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Am I crazy? Bike Financing?

csori77's picture
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1310 days
started by csori77 on May 11, 2005

I don't have my own road bike yet. I have been using my boss' bike but since I have been talking about the sport so much he has decided to do the same race. Am I crazy for pulling a loan out just for a bike? My friends think so. My mountain bike is also a possibility but I love that aero position and my mountain bike is made for muddy 30 degree type downhill sections and crazy drops. How many people financed their bikes here on trifuel?

csori77's picture
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1310 days
csori77 posted 3 years ago.

Sorry I did not mean finance through trifuel.

I meant to say how many people here on Trifuel have financed their bikes?

Also if i do finance should I go all out with carbon frames and what not or will I be able to see a difference at the level at which i stand?

Tri-Wannabe's picture
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Tri-Wannabe posted 3 years ago.

I'll never finance a bike. I'll save my pennies and hunt down a deal on Ebay or buy a decent entry level bike.

pimm's picture
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pimm posted 3 years ago.

I'm not crazy about your idea ...
I'm a bit of a gimmick-freak : Once I'm into something, I like to have the best(?) material out there -> but I'd never go all the way in buying ultra-professional or expensive material. What if you decide to give it up in 6 months time?

On your specific bike-subject : In another thread I suggested buying a pretty recent (but out-of-season) road bike : I got my Trek-bike in Februari, when the new collections were on their way ... the bike-shop dealer wanted it out of his shop, but the hardcore bikers all decided to wait for the new summer collection ... And why? I got a new bike, on half the budget! [OK, so not every retailer will make you that deal ...]

I think it would be safe to get a good standard road bike, no expensive carbon but an aluminium with carbon in front (or something) : not top of the line, but a very decent bike ...
Whenever you decide to go all the way in this sport, you can always make the necessary alterations to the bike, sell it or keep it as a training-only bike.
And if not, you'll always have a good road bike, in stead of some ultra-modern speedmachine that never lived up to its investment.

Other tips : http://www.trifuel.com/forums/showthread.php?p=11181#post11181

Gazoo's picture
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1301 days
Gazoo posted 3 years ago.

Why not?

You're in Hawaii and can use it year round. IMO A little interest isn't a big deal if you're using the item regularly.

Matt Hill's picture
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1431 days
Matt Hill posted 3 years ago.

Don't worry about financing your bike - it's what the finance companies are there for. Just make sure that you have budgeted carefully so you can make the repayments (even repay early to save money on interest) and that you purchase from a good bike shop and use a well know finance company (often offered through the bike shops).

My accounting lecture once told us that we should only finance what we need not what we want. Yes, i'd love to have a bike like Chris McCormack's Kestrel, but what i needed was a road bike with aero-clip-ons to get me started. I can always re-finance later.

Good luck with your race.

ryan16's picture
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ryan16 posted 3 years ago.

If you want a good bike go get a good bike. If it is in your budget to finance then do it. You only live once right. My thoughts are if you love doing something and you know you will do it for a while then you might as well go all out. I was in the same situation for a while not the finance part but I couldn't decide whether to just uprgrade my road bike or to just go all out and get a tri bike. I said screw it and I got a full out race machine. It's up to you whatever is going to make you happy don't forget people put some stupid stuff on credit cards and in my opinion a bike is not a stupid purchase unless you get something you don't want and end up wasting money to get something better later.
My 2 cents!

PAIN IS TEMPORARY, PRIDE IS FOREVER!

Whether you think you can, or you think you can't you are right!

jeslol's picture
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jeslol posted 3 years ago.

Nope..not crazy. I "financed" my bike for 3 months. Financing meaning I put it on a credit card and it took me 3 months to pay off.

brn2run's picture
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1334 days
brn2run posted 3 years ago.

Okay, I'm one of those people who have a bike loan. I got an 18 month low interest loan for my road bike. I've never regretted it at all. If you buy a good quality bike, it will last you a long time. I've never really felt comfortable buying a bike on e-bay, because I want to test ride it, and be fitted by professionals. Some bike stores have 6 months, or 1 year free financing. Good-Luck!