New Bike - worth it?
Discussion
Morning All,
I have dusted off the roadbike in recent weeks which hadn't been ridden in anger since 2019 as i took up running in a big way during C19. The bike itself is a Cannondale Supersix evo Sram red, 2014 moded Hi Mod (cable gears and rim brakes). Back when i bought it it was only rim brakes available. I had the option to get the electric gears but opted against for the sake of lightness and simplicity.
Anyway fast forward 10 years and im back enjoying riding it again. I was however asking myself the q as to whether it would be worth trading it for a bike with disc brakes. Now I have a cx bike with disc brakes and its far better for braking in the wet. In the context of the roadbike though i a bit unclear as to whether i would really notice much of a difference between a high end road bike from ten years ago and now, except for the brakes.
Whats the opinion here? worth getting as new bike or just ride what i have as i wouldnt notice the difference?
I have dusted off the roadbike in recent weeks which hadn't been ridden in anger since 2019 as i took up running in a big way during C19. The bike itself is a Cannondale Supersix evo Sram red, 2014 moded Hi Mod (cable gears and rim brakes). Back when i bought it it was only rim brakes available. I had the option to get the electric gears but opted against for the sake of lightness and simplicity.
Anyway fast forward 10 years and im back enjoying riding it again. I was however asking myself the q as to whether it would be worth trading it for a bike with disc brakes. Now I have a cx bike with disc brakes and its far better for braking in the wet. In the context of the roadbike though i a bit unclear as to whether i would really notice much of a difference between a high end road bike from ten years ago and now, except for the brakes.
Whats the opinion here? worth getting as new bike or just ride what i have as i wouldnt notice the difference?
New set of carbon wheels would bring it back to life. Not in the wet though lol.
I’m in exactly the same situation it would cost probably £3000 to find a modern day equivalent with disc brakes. That’s a lot just for better braking in the wet. I don’t go out in the wet so haven’t bothered.
I’m in exactly the same situation it would cost probably £3000 to find a modern day equivalent with disc brakes. That’s a lot just for better braking in the wet. I don’t go out in the wet so haven’t bothered.
BoRED S2upid said:
New set of carbon wheels would bring it back to life. Not in the wet though lol.
I’m in exactly the same situation it would cost probably £3000 to find a modern day equivalent with disc brakes. That’s a lot just for better braking in the wet. I don’t go out in the wet so haven’t bothered.
Thanks man. I like your suggestion except i already have carbon rims on her. The handlebar is carbon, seat stem is carbon, bearings are ceramic. I’m in exactly the same situation it would cost probably £3000 to find a modern day equivalent with disc brakes. That’s a lot just for better braking in the wet. I don’t go out in the wet so haven’t bothered.
I went nuts,
RabidGranny said:
BoRED S2upid said:
New set of carbon wheels would bring it back to life. Not in the wet though lol.
I’m in exactly the same situation it would cost probably £3000 to find a modern day equivalent with disc brakes. That’s a lot just for better braking in the wet. I don’t go out in the wet so haven’t bothered.
Thanks man. I like your suggestion except i already have carbon rims on her. The handlebar is carbon, seat stem is carbon, bearings are ceramic. I’m in exactly the same situation it would cost probably £3000 to find a modern day equivalent with disc brakes. That’s a lot just for better braking in the wet. I don’t go out in the wet so haven’t bothered.
I went nuts,
I had similar thoughts on a much lower budget, but I found that properly fettling the rim brakes and buying some better brake blocks made the rim brakes absolutely fine wet, dry, one-in-five hills, whatever.
Basically clean and lube every pivot, a new inner cable and adjust properly plus some Richie blocks and it's ten times better than it was.
Now have brakes which are both powerful and subtle.
That's on my cx/gravel drop bar bike.
I had a little go on a vintage mountain bike a few weeks ago, I was reminded how good those old rim brakes could be, although I guess they are more work to keep clean and fettled.
Basically clean and lube every pivot, a new inner cable and adjust properly plus some Richie blocks and it's ten times better than it was.
Now have brakes which are both powerful and subtle.
That's on my cx/gravel drop bar bike.
I had a little go on a vintage mountain bike a few weeks ago, I was reminded how good those old rim brakes could be, although I guess they are more work to keep clean and fettled.
10 years is a decent time frame in bike development ... but justifying the sort of spend is only a decision you can make.
It isn't going to be night and day ... braking will be much improved but thats about it.
It really depends what you're looking to do. If by buying a new bike, its to maintain your enthusiasm for riding, in my opinion thats reason enough to spend the money. If its for greater comfort, then also fine as you'll spend more time riding. If its for 'speed', then I'd say invest that money/effort in developing your fitness through structured training/coaching.
