarding the list in my post, he's benefited repeatedly even if the bike isn't perfect. It has a steel frame vs a carbon fiber...that one example. But his terrain my be conducive to this, not likely the cards fal that way but possible. I am just choosing that one point for brevity.

People respond differently on these boards because we often forget others Terrain is not our own. Mine is very hilly and twisty, so I need a flexible, light bicycle. YET I prefer to ride my Mtn Bike (which is heavier) because it makes me feel better. Being female, I am not as competitive. Nor do I care if it takes longer to get from point a to point b so much. The OP sounds like a male, and seeing my husband and his friends, I can see he may likely fall into that hardcore mindset once he becomes a serous cyclist. You want the OP to feel good about his purchase, even if it isn't perfect, it can be a steel of a deal if it is used enough. Then re-sold.

Also when I said my Mtn Bike was "about that cost" 8 yrs ago, I meant about the cost of the OP's Rode bike. Not my rode bike. It should've been worded better to avoid confusion. Rode Bikes are more expensive than Mtn Bikes so I'd expect to pay more. I ride my [$2400] Mtn Bike  more than my road bike. Both of my bikes are a bit older. My Mtn Bike is a TREK and again, it cost $2400 new. it is heavier than my Rode Bike but that works for me. I ride it on the road too.

Ok, so you were saying that on a $2400 bike you would expect some kind of tradeoff in terms of quality, features, etc. In this case a steel frame. I get that.

The other stuff doesn't follow though? Steel is more flexible than CF, not less. CF is used for it's stiffness and weight. It's true that a steel frame bike will almost always be heavier than a CF one though, but in terms of being tougher to ride rotating mass has a lot more to do with that than frame material.

Forget frame material and do this experiment if you can: Take a 22 lb bike with a 1500 gram wheelset, then ride it up a hill back to back with an 18 lb bike with 2500 gram wheelset. I guarantee you the 'heavier bike' will beat the lighter one up the hill rider being equal.

Well I believe that regarding downhill, uphill not so sure. We should try that sometime when we have both bikes weighing 22lbs. Mine doesn't weigh the same as his.

Hope none of the above is seen as argumentative given the previous exchange, just bike geek OCD requires the clarification.

Final note about cost, I'm a firm believer in the bike not being the most important thing anyway. I mean, I love cool higher end bikes and have owned a few. But I know damn well 25 year old me on that $500 steel hardtail would smoke 41 year old me on my $3500 full suspension santa cruz. I see the old 'it's not about the bike' play out almost every ride around here because I live in an affluent area, but also an outdoor mecca where there are lots of uber outdoor athlete bums. IT director on a $6000 BMC team machine pedaling up the hill at a decent clip and then some kid on a 10 year old aluminum trek goes flying by like he's standing still. 

Yeah but I am two decades older than you. I used to think that way except my body now reminds me of these times when I used crappy bikes to do this stuff. And old injuries rearing their ugly head. I can't be sure- I've slid down a dam, got hit by a car and thrown 20 feet, shattered my knee to ankle bone in Karate and other accidents. But it does make you wonder. And how easy it is for something you twisted twenty years ago to come back and produce this feeling of dejavu...then it slowly becomes stronger to enough to realize you had that feeling back when you broke it. I wonder how I am going to feel at 57. Gotta make sure it is better than now :)

Some of those pains were slightly present when I rode a cheap bike in my late twenties too. So I can't help but wonder what did it, injuries probably.

About the steel, yes I am sure about the downhill. My husband coasts faster downhill than I do. His bike is heavier and he is too. Uphill I'll need to try that sometime when I am with someone whose bike weighs the same. That defies logic but could very well be true.

Yes. My bad. CF is known for it's firmness.

