[Closed] Happy with your bike 1 year later?

Very. I'm not a bike hopper. Not bought a new one for 5 years now.

1 year... 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8years.

It has no gears no squish and little wheels, still love riding it.

I also like all my other bikes.

Yep happy with my bike 2 years in. Still way more capable than me 😀

I haven't bought a complete bike for more than 10 years but I never have a frame for more than a year before I change it and other parts are changed fairly often too.

Most of it is change for change sake.

Yeah, I got my ebike (Saracen Ariel-E) a year ago and still love it.

Had my cx/gravel/tourer for almost 5 years and still think how good it is every time I ride it. It's a Rose Cross Pro DX.

My Cube Attain GTC Disc 2016 has a special place in my cycling heart, because it allowed me to discover "big hills" and the wilderness in the Morestead/Hawkley/South Harting triangle after living in Southampton for ~24 years, while helping me to get fit again after 10+ years of self neglect plus some chronic lower back pain. It was an absolute steal when bought in the May 2017 bank hol promo from Rutland Cycles at £900 as one of the last remaining 58cm frames left, having dithered and delayed on a purchase decision for a few months, including trying a Boardman CX Team but the SRAM double-tap gearing system felt too alien.

But ~3.5 years on, as much as I still love the bike, I wish I'd grabbed a 56cm version or something more aero like a Giant Propel Disc as my back is so much happier than it used to be and I can now usually ride with the stem above the conical spacer (with all round spacers above it, waiting to remove what teeth I have left, one day).

MAssively so. It's made me a better more confident rider in every way. It astounds me on just about every ride i take it on.

It's a Whyte G-160 by the way.

1? Just over 10 years on my main MTB and it's staying around until it dies of fatigue.

The Merlin hardtail I bought in 2009 was capable back then on normal trails, but is probably even more capable as the commuter bike I used to use daily. I am really glad I bought it and can’t think of a way to improve it since I moved it to 1x9.

On the MTB side of things, I still love my Stumpy FSR, but it is proving harder and harder to find spare parts for things on what is only an 8 year old bike. It’s all the bike I could want for what I ride and anything more would be greedy.

Very happy with all my bikes one year (and many more) on.

As for the new bike feeling, that goes after a couple of rides and offs.

i am happy with my bikes and they serve my needs well. I have no interest in upgrading to latest standards (boost, 12speed etc) while my bikes are perfectly good. That said, if money was no object, I am always interested in other ‘types’ of bikes and wonder about a 29 hardtail or an ebike or a gravel bike etc, but not really interested in replacing my 27.5 hardtail or full suss with another 27.5 hardtail or full suss.

I still enjoy mine. Nearly 4 years in now.

Depends. My main bikes I buy and keep for ages. Then again I frequently buy bikes on a whim and move them on a year later to go towards the next whim. Love trying different things and good disposable income so why not.

My story is but right, buy once.

I have a ‘core’ bike collection. A gravel/winter bike (Seven titanium which is 8 years old). A mountain bike (Seven, titanium, which is 5 years old). A road bike (Litespeed titanium, which is 2 years old). These are all keepers and every time I ride them, I love the fit, the feel and the ride quality. There have been a few threads on here lately questioning the longevity of titanium, but for me it holds true. And being titanium they (literally) brush up like new. I can’t see any of these going anywhere anytime soon, but they are all a bit of a ‘Trigger’s Broom’ in as much as I have tinkered with wheels, groupsets and components over the years.

I then have a revolving ‘4th Hook’ in the garage that is generally occupied by something I fancy trying but don’t keep. That usually means a different frame material (usually carbon these days) or something with suspension. These tend to be the bikes that date the worst, don’t quite offer everything they promise and somehow never live up to the hype. Having said that, the 4th Hook is currently occupied by a Santa Cruz Stigmata that I absolutely love (now). It wasn’t an instant hit, but I think it might be a keeper.

In my experience, finding out what works for you and not being swayed by the latest thing is a route to long term happiness with the bike. I don’t spend a single moment on any of the first 3 wishing for something different.

My custom steel framed MTB is approaching 5 years old, built for 3-5hr doorstep rides & also done the SDW in a day and an enduro race (badly piloted), I'm still happy with it.

