Just ordered my 1st "serious" bike.

[BillR]

Hello all,

Just over a week ago I dropped my Fluid Sprint 3 into Anaconda for a service.
As you do, I wandered around and checked out what was on the floor.
First thing that caught my eye was a Jamis Xenith marked down to $1695.

Until that moment I had no intention of buying another bike!
The fellas I ride with are on road bikes, but I don't have any trouble keeping up on the Fluid.

Spotting the Jamis and seeing that price seemed to change all that!

How I got to this point is still a complete mystery.
In the course of a week I have put more effort into learning what's what with bikes than I ever did at school!

One of the places I stumbled on was the forum here and the wealth of information about buying a new bike.
So to all those that contributed to the buying a new bike thread, thank you!
The intensive research in bike speak has helped me get my head around concepts like group sets, crank set, cassette (who knew they were still in exsitence!!) and ratio's meant I had half a clue when I walked into the first bike shop.

I was much better prepared when I visited the second one and had a really good idea when I went to the third.

I was able to figure I was looking for an endurance bike (and not a race bike) and that the budget was around the 2k mark.

I ended up test riding a Fuji Grand Fondo 2.3 and a Specialized Roubaix.
After the second test ride (the Roubaix), I went back and took the Fuji for another short ride, just to be sure.

The excitment has been building all week.
I collect the Roubaix sl4 with the 105 group set tomorrow afternoon and looking forward to putting a few k's on the clock this weekend!!

Thank you

cheers
Bill

[thecaptn]

SL4 with 105 nice! I'm excited for you It sounds like you got a good deal. Let us know what you think once you've done a few K's.
Pete

[jasonc]

ride it like you stole it!

[rjk]

welcome to the road bike world, its a strange place but so much fun

[BillR]

ride it like you stole it!

LOL

[BillR]

welcome to the road bike world, its a strange place but so much fun

Thank you, sounds like I'll fit right in!

[BillR]

SL4 with 105 nice! I'm excited for you It sounds like you got a good deal. Let us know what you think once you've done a few K's.
Pete

Cheers Pete and will do!!

($2,200 including the 105 pedals and shoes)

[RonK]

Excellent choice - you have done your homework well.

[briztoon]

That's a nice bike and the SL4 is the best of the Specialized frames. Is it a 2014 SL4 or did you buy a previous years on special?

[JohnJoyner]

I like the look of the Roubaix.. Will also be keen to hear your impressions.
I joined the serious bike club a year & a half ago & am so glad I did.

[BillR]

Excellent choice - you have done your homework well.

cheers Ron.

[BillR]

That's a nice bike and the SL4 is the best of the Specialized frames. Is it a 2014 SL4 or did you buy a previous years on special?

I believe it's the 2014. Will confirm that tomorrow.

[BillR]

I like the look of the Roubaix.. Will also be keen to hear your impressions.
I joined the serious bike club a year & a half ago & am so glad I did.

I was wondering if this was all a bit of a rush since I'd bought the Fluid in March last year.

Have entered the Bupa 110km challenge and itching to get out there on the new wheels!!

cheers John.

[im_no_pro]

A rush to upgrade?? From March last year?? I'd call that slow

[joshnh]

I was wondering if this was all a bit of a rush since I'd bought the Fluid in March last year.

Not at all! I bought my first road bike (entry level) around March last year and have just recently upgraded to a much nicer machine.

[briztoon]

I was wondering if this was all a bit of a rush since I'd bought the Fluid in March last year.

Er, I bought my first bike, an Avanti Sprint, in February 2011. Upgraded to a Specialized Tarmac SL2 105 in September 2011. Upgraded to a Scott CR1 SL in August this year. Already planing my next (final) bike.

[Dan]

Already planing my next (final) bike.

Ha!

[BillR]

Gawd, sounds like I've opened the flood gates!!

[Dan]

That's it Bill, there's never a final bike - just the next one. Roubaix is a great choice.

[lobstermash]

They say the only cure for upgraditis is to fight it. The instant you give in, it's all downhill.

I managed to fight it with my espresso machine, and the urge has finally passed after about a year. But I'd really love to get a Chinese carbon frame to deck out with the bits off my 4 month old alloy frame...

[briztoon]

I hope this cures me of upgradeitis.

[DoubleSpeeded]

Hello all,

Just over a week ago I dropped my Fluid Sprint 3 into Anaconda for a service.
As you do, I wandered around and checked out what was on the floor.
First thing that caught my eye was a Jamis Xenith marked down to $1695.

Until that moment I had no intention of buying another bike!
The fellas I ride with are on road bikes, but I don't have any trouble keeping up on the Fluid.

Spotting the Jamis and seeing that price seemed to change all that!

How I got to this point is still a complete mystery.
In the course of a week I have put more effort into learning what's what with bikes than I ever did at school!

One of the places I stumbled on was the forum here and the wealth of information about buying a new bike.
So to all those that contributed to the buying a new bike thread, thank you!
The intensive research in bike speak has helped me get my head around concepts like group sets, crank set, cassette (who knew they were still in exsitence!!) and ratio's meant I had half a clue when I walked into the first bike shop.

I was much better prepared when I visited the second one and had a really good idea when I went to the third.

I was able to figure I was looking for an endurance bike (and not a race bike) and that the budget was around the 2k mark.

I ended up test riding a Fuji Grand Fondo 2.3 and a Specialized Roubaix.
After the second test ride (the Roubaix), I went back and took the Fuji for another short ride, just to be sure.

The excitment has been building all week.
I collect the Roubaix sl4 with the 105 group set tomorrow afternoon and looking forward to putting a few k's on the clock this weekend!!

Thank you

cheers
Bill

Another success story...

good to hear you are happy, weekend is around the corner and very excited for ya.
hope the weather holds out

[nezumi]

They say the only cure for upgraditis is to fight it. The instant you give in, it's all downhill.

I don't think you upgrade from an endurance road bike with a downhill MTB..

[RonK]

They say the only cure for upgraditis is to fight it. The instant you give in, it's all downhill.

I managed to fight it with my espresso machine, and the urge has finally passed after about a year. But I'd really love to get a Chinese carbon frame to deck out with the bits off my 4 month old alloy frame...

Upgraditis cannot be ignored. Maybe you can put it off for a time, or temporarily sate the urge with component upgrades, but sooner or later you'll be looking for n + 1. Resistance is futile, don't waste your energy trying to fight it. Go with the flow.

[thecaptn]

I hope this cures me of upgradeitis.

Well this is worth a try