Outdoorsygal, I'm from South Lake Tahoe (now living in the Seattle area though). What MTB trails are you riding up there? Closer to you I've only ridden around Auburn and of course Downieville

Neat, what a small world. I feel a book coming on...again :)
Right now we go to Iowa Hill and ride. But not "the hill" yet. Husband will be ready to tackle it in a few months. Then me a few months later, but it could be sooner. Then it will be regular. He's rode it before a few times, starting from Auburn. We are getting in miles. Iowa Hill is the closest hilly area near us with very few cars. Being under Doctors orders (and defying them) I have to take it slow... to keep in touch with my body. They want me to get a recumbent but I know I feel my lower back getting stronger. The Doc was shocked at my X rays so I am afraid to see a specialist. I'd like to heal myself then when it feels right, get more X rays but from an orthopedic surgeon. Our insurance doesn't cover that.

I've already stopped doing physical therapy because the cycling + my AB Lounge takes the pain away. So it may be a while but you are very welcome to join us. Well if it is anytime soon, you'd probably just be with me for an hour then off with my husband. I am still training.

We rode the Tahoe Rim Trail in Tahoe about 6 months ago. That is near South Lake Tahoe I think?? We will eventually purchase a house and or land up there after our lease runs out. We came to Meadow Vista after selling our house in Auburn to care for inlaws. One is still alive. We rent down the street but he has care-givers now and we have 3 months more to go on our lease. I want to have rides in Iowa Hill regularly through a bike club when we get up there.  Oh the restaruant/bar/store just got picked up last month by friends of ours, Bren and Woody. So it's pretty hopping now. They have great food and it's pretty inexpensive. Keep me in mind if you ever want to join us.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_Hill,_California

Here is a friends photopeach slideshow of Iowa Hill. I think it's private so I may come back after a day or so and delete it out
 http://photopeach.com/embed/f08tlp"

[Northwestie]

$2400 for a commuter?  That's pretty stiff IMO.  Been riding 40 yrs including a stint as a professional (messenger!!).  Currently have the Italian road bike, the wet weather commuter, and the titanium mt bike.

I volunteer for a bike youth group and tear down and build 'em up  (bikes, not the kids) and teach repair and restoration skills.  My most expensive bike was $1200.   The commuter is a great Japanese steel frame I bought 30 years ago and have revamped everything.  That $500 investment is a sweet ride.   It's amazing what you can get out there via used bikes if you have knowledge of bike repair and restoration.   For $500 - $1000 you can get a top of the line bike for any need. 

[darkadams00]

1) If "commuter" just means ride to work and back, then I would probably max out at $1k and only if I could lock it safely or take it inside. If "commuter" includes running errands all over town, I would definitely stay under $1k. The thought of that much money walking off while unattended would make me worry too much...and worry is an activity I try to avoid.

2) I bought a 9.8/10 used Cross Check with several upgrades and then added some of my own--less than $750 total but it took a couple months of waiting for the deal to pop up on CL. I bought it within hours of it coming online. I've ridden it 2000+ miles per year for three years. My also mint but used Bianchi Volpe has picked up the remainder of my biking miles. Also less than $750 with similar quality specs and results. One's set up with drops and I ride it for all trips over 5 miles, and the other is my straight bar errand/greenway rider. So I have two bikes that are set up for different rides, both equally able to go short or long distance, and both well-suited for years of riding. And I saved $1k over what your single bike would cost.

So as a four-season, car-light rider, I could never agree that you spend that much money as a need or prereq to getting a nice bike. But if that's your only itch in a given year, you're probably coming out ahead of most folks here who bought cheaper bikes but spent a few hundred on other discretionary purchases along the way--tv, computer, trip, car upgrade, etc.

[TooManyGuitars]

1) If "commuter" just means ride to work and back, then I would probably max out at $1k and only if I could lock it safely or take it inside. If "commuter" includes running errands all over town, I would definitely stay under $1k. The thought of that much money walking off while unattended would make me worry too much...and worry is an activity I try to avoid.

