In a perfect world, I’d walk into a bike shop, point at a shiny $3,000 adventure bike, tap my card, and roll out ready for Iceland, Scotland, or wherever the next trail leads.
But that’s not my world — and I know it’s not the world a lot of us live in.
Right now, I’m staring down a $1,500 repair bill on my Volvo XC70 after bending a rim in the last storm. Add the realities of a tight disability-based budget, and suddenly the idea of “just buying a new bike” becomes a luxury I can’t prioritize.
And honestly?
That’s okay.
Because sometimes upgrading what you already have is not just cheaper… it’s smarter.
This is the breakdown I wish more riders talked about:
when it makes sense to upgrade your current setup, and when a new bike is the better long-term move.
🚲 Why Upgrading Makes Perfect Sense (Most of the Time)
Upgrading isn’t about making an old bike something it’ll never be.
It’s about increasing efficiency, improving your comfort, and making the bike work better for your body and your riding style.
Here’s why upgrading is often the better choice, especially for riders like me:
Small upgrades create huge improvements in real riding
For my Northrock XC00 fatbike and Marin Stinson 1, a simple drivetrain upgrade to 10-speed with a better climbing gear changes everything:
- Lower-effort climbing
- More efficient pedalling
- Less fatigue
- Better loaded performance
- Smoother shifting
- Still simple to maintain on the trail
None of that requires a new $2,000 bike.
It requires a smart $2-300 upgrade, I can do the work myself and that save a few dollars.
You already know your bike’s quirks
A new bike means:
- new geometry to adapt to
- new fit
- new handling
- new mechanical surprises
But the bikes you already ride — you understand them. You know what they do well and where they fall short. That makes upgrading targeted, not random.
Upgrading stretches your money further
On a budget, every dollar has a job.
A new drivetrain for ~$300?
That’s realistic.
A new adventure bike for $2,500–$4,000?
Not today.
Upgrading lets me keep exploring, keep riding, keep building my fitness, and keep chasing the adventures that matter — without derailing the financial side of my life.
🚲 When Buying New Does Make Sense
I’m not anti–new bike. I’m just realistic.
Here are the situations where buying new is smart:
Your current bike frame is failing
Cracks, alignment issues, broken dropouts — don’t throw money at that.
You’re hitting the limits of your bike’s design
For example:
- A fatbike will never be a fast road tourer.
- A comfort cruiser won’t magically become a gravel racer.
- Some hubs can’t take modern wide-range cassettes.
If the frame is the limiting factor, upgrades won’t fix the problem.
You’re ready for a major jump in performance
Something like:
- Full touring geometry
- Suspension
- Modern wide-range 1×12 drivetrain
- Hydraulic brakes
Those things aren’t upgradeable on many older bikes.
But here’s the catch:
Even when buying new is the “right choice,” sometimes life says not right now.
And that’s where upgrading keeps you riding until the time is right.
🌄 My Reality: Riding Now, Improving Slowly, Planning Ahead
I’d love to hop on a plane tomorrow and ride:
- The Iceland Ring Road
- Scotland’s North Coast 500
- Or any of those bucket-list bikepacking adventures
But with my mobility limits, neuropathy, chronic pain, and the need for extended recovery after tough days, I’m not racing these routes — I’m touring them at a slow, steady, enjoyable pace.
And for that kind of riding?
A smoother drivetrain with better climbing gears is worth far more than a fancy new frame.
My fatbike weighs 17 kg (35 lbs) before adding racks, bags, tent, water, and gear.
Efficiency matters.
Comfort matters.
Energy conservation matters.
So upgrading the bikes I already own — and know intimately — is the smartest move I can make.
Upgrading vs Buying New: The Bottom Line
Upgrade when:
✔ Your budget is tight
✔ The frame is solid
✔ You want better gearing or efficiency
✔ You know what your riding requires
✔ You enjoy wrenching and learning
Buy new when:
✔ The bike is structurally compromised
✔ You need features your frame simply can’t support
✔ You’re ready for a major leap in capability
For me, right now?
Upgrading wins — hands down.
It keeps me riding.
It keeps me exploring.
It keeps me improving.
And it keeps my adventures alive while real life (and real bills) get taken care of.
A new bike is still on the table — just not today.
Today, I’ll make the most of what I have… and keep moving forward one hill, one gear, one adventure at a time.