SS budget commuter is probably around 8 years old and is a faithful workhorse.

CX bike is around 4 years old and I'm happy with it.

Had the hardtail for 5 years and the ebike for 2. Very happy with both of them. The ebike has just had drivetrain changes as I’ve worn stuff out, I changed some other stuff from stock but then it’s not changed since the first few months. The hardtail took more experimentation to get it dialled in but it’s very sorted now.

Very happy with all my bikes but considering swapping one of my Geometrons for a DH bike as we're moving house and will be very close to an uplift service .
Always wanted a DH bike but just wouldn't have used it enough where we are now.
Not going to happen for a while yet though as I've already been off the bike for six months with an injury and still got a way to go before I can ride again.

Almost the opposite. I wanted a new fatbike and had decided I'd get a custom Ti frame. A Cube Nutrail came up for sale on CRC for silly money, less than what I'd pay for the components (even at discount) so I bought it as a parts donor.

I've still not got around to ordering the Ti frame because the Cube is so good.

Ive always been a serial bike swapper, in 20 years I’ve rarely had a bike for more than 6 months.

Bought a Pivot Firebird29 in September 2018. I hate the colour, hate the stupid bottle mounts and I wish the seat angle was steeper, but it just rides too good to consider changing it.

I’ve just sent it away for custom paint, got used to riding with a hip pack and have some geometry tweaks ready for the rebuild.

3 years in - the bike is fine.

However, everyone I ride with is now on ebikes for the same type of riding...

Well almost exactly a year ago I bought a new Airdrop Edit, along with the people I ride with I'd started doing uplift days at BPW, Flyup 417, Antur Stiniog etc. My short travel full suss bike was ok but I thought I'd treat myself to something a bit more capable. So far Strava tells me I've ridden the thing 70 miles since I bought it. It was great in the right setting, but it's not the right bike for the local bridleway rides that have all I've managed for much of 2020. Hoping I'll get to ride it properly next year.

Of the two bikes I've purchased in the last few years one I love and am really happy with, the other I have cooled over but am loathe to sell it. The two bikes:

Cotic Rocket.
Voodoo Hoodoo.

The Voodoo is just great from everything from popping into town to a lap of a red trail, it just gets on with it with very little fuss. It may not be great at anything but for a sub-£500 bike (including a dropper post) it is as much fun as any other bike I've ever owned. The fork is starting to play up now - damper is shot and has limited the travel to 70mm from 120mm - but I've got a Fox 32 from the next bike to be replaced ready to go on it so it just gets ridden regardless. The geometry fits me well, or will do when I put a 35mm stem on rather than the stock 50mm, and I can easily ride it all day if I want to.

the Rocket is a proper monster truck as it's the Gen 3 Longshot version, first batch too. It's great at a bike park and is confidence-inspiring but anywhere else and it's a bit lethargic and numb. I'm only small and not very powerful so the extra weight compared to my other bikes is really noticeable, not helped by the burly build.
I've also had issues with it and the components I chose. The Helm fork was replaced under warranty after the bushes destroyed the stanchions, too tight from new. The replacement fork is very sensitive to changes in temperature but at least is lasting, not uncommon for it to go from being soft in the cool of the morning to hard during the day and back to soft in the evening at this time of year.
The rear shock - CCDB Air IL - is a temperamental beast too. At 3 months old it decided to randomly dump all it's air every now and then, it could be fine all day then just go flat when compressed. Pump it back up and it would be fine for a few days then do the same again with no warning. Not the best when it does it the first time on the second day of a week in Chatel. Was traced down to a dodgy valve core and was fine after that was replaced. Sent it off or a service at the same time as the forks were warrantied and it needed a new air shaft and a few other internal bits due to side loading, a £200 bill. I was really annoyed when a few months later a letter from Cotic dropped through my letterbox containing a new plastic bush for the shock saying they had experienced a few bikes having a tight bushing causing shock wear.
It also absolutely eats through pivot bearings too, on it's third set now. Compared to my Trek Fuel EX that gets ridden all year in every weather imaginable that has had one set in 6 years it's a ballache. Add in that the Rocket replaced an Orange 5 that was so easy to maintain and I'm ambivalent towards the Rocket now. On it's day it's brilliant but a lot of the time it just frustrates me. A real pity as on the demo ride it was leagues ahead of the other bikes I tried and for the first few months it was brilliant. I've toyed with the idea of changing the spec on it to get some weight out of it, namely lighter wheels (currently Hope 35W) and a lighter fork with less travel (probably a 150mm Pike) to perk it up a bit but I'm worried that I'll be throwing money at a bike that just isn't suited to me, especially as the Trek needs replacing soon due to a worn and unrepairable shock (no new air shafts available) despite it still being great to ride if a little short in reach compared to my other bikes.