2) I bought a 9.8/10 used Cross Check with several upgrades and then added some of my own--less than $750 total but it took a couple months of waiting for the deal to pop up on CL. I bought it within hours of it coming online. I've ridden it 2000+ miles per year for three years. My also mint but used Bianchi Volpe has picked up the remainder of my biking miles. Also less than $750 with similar quality specs and results. One's set up with drops and I ride it for all trips over 5 miles, and the other is my straight bar errand/greenway rider. So I have two bikes that are set up for different rides, both equally able to go short or long distance, and both well-suited for years of riding. And I saved $1k over what your single bike would cost.
 

Yep it's primarily for to work and back with very secure parking inside. I have other slower and less valuable bikes for errands around the neighbourhood.

Remember that's $2400 AUD (actually came in at $2300) About $1600 USD at the moment. Stuff is expensive here in Western Australia.

[big_slacker]

We rode the Tahoe Rim Trail in Tahoe about 6 months ago. That is near South Lake Tahoe I think?? We will eventually purchase a house and or land up there after our lease runs out. We came to Meadow Vista after selling our house in Auburn to care for inlaws. One is still alive. We rent down the street but he has care-givers now and we have 3 months more to go on our lease. I want to have rides in Iowa Hill regularly through a bike club when we get up there.  Oh the restaruant/bar/store just got picked up last month by friends of ours, Bren and Woody. So it's pretty hopping now. They have great food and it's pretty inexpensive. Keep me in mind if you ever want to join us.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_Hill,_California

Here is a friends photopeach slideshow of Iowa Hill. I think it's private so I may come back after a day or so and delete it out
 http://photopeach.com/embed/f08tlp"

Trimmed out some of the quote. If you're not yet 57 I think you read above that I was 25. I was saying the 25 year old version of me would smoke the current version of me which is 41. :)

Yep, the rim trail goes all the way around the lake and some of the best mountain biking on the west coast is the section around SLT. The Flume trail is easy and absolutely amazing scenery. The section from spooner summit to kingsbury grade is a perfect microcosm of riding in the sierras, 7 miles up, 7 down with an awesome view at the top. Then heavenly/stagecoach to Mr. Toads (AKA The Punisher) is some of the toughest climbing in the area but very rewarding. There is also the new Van Sickle bi-state trails starting from right in the middle of town and capable of linking up with the rim trail.

There is a guy in your area, you can find him on Strava name of Steve Wolf. He's over 70 with two replaced knees. He does some EPIC and grueling rides up there. Very inspirational because I also hope to be still grinding it out at that age. There might be aches and pains but it keeps you young! :D

[hyla]

And one really neat thing about cross checks is that because Surly builds so much versatility into their frames (bracket spacing fits road or MTB hubs, lots of braze ons for different types of racks and brakes, wide tire clearance) your bike can be lots of different kinds of bikes!  I have two sets of wheels for my cross check - one with skinny road tires and another with 29" mountain tires.  So just by swapping the wheels I can turn my road bike into a bike for cruising dirt logging roads in the forest.  In a past life (when my commute was 14 miles instead of 1/2) it was all decked out in racks and fenders for commuting.  So even if your bicycling preferences or commuting situation changes a lot in the future, you can likely adapt the cross check for whatever the future brings instead of buying a new bike. 

[onlykelsey]

It also has those little holes (clearly I'm not a bike geek) in the front so you can put front rack on if you want to do more serious touring (or grocery shopping, I suppose). 

[Jack]

It also has those little holes (clearly I'm not a bike geek) in the front so you can put front rack on if you want to do more serious touring (or grocery shopping, I suppose).

Those would be some of the braze-ons hyla mentioned.

