Hiring a road bike instead of buying ?
Discussion
I’m a bit lost ?
I need a new road bike , but will only be using it in Spain where I have an holiday house .
In the UK I am no longer comfortable riding on the roads and will mainly turbo with Zwift or also possibly look in to getting an Gravel bike of some sorts .
I have been looking for quite a while on what Rd bike I want to get and end up getting confused or the price keeps increasing, as well as the current supply issues not helping with used prices or delivery times on new bikes .
This time when I was out in Spain ( I live up near some mountains ) I hire a bike from an bike hire / holiday company . It was for only a day but they were brilliant it cost me £70 for an BMC Roadmachine sram etap 2022 model and rode lovely , I was really impressed how it road and how nice it was to ride .
This ride has confirmed I do really want electronic shifting as well as disc brakes ( I crashed my last bike coming down a mountain and I think I’m scared now of rim breaks ) . I do like the no cable look etc but that not a deal breaker on buying , but most bikes I see for sale are around the 3k to 4 k price range for the spec I want second hand or 4K upwards for new with very long waiting times .
So I am thinking of possibly holding off for a yr and just renting one for the weeks I am out in Spain this yr 6 weeks is roughly £800 depending on time of yr , so even if I did say 12weeks hire that’s £1600 ?
Is this totally stupid man maths , I don’t know but I may be able to do a deal with the hire company to buy a bike off them at a better price than what they sell there hire bikes for at the end of each season as well ? Or by next yr hopefully supply issues may be a bit better ?
I could buy but something is stopping me praps I don’t want to spend more than 2.5k or feel second hand is just to hiked up or disc breaks are a bit to new still so command an higher price than rim , plus the market is all distorted as you can buy new without waiting 6 to 12 months .?
I hope this makes sense to anyone reading and so back to my original Q
Would I be silly to hire a bike this yr for the weeks I’m actually going to use it knowing it going to cost me £800 to £1600 depending how long I go out for but hopefully by next yr things would of settled down more , plus the rumour of electronic 105 may well be available as well ?
I need a new road bike , but will only be using it in Spain where I have an holiday house .
In the UK I am no longer comfortable riding on the roads and will mainly turbo with Zwift or also possibly look in to getting an Gravel bike of some sorts .
I have been looking for quite a while on what Rd bike I want to get and end up getting confused or the price keeps increasing, as well as the current supply issues not helping with used prices or delivery times on new bikes .
This time when I was out in Spain ( I live up near some mountains ) I hire a bike from an bike hire / holiday company . It was for only a day but they were brilliant it cost me £70 for an BMC Roadmachine sram etap 2022 model and rode lovely , I was really impressed how it road and how nice it was to ride .
This ride has confirmed I do really want electronic shifting as well as disc brakes ( I crashed my last bike coming down a mountain and I think I’m scared now of rim breaks ) . I do like the no cable look etc but that not a deal breaker on buying , but most bikes I see for sale are around the 3k to 4 k price range for the spec I want second hand or 4K upwards for new with very long waiting times .
So I am thinking of possibly holding off for a yr and just renting one for the weeks I am out in Spain this yr 6 weeks is roughly £800 depending on time of yr , so even if I did say 12weeks hire that’s £1600 ?
Is this totally stupid man maths , I don’t know but I may be able to do a deal with the hire company to buy a bike off them at a better price than what they sell there hire bikes for at the end of each season as well ? Or by next yr hopefully supply issues may be a bit better ?
I could buy but something is stopping me praps I don’t want to spend more than 2.5k or feel second hand is just to hiked up or disc breaks are a bit to new still so command an higher price than rim , plus the market is all distorted as you can buy new without waiting 6 to 12 months .?
I hope this makes sense to anyone reading and so back to my original Q
Would I be silly to hire a bike this yr for the weeks I’m actually going to use it knowing it going to cost me £800 to £1600 depending how long I go out for but hopefully by next yr things would of settled down more , plus the rumour of electronic 105 may well be available as well ?