So to answer the question:

We all know that new, to me, bike feeling.

How long did it take that feeling to wear off or want to change something and why?

3 months for one bike and not yet for the others.

My mind works in the opposite way. I buy a new bike and invariably hate it. Why did I buy this!!! etc. After about three months I start beginning to see why I bought it in the first place. After six months I love it, the best thing since sliced bread. After three to five years I get bored, buy something new and repeat the whole process.

Happy with my full suss 5 years later. Chopped and changed the hardtails a fair bit though I'll admit.

8 years in on my Domane 5.9. Have worn out the complete drivetrain, but it will be worth upgrading.

1 year in on the 5 factory. Holy crap, could not be happier.

I've got 2 I'm happy with. A Neil pryde Zypher, that I've now had for about 5 years with 105 and some Chinese carbon wheels. Does all I need from a road bike, comfy, quick enough. Also a 2.5 year old cotic soul Mk5 with 2 sets of wheels (wide 2.6 for the peaks and some 2.2s for bashing round the local fields), also more competent than me. Can't see me selling either until they break.

Although tempted by the new Jeht if I had enough spare cash.

Other than my road bike (16 months) I don’t think I’ve ever kept a bike for a year.
I like my road bike but as a lifelong mountain biker I don’t know much about them, it’s sort of comfortable to ride for 2 hours, might be too long, might be too short, but is much faster than any bike I’ve owned since 1995 so overall I’m happy with it.

Just sold my Giant Reign after 11 months so I can buy an E-Bike, I liked it, it probably grew on me over that time and I was sad to see it go. But then I’m always gutted to sell a bike even though the next one is normally even better.

I think it's 5 years since I got my Remedy and actually almost the same for my Dune. Those two were both better after a year and then better after 2 years...

But, have to say I've not massively gelled with either my Solarismax or my Fuji road bike that I got this year. The road bike might just be me, it was a sort of last attempt to actually get a drop bar bike and like it, and I kind of do but there's no love. The Solarismax, I dunno, it's very good but with Cotics I seem to either go fanatic devotion, or disinterest and abandonment and right now it's in the wrong pile. A little sad as it should be great.

Oh and my Inspired Fourplay perfectly fulfils its "hang in the garage" niche, couldn't be any better really.

The only bike I've bought that I just didn't get on with - despite owning and riding it a fair bit for 5 years 😬 - was my Croix de fer. All my other bikes have been moved on as I either had bought something newer/better or I just didn't ride them much anymore.

If I had to only have 2 bikes then I wouldn't have 2 mountain bikes. They very likely would be:
- 29er hardtail
- Cross/gravel with a couple of sets of wheels

If you had to reduce the above even more then it'd be a racy 29er with 2 sets of wheels.

The love nearly always lasts more than a year. The oldest bike in use in our household is a hybrid from 1992 but that's purely functional.

Still got my 456 but with a potential gravel/CX bike arrival in the coming weeks it may get recycled as a utility/flat bar off road tourer as the hybrid needs money spent on it that I don't want to spend given its generally poor condition.

I can't remember who said it above but the challenges around long term spares availability / compatibility are a concern for those of us who buy to keep. My Spesh Camber is about 5 years old now and I've decided it's in a place where the only option is really to ride it as much as possible while I can still get the parts. I used to have it for Sunday best but now I'm taking the view that it's for every suitable ride because in 3-5 years there won't be the spares and it will be scrap which is shameful really as it's a beautiful bike for riding all day in the hills.