[Erica]

We rode the Tahoe Rim Trail in Tahoe about 6 months ago. That is near South Lake Tahoe I think?? We will eventually purchase a house and or land up there after our lease runs out. We came to Meadow Vista after selling our house in Auburn to care for inlaws. One is still alive. We rent down the street but he has care-givers now and we have 3 months more to go on our lease. I want to have rides in Iowa Hill regularly through a bike club when we get up there.  Oh the restaruant/bar/store just got picked up last month by friends of ours, Bren and Woody. So it's pretty hopping now. They have great food and it's pretty inexpensive. Keep me in mind if you ever want to join us.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_Hill,_California

Here is a friends photopeach slideshow of Iowa Hill. I think it's private so I may come back after a day or so and delete it out
 http://photopeach.com/embed/f08tlp"

Trimmed out some of the quote. If you're not yet 57 I think you read above that I was 25. I was saying the 25 year old version of me would smoke the current version of me which is 41. :)

Yep, the rim trail goes all the way around the lake and some of the best mountain biking on the west coast is the section around SLT. The Flume trail is easy and absolutely amazing scenery. The section from spooner summit to kingsbury grade is a perfect microcosm of riding in the sierras, 7 miles up, 7 down with an awesome view at the top. Then heavenly/stagecoach to Mr. Toads (AKA The Punisher) is some of the toughest climbing in the area but very rewarding. There is also the new Van Sickle bi-state trails starting from right in the middle of town and capable of linking up with the rim trail.

There is a guy in your area, you can find him on Strava name of Steve Wolf. He's over 70 with two replaced knees. He does some EPIC and grueling rides up there. Very inspirational because I also hope to be still grinding it out at that age. There might be aches and pains but it keeps you young! :D

I am sure you'll be at it at that age, easily until late seventies or early 80's.

YWe've done the flume trail 4-5 times. Most of the time it is when we have guests for the weekend or overnight.

I can't imagine moving away from SLT to go to Seattle, you must miss it.

[big_slacker]

I can't imagine moving away from SLT to go to Seattle, you must miss it.

All the time, for me alone it's the best place in the world and I'd happily live the rest of my life there. But family=compromise and tahoe has low wages, crap education and is after all a small town which my wife isn't very happy in.

I don't really live in urban Seattle though. I live in Bellevue WA which is east across lake washington and right on i90 which leads out to the Cascades. I can be in the foothills in 20 minutes and in the real mountains in 40. Very green, very nice people, proximity to high paying tech jobs and excellent public education. I can't think of too many places that have a good mix that fits our family as well as it does.

[Rollin]

With a cracked wheel, a cracked fork, and another frame repair that I do not trust to last forever, it became clear last week that it is finally time for a new commuter bike.  After much consternation (what to get? how much to spend?) and discussion with fellow mustachians, non mustachian bike enthusiasts, my wife and others, I settled on ordering a brand new steel bike through a local shop.  Today I will pick up my new Surly Cross Check with upgraded shifters and slick tires for commuting.  $2400.

Sure I could have bought something perfectly suitable second hand for much less.  Plenty of suitable rides for $1000 around. However  I ride every single day rain or shine, and my ride to and from work is among my favourite parts of my day.  And compared to riding the bus, let alone driving, I'll be back in the black inside of a year with hours of joy and fitness to show for it.

So a week after making the decision, and on the day of picking it up, I still firmly believe this is a purchase I feel good about.  First new bike I have bought in about 12 years.  I have the cash on hand, can afford it, and will use it and love it every day.

What does everyone else think?  Sensible purchase, or consumer sucka?

Heck, I get new bikes when my tires get dirty.  You go dude!  This one will last many many years.  The CC is a very nice ride too.

Seems like many respondents are trying to get you to the lowest cost bike to get the job done. Fine if that floats your boat.  I for one don't go that route, as I love to ride a higher quality bike with components that work flawlessly, and that last a long time.  I had a set of wheels on my old Trek 5200 that probably had 30,000 miles on them and I never once had to true them, nor did I have to adjust the shifting after the first month or so.  It is just nice to ride a nice bike (I have many - an electric assist Surly Big Dummy, a Bike Friday New World Tourist, a Marin Mount Vision Pro, a Velo Orange Campeaur - similar to the CC, and a Mezzo folder).  Probably 5-6,000 miles/year.  Family bikes include an Xtracycle with electric assist, a Marin hybrid, and two more Mezzo folders (just sold 4 bikes too).

Enjoy!

[sol]

Seems like many respondents are trying to get you to the lowest cost bike to get the job done. Fine if that floats your boat.