Seems like a pretty high cash burn for something that you could drop down a brand peg or so and own. eg this Orro for 3.5k , due in Feb, or Ribble some time later. guess it depends how much you hate the outlay, and like newness, vs having setup dialled and convenient. think i would prefer my few year old road bike (with hydro disks & di2) with position dialled etc etc to hiring something fresh every time i went out. that's assuming it is fresh too, rather than battered, as most (lower end) hire bikes i've used are
https://www.orrobikes.com/shop/gold-stc-disc-ulteg...
Thank you for your time in replying .
I suppose I’m also not really sure if I want to outlay that much money on a bike , but will have to if I want the latest spec or electronic shifting ?
I have looked at ORRO plus they near me I do like them plus they get good reviews, I also looked at Dolan .
The Orro lead times are loads better ( if true ) there is a local bike shop near me that deals with them praps I should chat to them .
Or I suppose my other option is to go with 105 or similar groupset and save money for later ?
I told you I was lost .
To be fair the hire company I used the bike seemed spot on and worked perfect plus due to travel restrictions and also doing holidays where people bring their own bike maybe I was lucky .But I fully get what you saying about hiring etc .
Once again appreciate yours or any other replies
I suppose I’m also not really sure if I want to outlay that much money on a bike , but will have to if I want the latest spec or electronic shifting ?
I have looked at ORRO plus they near me I do like them plus they get good reviews, I also looked at Dolan .
The Orro lead times are loads better ( if true ) there is a local bike shop near me that deals with them praps I should chat to them .
Or I suppose my other option is to go with 105 or similar groupset and save money for later ?
I told you I was lost .
To be fair the hire company I used the bike seemed spot on and worked perfect plus due to travel restrictions and also doing holidays where people bring their own bike maybe I was lucky .But I fully get what you saying about hiring etc .
Once again appreciate yours or any other replies
I think you‘re paying a lot for the rental. I normally rent a current season mechanical ultegra disc carbon Merida from the link below. The bike‘s cost about €3,000. I just checked and I paid €164 for 12 days hire last June. At that price for me it‘s worth it not to cart one of my bikes around, have it thrown around by baggage handlers (replacing a damaged di2 derailleur due to rough handling is not cheap) and paying for the privilege.
Eyebeebe
That was a daily hire cost , a 12 day hire in say peek season July is €300 .
My main reason for hiring this yr is because I’m hoping costs will lower next yr for second hand bikes with disc and electric shifting as well as supply for new bikes will also be easier to get ?
If I brought a bike I would only need to transport it once and then keep it over here or buy from a Spanish dealer .
That was a daily hire cost , a 12 day hire in say peek season July is €300 .
My main reason for hiring this yr is because I’m hoping costs will lower next yr for second hand bikes with disc and electric shifting as well as supply for new bikes will also be easier to get ?
If I brought a bike I would only need to transport it once and then keep it over here or buy from a Spanish dealer .
loskie said:
what's the benefit of electric shifting or is it a gimmick?
What happens when the electrickery fails? Can you still change?
It's just better. Faster shift rates with no need to trim, and never having indexing out. No pressure needed that can be a challenge for some (like me) shifting front into big ring. Huge benefit from 'syncro shift' which controls front based on where you are in cassette, preventing cross chaining. Also computer control on Shimano through hidden top buttons.What happens when the electrickery fails? Can you still change?
Aside from the large cost, charging once every 6 months is the only negative.
Thank you everyone for your replies , it really appreciated having all your different view and opinions .
Well I made a decision and took a 10 hr rd trip
to pick it up and then get it all checked over and fitting perfect .
Before it spends its life in sunny Spain .
Ok It not electronic but if I ever want to upgrade I can , but it does have disc and is in beautiful condition . Previous owner
saying it only done 180 miles from his strava records , Im super happy and think I have made the right decision
This way I can ride it any day I want and it is mine .
Dolan Tuono 2020 model with upgraded stem to hide cables . I payed £1600 and happy with that he threw in pedals and bottle cages and bottles as well .
Let me know if you approve ?
Well I made a decision and took a 10 hr rd trip
to pick it up and then get it all checked over and fitting perfect . Before it spends its life in sunny Spain .
