New (to me) bike or upgrade?

[boyse7en]

Due to being furloughed and the gym and swimming pool being closed I have dusted off the bike and have been getting a few miles in three or four times a week.
The bike is a Specialized Tricross Sport, of around 2009/10 vintage.

I'm now wondering whether I should get a secondhand road bike to replace it, or whether I could improve it with a spruce up and some new wheels and tyres. With a budget of around £400 + whatever mine is worth I'm not going to be looking at particularly high-end racing machinery but could possibly get a lower-spec carbon framed machine - Boardmans and Planet X machines seem to come in on budget.

[MiseryStreak]

Don’t go for a new (or even second hand) carbon frame with that budget. There are really good alloy frames that will build into a decent road bike for £500 (I’m taking a very wild guess that your 10/11 year old bike will be worth £100, it could be more). Planet X or Ribble or any of the Chinese (PRC not ROC, arguably the best Carbon frames are made in Taiwan) carbon bikes will start at just under £1,000. Anything cheaper than this and I’d avoid like the Coronavirus.

You may of course grab a bargain, virtually unused carbon bike for £500 but not sure you can even pick it up legally from a private seller at the moment?

A decent alloy frame will be better built, last longer and be just as light as a cheap carbon frame.

And then there’s steel...

[Dave.]

I'd just give the drivetrain a good service and buy some road friendlier tyres.

Lockdown won't be forever (I tricking hope) and you might chuck the bike(s) back in the shed never to be seen again.

[David_M]

Dave. said:

I'd just give the drivetrain a good service and buy some road friendlier tyres.

+1 to this.

If you have got "all rounder" tyres on then a decent set of road tyres would make a big difference. I would recommend Continental 4Seasons - folding, fairly lightweight and roll well but also good puncture resistance. Other people would have their own favourites.

A general service would probably also help after all this time. Either DIY or find a local bike shop that is open for business (some are).

Dave. said:

Lockdown won't be forever (I tricking hope) and you might chuck the bike(s) back in the shed never to be seen again.

Also this is a good reason not to spend money now. You have a bike. Ride it, if you are still riding it in a year then buy whatever your budget allows if you still want to.