No, we're trying to get people to not overpay for luxury items they don't need when there are better bikes available for less money.

I'm sure Ferraris are very nice cars.  They are not recommended for people seeking financial freedom.

As for your comment about components, you have it exactly backwards.  It's the super expensive and lightweight components that require frequent adjustment, not the mid range workhorses designed for everyday use.  It's the super expensive lightweight wheels that require straightening every time you hit a pothole. 

Those Ferraris cost a fortune to keep running.

[Rollin]

Seems like many respondents are trying to get you to the lowest cost bike to get the job done. Fine if that floats your boat.

No, we're trying to get people to not overpay for luxury items they don't need when there are better bikes available for less money.

I'm sure Ferraris are very nice cars.  They are not recommended for people seeking financial freedom.

As for your comment about components, you have it exactly backwards.  It's the super expensive and lightweight components that require frequent adjustment, not the mid range workhorses designed for everyday use.  It's the super expensive lightweight wheels that require straightening every time you hit a pothole. 

Those Ferraris cost a fortune to keep running.

I guess you got it figured right out then. Or maybe not?

I'm not going to spend two paragraphs explaining the difference between the CC and a high end bike with super light wheels, but suffice it to say that the CC is worth every penny and it is half the cost or less of the bikes you are referring to.

I also disagree that there are better bikes for (much) less money.

As far as super light components requiring frequent adjustment you got that backwards too.  I've ridden with Shimano Dura Ace (top of the line at the time) and currently have XTR on my Marin and absolutely zero need to adjust in many years and many miles. Some of the lower end stuff works well too, but often once you start trying to fine tune a brake or wheel bearing, you just can't get it to the right adjustment. I started working on bikes (paid mechanic) when I was about 13 back in the 70s (paid $1.20/hour).

Lastly, you can ride a Wallyworld bike across the country or the $500 bike referred to here a few times just as you could the CC.  Same with commuting across the city.  I sure wouldn't want to though. I would enjoy the CC that much more (in other words, it would be worth the difference to me).

[zephyr911]

And here I thought I'd get facepunched for hanging onto a Jamis carbon frame ($6-700 new, paid $300 used) for a couple of years and thinking about finally dropping the other 7 or so to build it out after a surprise refund this year... xD
That fuggin' Crosscheck better have a unicorn hide saddle! xD

[TooManyGuitars]

No, we're trying to get people to not overpay for luxury items they don't need when there are better bikes available for less money.

I'm sure Ferraris are very nice cars.  They are not recommended for people seeking financial freedom.

In this case, this is not a Ferrari.  This is a $1300 USD bike, $2300 AUD.  More like an Accord or a Camry.  The Ferrari of bikes is Italian and costs upward of $8000 AUD. 

And I am quite confident that where I live there are not better bikes available for less money.  Suitable bikes yes, thus the discussion, but not better for my purposes.



 

[TooManyGuitars]

Lastly, you can ride a Wallyworld bike across the country or the $500 bike referred to here a few times just as you could the CC.  Same with commuting across the city.  I sure wouldn't want to though. I would enjoy the CC that much more (in other words, it would be worth the difference to me).

This line of thinking was a huge factor for me.  Basically an extra $1300 for greater enjoyment of my hour on the bike every single weekday for years to come.  Seems like good value to me.

[sol]

I also disagree that there are better bikes for (much) less money.

Okay, let's look.

For starters the CC can be bought used for approximately half of the retail price (so about $700 USD) in pretty much any major US city.  It has held it's value far too much, IMO, in part due to internet fanboys who rave about it for no good reason.  It's a nice bike, but there are other nice bikes.  Buying it used is a bad value, but buying it new is just getting taken advantage of by your LBS.

If you really love steel framed cyclocross bikes with tons of accessory points, and you insist on wasting your money by buying new, how do you feel about the Bianchi Volpe?  It was a little cheaper than the CC when new, and they're all over Craigslist for like $400 today.  I ride one, it's a solid commuter.

