Buy now or wait?

[RedTen]

I've watched the price of bikes and components continue to rise and I'm not sure when to pull the trigger. I want to get out this summer and I'm not particularly keen on waiting 3+ months for something to come back into stock.

The problem is the only bike near me in stock, and in my size, is the Giant TCR Advanced Disc 3 at £2,100 which feels strong given the spec. I'd hoped to get into 105 at that sort of money but it's so thin on the ground at the moment.

So - what say the OCUK collective? Suck it up, pay the premium and enjoy it while I can, or wait it out and see if things return to 'normal'?

Linky to the bike for those interested.

 

[RedTen]

I think I’d rather have a bike for summer rather than worry about the price assuming I could afford it.

Is second hand not an option?

Yeah, I’ve been leaning that way but I’m trying not to get carried away! I also don’t want to get too hung up on group set or spec if in reality the latest Tiagra is reasonable.

Re. second hand, I’ve looked but I’d rather pay more for the warranty and comfort tbh. Especially with a carbon frame.

 

[RedTen]

How keen a cyclist are you? Could get a relatively cheap one now to tide you over, and if prices drop £500 later in the year you'll end up with two bikes for the same price. I've put over 2000km onto my Triban rc500 and it's not missed a beat yet. Obviously it's far from fancy, but it's done the job

I'm a keen amateur but the social side is one of the biggest draws for me. Summer rides are typically around 50-75km with friends and some social drinks or coffees in between.

I'm generally not out in the rain or bitter cold and I'm definitely not a turbo warrior. Fitness is done via weights, running, and a rower.

I've been riding on a bit of a stop gap bike for a couple of years (cheapie Specialized Allez w/ Claris groupset) but I've since invested some decent money in kit and accessories and I think I look a bit silly riding around on a £300 bike. There's definitely some vanity involved here...

 

[RedTen]

Thanks, it’s good to get others views. I thought a few might suggest it’s a mad purchase but it’s good to hear positives about the frame and spec.

I’m going to the store in the morning so we’ll see what happens...

 

[RedTen]

I went to see it this morning and ended up buying it! The guys at Giant were great and threw £100 worth of pedals into the deal so that made me feel a bit better. I managed to get out for a quick 35k this afternoon and it’s a lovely machine.

My backside is sore after being off a bike for so long and I’m sure the new seat isn’t helping! I think I’ll get a proper bike fit booked in the next couple of weeks.

Thanks for all your views.