Upgrade or buy new?

spudbike

Looking for advice / opinions......
My bike is a Specialized Allez Sport 2012 model. Its got Sora groupset. Front wheel is DT Swiss wheel that came on the bike and rear wheel is a Tiagra. Aluminium frame and carbon fork. Annually I cycle close to 5000.
Anyway, I can use the bike to work scheme again in new year. Was considering selling my own bike and buying new - budget €1700 max and that includes whatever I get for my current bike. Then someone mentioned upgrading my own, go to 105 groupset and upgrade wheels. I may even consider going to ultegra groupset if I thought upgrade was good idea. As well as parts cost, there would be labour cost as well as I wouldn't take on doing the upgrade work myself.

So, which is the better option? Upgrade or buy new? Welcome all advise.

dermabrasion

I'd say sell and what you have and buy new. You'll get a way more nag for your buck that way than piecemeal upgrades. Check out Canyon for example.

Daroxtar

I'd forget about Canyon if you want a bike anytime soon. They seem to be having massive problems at the moment.

not yet

Keep what you have, up your budget to 2k for new bike:D

A wise man once said...you can never have enough bikes.

xebec

spudbike wrote: »

Anyway, I can use the bike to work scheme again in new year.

Only for a complete bike though, the scheme does not allow the purchase of components. So, buy new! And keep the current bike as your winter bike if you can.

stecleary

xebec wrote: »

Only for a complete bike though, the scheme does not allow the purchase of components. So, buy new! And keep the current bike as your winter bike if you can.

The scheme allows for the purchase of cycling equipment, any decent bike shop will be able invoice so you get what you want, loads of people have used it to buy wheels

spudbike

xebec wrote: »

Only for a complete bike though, the scheme does not allow the purchase of components. So, buy new! And keep the current bike as your winter bike if you can.

Thanks Xebec, but a bike shop has said its no problem to buy the components I need on the scheme. I've doubled checked with my employer and they're Ok with it too. So scheme is in play for me....

Lumen

stecleary wrote: »

The scheme allows for the purchase of cycling equipment, any decent bike shop will be able invoice so you get what you want, loads of people have used it to buy wheels

Nopey nope nope.

Revenue FAQ wrote:

Does the scheme apply to bicycle parts rather than a whole bicycle?
No. The scheme only applies to the purchase of a whole bicycle or associated safety equipment.

Source: http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/it/leaflets/benefit-in-kind/cycle-work-faqs.pdf

Which is itself somewhat odd, since most people believe the scheme allows them to buy a bicycle AND associated safety equipment, and the FAQs say "and/or" all over the place.

But No Means No.

I suppose I should check the legislation.

Eamonnator

spudbike wrote: »

Thanks Xebec, but a bike shop has said its no problem to buy the components I need on the scheme. I've doubled checked with my employer and they're Ok with it too. So scheme is in play for me....

No, the scheme is not in play for you.
What you are suggesting is an offence.

As well as your employer and bike shop, you should double check with Revenue.

Beasty

As already posted, scheme is for complete bikes and certain safety equipment only. Regardless all discussion of BTW rules should take place in the relevant Megathread which is linked in the FAQs sticky. No further discussion of the scheme here

Thanks

spudbike

Never thought I'd start a righteous conversation here about the BTW scheme. Talking about going off on a tangent!!!! Buy new or upgrade that was the question....

stecleary

spudbike wrote: »

Never thought I'd start a righteous conversation here about the BTW scheme. Talking about going off on a tangent!!!! Buy new or upgrade that was the question....

you need two new bikes, one high spec, one crap that you can upgrade and keep what you have as it is, N+ and all that


but seriously, keep what you have, buy big and have a good bike and your winter bike

not yet

spudbike wrote: »

Never thought I'd start a righteous conversation here about the BTW scheme. Talking about going off on a tangent!!!! Buy new or upgrade that was the question....

Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer...well you know the rest.

Zen0

Upgrading is unlikely to be better value than buying new. Big manufacturers can get much better value on parts than you are likely to achieve, and then you can add the labor costs to that unless you are doing that yourself. Keep your current bike for winter, you won't get much value selling it, and buy a nice new one. Having a second bike also gives you a fall back machine if the good one develops mechanicals.

daviddenis

Id recommend buying new. Youll get more for your euro on new bike instead upgrading parts.

Wishbone Ash

Zen0 wrote: »

... you won't get much value selling it...

This.

You'll get way more value from using it than any one off meagre payment that you'll get for it.