If you just really like the frame geometry of the CC, you can save yourself about 90% by buying any old Schwinn World Sport, the frame that Surly just totally ripped off to make the CC.  Those old vintage Schwinn's go for under $100, and you can replace as many of the components with modern ones as you see fit since you're such an expert bike mechanic.  There, I just saved you a $1000 and got you a better bike.  And you didn't even have to pay for Surly's marketing campaign.

[TooManyGuitars]

For starters the CC can be bought used for approximately half of the retail price (so about $700 USD) in pretty much any major US city.  It has held it's value far too much, IMO, in part due to internet fanboys who rave about it for no good reason.  It's a nice bike, but there are other nice bikes.  Buying it used is a bad value, but buying it new is just getting taken advantage of by your LBS.

If you really love steel framed cyclocross bikes with tons of accessory points, and you insist on wasting your money by buying new, how do you feel about the Bianchi Volpe?  It was a little cheaper than the CC when new, and they're all over Craigslist for like $400 today.  I ride one, it's a solid commuter.

This may be true, but I am not in any major US city.  I'm in Western Australia, about as far from major US cities as one can get.  There are not used CC available here, or Bianchi Volpe, new or used.  We have much slimmer pickins here than back in the old US of A. 

[sol]

If you paid $1300 for a Surly CC because that was the only way to get a decent steel framed cyclocross bike in your godforsaken corner of the world, then I am less upset with you.  Having a decent bike is one of the best ways to improve your overall life happiness level, and if I really couldn't get one for $400 because I happened to live on Mars then I would happily pay $1300 for it and then ride it until every spoke was broken.

[Rollin]

If you paid $1300 for a Surly CC because that was the only way to get a decent steel framed cyclocross bike in your godforsaken corner of the world, then I am less upset with you.  Having a decent bike is one of the best ways to improve your overall life happiness level, and if I really couldn't get one for $400 because I happened to live on Mars then I would happily pay $1300 for it and then ride it until every spoke was broken.

All is now well in the world and judgement has been turned off now. Phew! (BTW I hope you were just joking about calling western Australia Godforsaken (i.e., not at all interesting or appealing and usually located far from interesting people and places). I'd jump on a boat in a heartbeat to visit that country.)

Ride with pride TooManyGuitars. The Cross Check is a nice bike. I had the Vaya and prefer the CC.The Bianchi Volpe looks like a decent bike, but I just don't like the looks of a sloping top tube. Is that unpractical of me? Like deciding to buy new and paying more than $500? ;)

[misterhorsey]

Hey TooManyGuitars.

Let me chime in here with some support.  I'm in Melbourne and I bought a Surly Cross Check for AUD1,6000 about 5 years ago (I bargained them down from $AUD1,900). I bought it stock but since then have changed out the saddle (Selle SMP), wheels (Fulcrum Racing 5 CX), Cranks (167.5 Sugino) bought rack (tubus) and fenders (planet Bike). All up the bike probably cost me $2.3k after additions.

What many US MMMers may not appreciate is that Australia has generally higher wagers (for better and for worse) combined with a dollar than only buys US70 cents. So everything here is pretty expensive, and when you import things from the US, they are even more expensive.  Also, there's only about 20million people across a continent the size of the US so the cost of transporting things around puts a premium on everything.  For American readers, imagine the population of Illinois and Michigan combined and spread out across the entire country.  Or perhaps a bit over half the population of California, spread out across 8 states/territories of Australia.

The bike may be made in taiwan but economies of scale and distribution arrangements means that you can't cut out the middle man. I've read posts on Taiwanese cyclist blogs saying that they can't get bikes built in their country as cheaply as importing them!

I think in terms of frugality, the Surly isn't optimal - but if it gives you the same amount of pleasure as mine has it will be a good purchase for you.  I do a bit under 10,000kms a year, a combination of commuting, trail riding, road riding and pleasure cycling.  The cross check is my goto bike for carrying groceries, picking up hard rubbish, trail riding and last weekend I took it touring for the first time.  I also have a Kona Paddywagon single speed and a Cannondale Caad10 but the cross check gets most of the running.  When I figured out I could fit a case of beer (24 bottles) in the panniers I finally realised I could sell my car.