It isn't going to be night and day ... braking will be much improved but thats about it.
It really depends what you're looking to do. If by buying a new bike, its to maintain your enthusiasm for riding, in my opinion thats reason enough to spend the money. If its for greater comfort, then also fine as you'll spend more time riding. If its for 'speed', then I'd say invest that money/effort in developing your fitness through structured training/coaching.
Do you struggle with braking on rim brakes?
The last 3 bikes I've bought have disc brakes, and I prefer them, but I still ride my road bikes with rim brakes and never get any issues, even in the wet.
But I'm only about 60/62kg. If you're 90-100kg, disc brakes will be of greater impact.
The last 3 bikes I've bought have disc brakes, and I prefer them, but I still ride my road bikes with rim brakes and never get any issues, even in the wet.
But I'm only about 60/62kg. If you're 90-100kg, disc brakes will be of greater impact.
The Supersix you've got is still one of the nicest road bikes IMO. They got it just right, stiff yet comfortable and incredibly responsive. Bikes changed not because they needed to improve them but for marketing reasons so that they could sell more new bikes. Enjoy what you have.
Pros are having to ride increasingly the wrong sized bikes with silly sized stems etc to be able to fit on them and get a proper position as modern bikes get taller and taller head tubes and silly aero-led features.
Pros are having to ride increasingly the wrong sized bikes with silly sized stems etc to be able to fit on them and get a proper position as modern bikes get taller and taller head tubes and silly aero-led features.
573 said:
The Supersix you've got is still one of the nicest road bikes IMO. They got it just right, stiff yet comfortable and incredibly responsive.
Friend of mine is a Performance Scientist for INEOS, he is also a former National & Commonwealth Gold medalist. When he's not riding a 'company bike' - he rides a supersix (with a 170 stem, 32cm bars and a single 58T chainring...!)573 said:
Bikes changed not because they needed to improve them but for marketing reasons so that they could sell more new bikes. Enjoy what you have.
Yes....ish. No more than cars/phones/computers/trainers/etc. Competitive market forces are the key driver.JEA1K said:
573 said:
Bikes changed not because they needed to improve them but for marketing reasons so that they could sell more new bikes. Enjoy what you have.
Thats a very cynical view of the bike industry (I 100% agree with you) 
I don't have any desire to buy a new bike that will be harder to maintain at home (hidden front end cable routing, hydraulics), dependent on all sorts of specialised components (headsets, non round seat posts), and less adjustable (fixed bar/stems).
A SuperSix Hi-mod is one of the finest frames produced, they have an almost cultish following & are well regarded by the hill climbing lot as they are super light & stiff. They also look like a “proper” bike with the horizontal top tube etc. With some lightish wheels your bike will be under the uci limit of 6.8kg. To get that number with a disc equipped bike would be very costly, S-Works Aethos, TCR SL etc…think £8-10k ! Although weight isn’t everything (now that bikes weigh more ;-))…) Personally I’d stick rather than twist. Red mechanical is a lovely groupset, great shifting & braking, holds up well & is mega light. Maybe freshen it up with new cables, bar tape & a service. If the wheels are tired maybe a set of Hunt 50’s or similar.
Julian Scott said:
Yes....ish. No more than cars/phones/computers/trainers/etc. Competitive market forces are the key driver.
Not quite that simple with a road bike though. The UCI restrict innovation hugely, the other sectors you've listed aren't subject to the same regulatory stifling. andySC said:
A SuperSix Hi-mod is one of the finest frames produced, they have an almost cultish following & are well regarded by the hill climbing lot as they are super light & stiff. They also look like a “proper” bike with the horizontal top tube etc. With some lightish wheels your bike will be under the uci limit of 6.8kg. To get that number with a disc equipped bike would be very costly, S-Works Aethos, TCR SL etc…think £8-10k ! Although weight isn’t everything (now that bikes weigh more ;-))…) Personally I’d stick rather than twist. Red mechanical is a lovely groupset, great shifting & braking, holds up well & is mega light. Maybe freshen it up with new cables, bar tape & a service. If the wheels are tired maybe a set of Hunt 50’s or similar.
All of that. I had a Black Inc (model up from a Hi-Mod with the nano carbon) and without any flimsy parts and sat on deep Enve wheels it was still only 5.4kg.The point about tyre clearance is a good one and the only real reason to ditch an older frame IMO. A wider tyre at a lower pressure is faster and more comfortable.
573 said:
Julian Scott said:
Yes....ish. No more than cars/phones/computers/trainers/etc. Competitive market forces are the key driver.
Not quite that simple with a road bike though. The UCI restrict innovation hugely, the other sectors you've listed aren't subject to the same regulatory stifling. Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff