I cycle everywhere whenever the weather allows, and I regularly bike outwards during the weekends. I've also gone on a few multi-day bike trips. I take it with me on road trips.
And yet, I've been riding the same 100€ bike for 8 years.
This summer, I splurged on the perfect all-rounder for my needs: drop bars, disk brakes, Alfine 11 in-hub gear and belt drive. The difference is night and day. I wish I did it sooner.
I tell everyone who moved to Berlin that a bike is the best investment they can make here. This city and its surroundings are meant to be discovered on a bike.
I'm jealous! Cycling in Europe sounds amazing :) The US has pockets of good bike trails here and there, but in general we are way too car-oriented.
> The difference is night and day. I wish I did it sooner.
Especially if you're not so hardcore and only occasionally cycle! The difference between a $100 and $1000 bike is HUGE. $1000 to $5000? Not so much.
IMO the sweet spot is getting a lightly-used bike at a professionally managed bike swap sale where professionals and mechanics are actually looking at the bikes being sold, not just rusty things off Craigslist. Often times some rich person will buy way more bike than they need, don't end up using it much, and then letting it go for 3-4x less just to free up space. But to a beginner-intermediate cyclist they are still amazing machines.
There's soooooooo much technology that goes into them, everything from the drivetrain to the materials to the aerodynamics to the brakes... it can make a huge huge difference in comfort, especially over long distance.
Fit is another big thing: adjusting the bike with small tweaks (saddle, handlebars, stems, etc.) can change it from "painful" to "dreamy" depending on ergonomics.
But all in all, a good bike is probably the single best investment I've ever made. Cheaper and way more fun than paying for either a gym membership or a doctor.
And yet, I've been riding the same 100€ bike for 8 years.
This summer, I splurged on the perfect all-rounder for my needs: drop bars, disk brakes, Alfine 11 in-hub gear and belt drive. The difference is night and day. I wish I did it sooner.
I tell everyone who moved to Berlin that a bike is the best investment they can make here. This city and its surroundings are meant to be discovered on a bike.