Also, buying a second hand bike/ or a cheap MTB and making do, isn't necessarily optimal if you're spending time fixing up a bike when you're prefer to spend that time riding.

I think a frugal option would be to have bought the Cell Brunswick Cyclocross bike, but you can only do that online.

I think a fancier option would be to build up a bike from a Soma frame. Or to buy a Genysis cyclocross bike. Or get some custom Gellie frame. Or Llewellyn. Or BAUM! None of which you have done.

On the East coast you can get a Fuji touring bike or a malvern star for about $1k, but I don't know if they're available to you and they don't really fit in with the same fun factor as the surly.  I don't know how many times you'll do it but the Surly's flexibilty mean that you can fit super fat tyres on it and go off trail, or you can run slicks and use it as a road bike (as I did for ages).   

But I think the Surly is a great choice in a situation where the options are far more limited than in the US, or even compared to Melbourne.

If you're ever in melbourne and want to go for a ride give us a hoy!!!  I'd love to ride over to Perth one day on my bike!



 

[GuitarStv]

If you paid $1300 for a Surly CC because that was the only way to get a decent steel framed cyclocross bike in your godforsaken corner of the world, then I am less upset with you.  Having a decent bike is one of the best ways to improve your overall life happiness level, and if I really couldn't get one for $400 because I happened to live on Mars then I would happily pay $1300 for it and then ride it until every spoke was broken.

You have to cut him some slack simply because he lives in Australia.  Literally every day, an Australian walks the razor's edge between life and death.  Every spider, ant, bird, snake, and bit of vegetation is either charged up with nuclear levels of poison.  If they're not poisonous, they're clearly designed by a cruel and capricious God and are out for vengeance on everything else for their physical deformities.  And then there are the bogans.

Given the living circumstances, surely being able to treasure the few moments he has left before his environment kills him on a slightly nicer bike is an acceptable expense?

[kendallf]

I have my Surly Straggler with me in Malaysia right now; I've been riding around Penang and really enjoying having the option of some fatter tires on crappy roads.  :-)  I paid about $500 for the frameset and put various old parts on it, but then I blew any sort of budget by paying Bilenky to chop it in two and put S&S couplers in it, which ran $600. 

I don't care, having a travel bike is a game changer for me.  I have had one for about 10 years and ridden all over the world.  Australian kangaroo country?  Check.  Central Finland?  Check.  Pyrenean stages of the Tour de France?  Check.  :-)  I can explore much more than I ever could with a car; get lost and ask for help, meet locals, keep my fitness, and generally live more.

[Jack]

My take on is that a Surly Cross Check is at least a halfway-reasonable choice, if not optimally mustachian. The unfortunate part was buying it new. (And the other unfortunate part was not telling us up front that the price was in Australian dollars, so we all flipped out!)

Of course, my commuter bike was $0 initially, and maybe $200 all-in (including an unmustachian professional powder coating job and accessories). But it may not be quite as nice as a Cross Check.

The bike may be made in taiwan but economies of scale and distribution arrangements means that you can't cut out the middle man. I've read posts on Taiwanese cyclist blogs saying that they can't get bikes built in their country as cheaply as importing them!

I don't know about that; I have a Taiwanese co-worker whom I convinced to start bike commuting recently, and he realized that it would be cheaper for him visit his parents in Taiwan, buy a bike there, and have it shipped back here. (He didn't actually do that because he just got his dad's old (but very nice titanium) bike instead.)

I don't care, having a travel bike is a game changer for me.  I have had one for about 10 years and ridden all over the world.  Australian kangaroo country?  Check.  Central Finland?  Check.  Pyrenean stages of the Tour de France?  Check.  :-)  I can explore much more than I ever could with a car; get lost and ask for help, meet locals, keep my fitness, and generally live more.

