Bike Choice - Ventum vs new Roadie
Ladies and Gents, I have a question for the group. I am starting to have some free cash available to buy a bike (so says I at least. My wife may disagree). What kicked off this line of thinking was that my current roadie likely needs some work around the gearing, cabling and derailleurs. MY LBS tells me that with the way Shimano has redone their shifters, my current set up is only replaceable with second hand parts they may or may not be able to find. Otherwise I may just have to redo the whole set up. I have since been debating two options:
1. Sink the money into a new roadie knowing I won't have to worry about the fix that will have to happen at some point (when it acts up I can't get into the big ring). I know I would use it a lot, but also think I can probably get by with my current roadie that I do like and wouldn't really want to change until it gives out.
2. Take advantage of the Ventum deal currently being offered as it sure seems to be too good to pass up. I could sort out some of the things I haven't liked about my P3 and look super cool on race day (just kidding, I couldn't look super cool even with Brad Pitt taking the picture for me).
So, I ask you, what would you do? I ask this knowing full well that in the past I have always said Roadie, as you will use it more, end of discussion. Given the ventum deal, I'm having second thoughts on that stance. Let me know what you all think. Thanks!
Comments
have you thougth about a used roadie?? Can find very good deals on very newish bikes. Just lock in on what you want that was built a year or two ago and go hunting regularly on the Facebook groups (Tri 'n sell it & Online swapmeet) and on ebay... I bought a 6 month old Trek Madone RSL ($13000 MSRP) for less than half off a guy that was a sales manager of a chain of shops that had bought it for himself. Have found other really good deals on a CX bike & 2 MTBs... then sell the P3 to help fund all of this!
My $.02
I'd also look at where you will be spending the most time. If you plan on a lot of tri racing I'd get the Ventum, sell your P3 and roadie and get an updated roadie.
what don't you like about the P3? Its a fast frame and easy to work on/travel with, and not many are much faster if at all. If it isn't electronic shifting that might be a reason to switch it out however.
I have a nice road bike, but since I have started doing full distance races, I only ride it when I am on trips/at camps etc. In the shoulder seasons I am spending more time on cross/gravel bikes etc. So I'm not sure if the 'spending more time on' argument holds up.
If it were me I would put the most money into what I am racing on and cobble together everything else. If I were to get a roadie for just riding around on, I would buy a bike with mechanical shiting though.