The only bike I've struggled to be really happy with has been my (cheap) road bike. Now sporting some nice grippy, light Contis and a £200 pair of wheels it's a lot better ride (although still a lump by most people's standards). I've had it 15 years so maybe it's not too awful!

Coming up on 6 years with my Cannondale Trigger. Absolutely no thoughts of changing it.

almost a year to the day I picked up my 2020 Norco Optic and love it as much, if not more than the day I collected it.

It has fulfilled everything I have asked from it. Local XC bimbles, EWS stages in Finale Ligure and everything in between.

I am not sure if its due to my love for it, but there is very little out there that I would even consider if I had to change it. If it vanished tomorrow, I would probably buy another (assuming Norco sort out a UK importer, as I don't think Evans is anymore).

I cant imagine riding a bike that I wasn't totally in love with.

A about in year and love both my bikes, both Cotics fit is perfect and had so much progression with them finally feel like I have a bike that fits. Although I have an itch for a 29er so may swap the Rocket for a Rocket Max in the new year.

It also absolutely eats through pivot bearings too, on it’s third set now. Compared to my Trek Fuel EX that gets ridden all year in every weather imaginable that has had one set in 6 years it’s a ballache

Thats crazy, My Rocket is a year old and I have zero play in the linkage and I check it all the time due to the annoying "headset like" pivot. I get your point on the CC it can be temperamental but I think thats due to all the adjustability of them. If I get another rocket I don't think I would get a helm fork not because they are bad but simply because I never mess with the setting (just fit and forget) so am not getting the most out of it.

Happy ?
I'm not unhappy with any of my bikes but I don't really get much chance to ride some of them especially this last year.

Maybe I just need to find some more local riding spots worth using a longer travel FS on or go out with different mates or get comfortable riding gnarlier stuff by myself?
I always worry who's going to get my bike or drive me to A&E if I have a proper big off.

Just over 18 months on my Bird and I still love, it, it's got a nice patina but unlike any bike I've had before I've tried to really keep up with the maintenance so it's pretty much rides like new, I've even been known to use a bit of touch up paint on it!

I usually keep to one bike and replace it every 3 years, I don't really go in for drop bars and/or riding roads, I've toyed with the idea of a HT as I've never owned one, but never been keen enough to actually buy one. That said, there doesn't seem to currently be any new innovations that justify changing it at the moment, it's got all the LLS numbers, wide tyres, 12 gears etc, I can see me keeping it and getting an e-bike to go with it. Whether that renders it an ornament I don't know.

Had my Giant Reign almost 4 1/2 years now. Still going strong, still feels solid. Maybe still a bit short on reach, but I rarely think about it. Marley hardtail 2 3/4 years and still enjoying that too, although needs a few upgrades. No plans for a new MTB at the moment. Next bike might have an engine (not electric)

Generally keep my bikes for 2-3 year. This means changing them to keep in line with new standards/charge in geometry but bought a year into the rollout of said new standard. I have previously bought a frame (banshee spitfire) that could take 26 or 27.5 wheels so allowed me to make the switch when I wanted. Tend to but top end parts but only in the sales.

Do have a mate that buys and changed very quickly (quickest was a month, longest a year, average 3-4 months).

Very happy with my mtb, 5 years and counting (Scott scale alu xc bike).

Not so happy with my cx race bike after a couple of seasons, but I fear that is primarily due to bad workman syndrome. If there had been races this season I think i might have changed it but, luckily for marital harmony, there weren't!

Picked up a Trek Fuel EX 27.5 18 months ago second hand from Leisure Lakes.
It had been custom built from frame only by the shop, came with Factory 32's, Mavic Crossmax, XTR / XT groupset, fat bars, Enve seatpost etc. Despite it being 2016, the thing is an absolute weapon.
Not changed a thing. Bloody love the bike. Been riding since I was 13, am now 40. Really is the best, most competent, easiest to ride bike I've ever had. Honestly cant see me changing anything on it until it wears out (and that includes the forks which I managed to snap the rebound adjuster on about 5 months ago).
Doesnt need a dropper, doesnt need to lose weight, just a great great bike (with a *slightly* too low bottom bracket)

Raleigh Grifter: 15+ years, currently (10+ years) in pieces awaiting restoration.

