I have a 26" HT mtn bike. It's on the cheaper side but generally meets my needs (which are minimal - I'm not a rock climbing, trail hopping, speed demon; I just bike easy up/down hill hill trails more for health than for fun).

The bike is in good to excellent condition - although purchased new about 15-20 years ago, I haven't really used it that much. Perhaps a few thousand miles? But it's on the cheaper side ($700 new back then?). Low end components. 3x8 gearing. A bit heavy.

I've been rationalizing a new bike. HT 1x12 gearing. Better components. Disk vs rim brakes. 29" 2.6" wheels (vs 26" 2.1"). $1800 msrp on sale now for $1100 so pretty good price.

I'm attracted to the 29" wheels. And 1x12 gearing, including the better hill gear ratio - I get winded going up hill now.

I think it would be a nicer ride in general. Especially the additional traction going up sandy slopes (the 26" breaks free; I can make it up but it's easier w/ the 29").

BUT: it's more of a want than a need. And I'm trying to pay off the house. And a few other things.

Slap me and tell me to forget about it. What I have is good enough to stay healthy. Or should I buy it - easier ride = more inclined to get out and get in shape and less prone to injury. Health is a priority.

I have 4 mtn bikes right now, perhaps 1 too many, maybe not. I'm not the one to talk you out of it!

What's gotten better over the years. 29ers roll over obstacles much easier than 26 or 27.5. My bikes are full 29er or mullet (27.5 rear, 29 front). The elimination of the front derailleur and still being 11 or 12 speed simplifies things and you still have good hill climbing gears. I'm a big fan of tubeless tires. There's a short learning curve, or have the shop set them up the first time. You'll need to refresh the Sealant every 6 months. I ride pretty challenging trails, but almost never get flats.

Modern disc brakes are amazing. I ride full suspension downhill every year in Angel Fire, NM and Crested Butte, CO and the brakes work great.

29" wheels are a huge improvement over 26", as are disk brakes. It also sounds like a pretty good deal. Could you sell your old bike on FB marketplace or Craigslist for a couple hundred bucks to further offset the cost?

Paying off the house is also a great thing, so I wouldn't want to interfere with that, but if you ride a lot, even just casually, you will probably get your money's worth out of the bike upgrade, and then some.

Never ask anyone to talk you out of buying something because the answer will always come back to, you need to buy it.

That said I bike quite a bit and always got buy with a $1k road/fitness bike but always longed for a nice full on road bike. Averaged around 1,000 miles a year on the old bike and often had the same struggle of would a better bike add anything to the equation or would it just be a more expensive ride that I rode the same amount of miles on.

In 2023 I finally jumped off the cliff and bought a $3500 full on carbon road bike and did a fitting with the shop I bought the bike from.

The first year with the new bike I road just under 2,200 miles and just a little under 2,600 miles in the 2024 riding season. It was a much more comfortable ride and enjoy the hell out of every ride whether it is a quick 20 mile ride or a single day 100 mile ride. It was worth every penny I've spent on it.

You guys aren't helping. You're supposed to talk me out of it. As it is, I've got one foot out the door now.

If it is a better bike and makes rides easier while also keeping me healthy, it's probably a good thing. I did have an old 29" that I got rid of. I've got the itch to replace it with this sale....

I see a lot of people on e-bikes not even pedaling. Making riding easier is the opposite of exercise. If you can ride the current bike for an hour or more, then I see no need to buy a new bike that makes it easier.

A nice bike will likely be more pleasant to ride and may spur the OP to ride more. There are certainly worse ways to spend money than on a new bike, as long as it will get riden.

That's what my brain has been trying to tell me heart. That being said, I've had a couple of bouts of knee bursitis. I think it's because of biking. Technique only? Or perhaps better gear ratio for hills would be good for me?

Reasonable justification? Or rationalization?

Meh! It sounds like a pretty good deal.

Let me ask you this: If you buy the new, nicer bike, will you ride it more, thus getting more health benefit out of it? If so, it might be worth doing.

If not, if it is also just going to get minimal use even though you just spent a bunch of money to get a nicer bike, then don’t do it. That would be a dumb waste of money.

Does that help?

If it's newer and makes riding more enjoyable, I will likely ride more / longer, including opening up trails I can't ride w/ my 26", and potentially derive more health benefits from it. At least that would be the intention.

I wouldn't consider the new bike to just ride the same trails and duration as current with my 26". What's the saying about the best intentions?

Will it take food off your table?
Will the kids have to go without shoes?
(Actually, those could be character building opportunities)

Get the bike.

Now, let’s talk about motorcycles and how much money they will save you on gas….except for the maintenance, and the spur of the moment trips, and the weather gear, and….

Wait, what was the question?

Ok, you guys win. Planning to visit the bike store tomorrow.

Wow. I just noticed that bike color can change the price by 20%!!! Good thing the color I prefer is the cheaper price. Who knew?

I got approval from the CFO to buy the bike.

Lol. So true.

I just faced a similar dilemma with my computer. I've been limping along on a 10 year old Mac laptop, but I keep having issues. I talked to the wife about repairs, and she said, "We're old. Get what you want. Be happy." A computer is on order. My suggestion is get the bike you want, regardless of "need." Life is too short.

$1100 isn't insane money for something you'll use a lot to stay healthy. Riding bikes can be a distraction (timesuck) from other things that might tempt you to spend money.

I would ask whether once you get the bike, soon enough will there be another "next thing" to spend the next amount of loose money that you scrape together which could otherwise be used to pay down debt.

Being debt free is fuCking amazing. I'd probably write the check to the mortgage, throw it in the mail and go riding on the 26'er. 26'ers are more nimble or tight single track, and they have a lower center of gravity. Maybe throw $100 at a good refreshing tune up?

I don't know where the gilded cage is but if the weather is good for riding I would suggest riding the current bike for 30 days on the same same schedule as you would the new one. Take in to consideration if you would ride it more in different seasons.
Then consider your decision.

Thanks guys. Good food for thought.

I am riding now. The new bike wouldn't offer a different schedule / different season.

It would open up more trails and/or longer rides.

With the current bike, I get tired after some of the uphills. With better gearing on the new bike, I'm thinking (not sure), that those hills may be easier and so could ride longer.

The primary benefit is that the new bike, again assuming the new gearing helps along w/ the additional traction afforded by the wider tires, would (re-)open trails that I currently avoid w/ my 26" Either too steep or too sandy for the 26".

The gear ratio for the old and new bike is about 0.69 and 0.61, respectively.

I think you'll enjoy the new bike. Better components and perhaps a better fit will make for better enjoyment.

I rode a used triathlon bike (Craigslist) for about 8-9 years. It was fine and I did well. Then I splurged on a carbon frame, carbon wheels, and Shimano Ultegra Di2 shifting - complete game changer. I'm much faster now.