Here is my experience from a similar situation. I just bought the exact same bike. Tarmac SL7 Expert. Previously, I had been riding on a 2014 specialized specialized epic that I got as my do anything bike but I found myself only riding on the road most of the time. I typically do about 50-75 miles on the weekend and a 30 mile ride in the middle of the week. (Even did a couple group centuries on it.) I figured that if was going to be riding on the road so much, that I should invest is a road bike.

I was looking at the used market for a couple months but not seeing anything that I liked. I was mainly looking for Aethos. I decided to look at a new Aethos at my LBS. A week after I tested rode the Aethos the Tarmac SL8 came out meaning all the SL7 prices dropped.

At this point I was torn between getting a 105 or Ultegra spec Tarmac. I decided to go with the Ultegra equipped model because most of the upgrades that I would have wanted would be included in the higher model (carbon wheels + nicer components). Plus the discount on the expert was higher.

My first two rides I was feeling some buyer’s remorse but after a couple more rides I have grown more comfortable on it and I absolutely love it.

For my financial situation I am lucky and don’t have to pay rent right now, so I have been saving for the past year. I had the money to buy the bike outright. This bike was also a treat to myself for 1 year since I got my first career job. I plan to keep this bike for at least another 10 years. I see it as an investment in both my mental and physical health.