Ok It not electronic but if I ever want to upgrade I can , but it does have disc and is in beautiful condition . Previous owner
saying it only done 180 miles from his strava records , Im super happy and think I have made the right decision
This way I can ride it any day I want and it is mine .
Dolan Tuono 2020 model with upgraded stem to hide cables . I payed £1600 and happy with that he threw in pedals and bottle cages and bottles as well .
Let me know if you approve ?
That looks like a bargain and more than adequate for your intended use. Lucky you being able to ride in decent weather regularly.
I've been in a similar position to you having three bikes of pre-2010 vintage, and last year gave into the temptation to drop £4k on an up to date road bike. However this winter I've been plodding round the wet, muddy lanes on a 1996 Cannondale CAAD 5 or a 2005 Specialized Rockhopper, (with a few cheap upgrades) and enjoying every minute of it, with no worries about damaging the bike I am riding. Sometimes less is more...
I've been in a similar position to you having three bikes of pre-2010 vintage, and last year gave into the temptation to drop £4k on an up to date road bike. However this winter I've been plodding round the wet, muddy lanes on a 1996 Cannondale CAAD 5 or a 2005 Specialized Rockhopper, (with a few cheap upgrades) and enjoying every minute of it, with no worries about damaging the bike I am riding. Sometimes less is more...
Bathroom Security
I promise you it not or wasn't a wind up .
I really wanted it all , but from replies and putting sensible head on I needed disc but wanted electronic shifting . But couldn't afford both .
My man maths was that by next yr things should of settled down , the new Shim 12 speed or cheaper Elec shifting group set would be out and disc bike will be even more popular , I see loads of top end rim bikes selling . So that is why I thought of hiring for a yr , then buy next yr when my money should or probably buy a " better " bike .
But this came along It had been for sale for a while but was a bit of a journey for most people , top of wales as well as he just dropped the price from £2100 . It had everything I want and the frame is the same as their top end one with e tap , so I could always upgrade in a few yrs time if I want to .
Once again sometimes it nice to ask Qs on here and get lots of differing options as for me it then makes you answer what you really want , or if you just being silly .
I promise you it not or wasn't a wind up .
I really wanted it all , but from replies and putting sensible head on I needed disc but wanted electronic shifting . But couldn't afford both .
My man maths was that by next yr things should of settled down , the new Shim 12 speed or cheaper Elec shifting group set would be out and disc bike will be even more popular , I see loads of top end rim bikes selling . So that is why I thought of hiring for a yr , then buy next yr when my money should or probably buy a " better " bike .
But this came along It had been for sale for a while but was a bit of a journey for most people , top of wales as well as he just dropped the price from £2100 . It had everything I want and the frame is the same as their top end one with e tap , so I could always upgrade in a few yrs time if I want to .
Once again sometimes it nice to ask Qs on here and get lots of differing options as for me it then makes you answer what you really want , or if you just being silly .
Camoradi said:
That looks like a bargain and more than adequate for your intended use. Lucky you being able to ride in decent weather regularly.
I've been in a similar position to you having three bikes of pre-2010 vintage, and last year gave into the temptation to drop £4k on an up to date road bike. However this winter I've been plodding round the wet, muddy lanes on a 1996 Cannondale CAAD 5 or a 2005 Specialized Rockhopper, (with a few cheap upgrades) and enjoying every minute of it, with no worries about damaging the bike I am riding. Sometimes less is more...
Thank you , yes I do feel very lucky every time I am out there . So true yes less is more or maybe we can just enjoy it for what it is rather than getting over precious about something and just use it for what it ment to be used for . I've been in a similar position to you having three bikes of pre-2010 vintage, and last year gave into the temptation to drop £4k on an up to date road bike. However this winter I've been plodding round the wet, muddy lanes on a 1996 Cannondale CAAD 5 or a 2005 Specialized Rockhopper, (with a few cheap upgrades) and enjoying every minute of it, with no worries about damaging the bike I am riding. Sometimes less is more...
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