I was very close last month to pulling the trigger on a new Trek Emonda on C2W to replace my much loved and used Genesis equilibrium disc. I requested the voucher and everything and was all set to buy. I’ve lost a bit of weight myself I wanted a lighter, quicker bike for summer riding. I’m sure I would have loved the Trek but the thought of looking after a £2.5k bike was causing me a bit of stress... to the point where I realised I wasn’t enjoying the bike shopping experience. It just seems like a huge amount of money to spunk on a bike when I have a family (even though they encouraged it).
So I decided to see what I could buy second hand on a budget that could get close to the trek. This is the result .......
Van Rysal RR 900 AF - £350
Purchased off FB market place - 4 months old with full 105 and direct mount front brake and hardly used. Came with mint Mavic aksium wheels and conti rubber that I will be selling. Been looing at these for a while for a build as they kept winning loads of budget bike awards. Cant believe the whole thing only cost £350 - he even threw in a pump, bottles, lock, bag, lights and tubes. Just needed it gone.
Mavic Krysium Elite S wheel set - £80
Local buy from FB market place - one rim has a braking surface that’s a bit concave but local bike shop think it’s got a plenty of life left - otherwise rims and bearings are great)
Selle Italia SLR titanium saddle - £35
Again market place bargain and perfect
11-32 cassette to replace the 11-28 on the bike (it has a long cage mech already) - £15 off a mate
Conti GP5000 28 mm - £37 (on offer at wiggle now and I had another new one in the garage to add)
Latex tubes - £25 for the pair
Koolstop pads - £5, unopened from local rider
Local bike shop to check everything over, mini service, swap wheels and cassette and supply/fit a bigger chain for the new 32 cassette - £50
All in, bike, parts and service- just under £600!
Feeling very smug about this one - my favourite bike before this has been a £300 charge plug single speed with some spa hand built wheels added that has given me endless miles of no problem fun and I think I’m now a full convert to cheap bikes. This one felt great with the Aksium rims that it came on but it’s night and day switching to the new rims, tire and tube combo.
Hoping to pick up some used carbon bits to bring the weight down more I’ve never had a power meter before but I have the budget left to add a used one into the mix here if one comes up locally.
Looking forward to getting in some big rides very soon - really impressed with the frame - with the new wheels and rubber set up it feels as comfy as my steel genesis. Gone down from a 58 to 56 which is something I have wanted to try out for a while- I think i could do with a few mm extra on the stem but I really like the more compact set up and will try it out an a long ride before I make a change