I have two Dahon Classic III folding bikes (one each for me and my wife). I paid $150 for the pair. I don't know how much traveling you do, but unless it's a lot I'm not convinced a full-size bike with couplers is necessary.

[onlykelsey]

Ride with pride TooManyGuitars. The Cross Check is a nice bike. I had the Vaya and prefer the CC.The Bianchi Volpe looks like a decent bike, but I just don't like the looks of a sloping top tube. Is that unpractical of me? Like deciding to buy new and paying more than $500? ;)

My crosscheck has a sloping top tube, actually.  Definitely for the 42 and 46 cm frames the year I bought.

[misterhorsey]

The bike may be made in taiwan but economies of scale and distribution arrangements means that you can't cut out the middle man. I've read posts on Taiwanese cyclist blogs saying that they can't get bikes built in their country as cheaply as importing them!

I don't know about that; I have a Taiwanese co-worker whom I convinced to start bike commuting recently, and he realized that it would be cheaper for him visit his parents in Taiwan, buy a bike there, and have it shipped back here. (He didn't actually do that because he just got his dad's old (but very nice titanium) bike instead.)

Ah, that's good to know.

There aren't too many consumer items designed in Australia, but two bike related things, Crumpler bags and Knog lights, seem always cheaper when bought from overseas (depending on the strength of the dollar.

http://www.crumpler.com/au/

https://www.knog.com.au/

I wish everyone had a dad with an old titanium bike!

[humbleMouse]

Well, the craigslist value of that bike is about $700 - $1000 in Minneapolis I can tell you that.  Enjoy your new bike and I am sure you will get lots of use out of it!  I am glad there are suckas like you out there so I can score great used bike deals in the future!!


Edit:  Just realized you are talking AUD, which apprently puts the bike @ around $1300.  Still much more than used, but not a terrible deal.  Crosschecks are good bikes, you will like it. 

Also, fun fact: Surly's are designed in Minneapolis.

[Erica]

I can't imagine moving away from SLT to go to Seattle, you must miss it.

All the time, for me alone it's the best place in the world and I'd happily live the rest of my life there. But family=compromise and tahoe has low wages, crap education and is after all a small town which my wife isn't very happy in.

I don't really live in urban Seattle though. I live in Bellevue WA which is east across lake washington and right on i90 which leads out to the Cascades. I can be in the foothills in 20 minutes and in the real mountains in 40. Very green, very nice people, proximity to high paying tech jobs and excellent public education. I can't think of too many places that have a good mix that fits our family as well as it does.
[/quote] That's very  understandable. I'd probably do the same thing

[libertarian4321]

With a cracked wheel, a cracked fork, and another frame repair that I do not trust to last forever, it became clear last week that it is finally time for a new commuter bike.  After much consternation (what to get? how much to spend?) and discussion with fellow mustachians, non mustachian bike enthusiasts, my wife and others, I settled on ordering a brand new steel bike through a local shop.  Today I will pick up my new Surly Cross Check with upgraded shifters and slick tires for commuting.  $2400.

Sure I could have bought something perfectly suitable second hand for much less.  Plenty of suitable rides for $1000 around. However  I ride every single day rain or shine, and my ride to and from work is among my favourite parts of my day.  And compared to riding the bus, let alone driving, I'll be back in the black inside of a year with hours of joy and fitness to show for it.

So a week after making the decision, and on the day of picking it up, I still firmly believe this is a purchase I feel good about.  First new bike I have bought in about 12 years.  I have the cash on hand, can afford it, and will use it and love it every day.

What does everyone else think?  Sensible purchase, or consumer sucka?

I spent $500 on a bike last month.  Both my wife and I thought it was a ridiculously extravagant purchase, but as multimillionaires, we don't have the discipline we had in our "accumulation" years, and sometimes make outrageous purchases.

That said, I can't even imagine spending $2400 on a bike, unless you are trying to qualify for the US Olympic cycling team.  Or maybe if it comes with an orgasmitron or something else that would justify that price?