Doing Shopping

I’ve fallen prey to the buying bug. After a couple summers of renewed interest in bicycling, I’ve determined that I need a newer bike. Well, I guess that depends on how one defines “need.” My 21-year-old Raleigh rides about as well as it did a year or two ago. But it’s not as fast or sexy as the new ones. And who doesn’t like fast or sexy? Besides, the old faithful has a weight issue, and extra pounds aren’t your friend when you’re headed up any of East Tennessee’s finer hills.
I haven’t decided what to buy yet; I’m leaning toward a carbon fiber frame with an ultegra-level components. Thus far I’ve looked at some Treks, Bianchis, Felts, and Giants. Hope to check out Specialized, Litespeed, and a couple other brands soon. My hunch is that within a given price range, the quality of a majority bikes is comparable. So test rides are primarily focused on fit and feel.
If it’s been a while since you priced road bikes. Or if, like me, you’re cheap, you might be surprised at the cost of these machines. So in addition to finding a bike I like, I’ve also been going through some rationalization exercises to justify a purchase. Here’s a few of the things I’ve come up with:
(1) Haven’t bought a bike in 20 years.
(2) The cost isn’t so bad if you amortize it over a number of years.
(3) I don’t spend a lot on entertainment/recreation.
(4) Cost isn’t so bad when you compare it to recreations such as golf and travel.
(5) An investment in health.
(6) You’re only “young” once.
(7) It’s fun.
I hope to complete this process soon. Warm weather is fast approaching.