On One Pro Carbon with upgraded wheels: 4 years, don’t see any need to upgrade given the amount of road riding I do.

On One Scandal V3: 4 years, upgraded frame from V2 and added dropper. Perfect for the usage it gets. No need to upgrade.

Santa Cruz 5010: 3 1/2 years, again does everything I ask of it, no need to upgrade.

Sonder Camino AL V2: 2 years, 2 sets wheels (46mm slickish, 42mm knobbly) and mudguards. No need to upgrade

Raleigh Super Tuff Burner re-issue: Sits in my bedroom as an ornament so no need to upgrade.

Trek Rail 7 e-MTB: 2 months. Ironically the most up to date and technologically advanced bike will probably be the one to get upgraded in the future as battery size/ life, motors, general construction etc improve and come down in price.

I’m lucky in that I have been able to save for and buy bikes to cover all my usage and not all people are in my position.

Awaits @epicyclo to turn up with bikes he’s had longer than many of us on here have been alive 👍

Checked my emails and my order with Tredz was
Mon, Jul 25, 2016
So 4.5 years later, me and my Rocky Mountain Instinct are still getting on well, although, both showing signs of damage (mine internal, bike's external). It was a brilliant deal at the time and though I've changed the wheels (well, the hubs), the forks, bars, saddle and seatpost (twice), I'll say it was a damn good replacement for my old Yeti 575. Not sure I'll ever have a bike as good as that one was, but then again probably it's me that isn't quite up to scratch, rather than the bike. 🙂

Interesting. I still like all of mine

I have 4 bikes, latest acquisition was second hand and from about 18 months ago. Still love it (cargo bike)

Only sold 1 bike in the last 5 years, that was bought used and only sold as it was too similar to another bike. Would like it back if I had the room though!

Yes

Yes, very.

BUT I'm a bit of a sucker for marketing and so feel that my current bike could / should be longer or slacker.

Its a SC Hightower 1 with 450mm Reach and 66 HA (it has 10mm longer fork and an offset bushing in) yet the damned marketeers make me feel that this should be 500mm Reach and 64 HA. Bastards

To answer the question posed in the title - yes, I'm very happy with my On One Big Dog (almost) 1 year on thanks. Done everything I have been asking of it for a 'not much money' build.

I'm a serial bike changer. sometimes I get an idea and go with it, sometimes I'm just not happy with what I've bought.

I've not bought a new complete bike for many many years, so often don't lose much money changing things around.

There have been a few notable hanger on bikes that have resisted the urge to change for quite some time. 1st gen Cotic soul, I owned for about 2 years. the longest in a while. such a nice handling bike, sold as I thought I'd benefit from something lighter to compete on.
had a Cannondale CAAD5 hardtail with lefty for an age, that was nice, then dabbled in FS with a cannondale prophet. at the time that was a really nice bike, too good really, for most stuff i felt overbiked (oh how things change).

stuck with a fisher 29er, one of the originals for ages too. I was one of the early adopters back in 2005, sold that on after a few years, but ended up a couple of years ago buying the same frame and building it up. superb bike.

However, peer pressure and changing fashions meant that I moved to various more up to date 29ers, hardtails and FS.
I recall back with my first 29er thinking that it would be a bad idea to have the added FS acceleration lag to 29er lag. Some of my riding buddies confirmed this to be the case, however recently technology has meant things are lighter and more agile, but I also think that generally people want different things from their bikes now.
I think I'm fairly set in my ways riding style wise. the trails have got rougher due to the popularity of our sport, but I'm still not convinced new style bikes suit my xc tendencies, so have been going through bikes quite often over the last couple of years.
Currently have a Cannondale CAAD4 26" hardtail as a do it all bike, with a set of 700x28's for road use, and a whyte T-129 that I'm still in two minds about. It's a great pedaling 29er FS, but it's still maybe not quite what i'm looking for, so may go back to 29er hardtail instead, I don't know..