Help to upgrade/improve/bin my current bike

[woosey]

Hey Guys,

I'm after some advice please, i bought a peugeot competition 50 in 2013 (bike is from 1999!) and it's been great to me upto now where i want to get a little faster, what's a little odd is this bike has got to this stage with all the oringal components (apart from the tyres!)

So the bike is a full 105 (5500) group set, with 12-23 rear cassette (9 speed) and 38/53 front chainset, the wheels are just listed as 'Aluminium semi-profile black' i weighted the front wheel and inc tyre (700x23) and inner tube it came to 1.54kg

The bike as a whole is currently weighing in at 10.1KG (thats inc pedals, speed/cadence sensor, bottle cage etc)

Now i guess the issue is everything works just fine at the moment, i'm currently riding in the 60-80KM range trying to average 30KM/H (at around 29.1 at the moment) and i'm starting to wonder if maybe a nicer set of wheels might help me just bring that average up? Or am i throwing my money at a dead horse and should just buy a 'new' bike (ALUR 700 perhaps?) a large range rear cassette would be nice i guess as i'm soon on the lowest gear come the hills!

I've got a hybrid hack for commuting, this can just be a speed freak. Budget i would say would be around 500-600 (i can use CTW if needed)
FWIW i'm 5'10 and 78KG and a fitness freak

 

[Apollonius]

That is quite a decent machine and not unduly heavy when you consider that is an "all-up" weight. What does look a bit alarming, to me anyway, is the tall nature of the gearing. With 38/23 being your lowest gear, I'm not surprised you use it frequently. Weight off the wheels is always noticed, but I suspect the advice you really want is to buy a new bike. If you do, then be prepared to spend a bit o cash. You have a good quality bike and won't want to drop down.

 

[HertzvanRental]

Hey Guys,

I'm after some advice please, i bought a peugeot competition 50 in 2013 (bike is from 1999!) and it's been great to me upto now where i want to get a little faster, what's a little odd is this bike has got to this stage with all the oringal components (apart from the tyres!)

So the bike is a full 105 (5500) group set, with 12-23 rear cassette (9 speed) and 38/53 front chainset, the wheels are just listed as 'Aluminium semi-profile black' i weighted the front wheel and inc tyre (700x23) and inner tube it came to 1.54kg

The bike as a whole is currently weighing in at 10.1KG (thats inc pedals, speed/cadence sensor, bottle cage etc)

Now i guess the issue is everything works just fine at the moment, i'm currently riding in the 60-80KM range trying to average 30KM/H (at around 29.1 at the moment) and i'm starting to wonder if maybe a nicer set of wheels might help me just bring that average up? Or am i throwing my money at a dead horse and should just buy a 'new' bike (ALUR 700 perhaps?) a large range rear cassette would be nice i guess as i'm soon on the lowest gear come the hills!

I've got a hybrid hack for commuting, this can just be a speed freak. Budget i would say would be around 500-600 (i can use CTW if needed)
FWIW i'm 5'10 and 78KG and a fitness freak

Reading your post suggests that you do not NEED to change your cycle, but if you WANT to change, aagh thats another thing!!

 

[woosey]

Hey Guys,

More than happy to upgrade components here, money in the bank is always nice So a taller cassette and perhaps a new rear derailer (it's a pretty short cage, not sure what it will support) This is what it looks like - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Shimano-105-RD-5500-9-Speed-Rear-Derailleur-/331576935261

TBH i kind of like having a bright yellow Peugeot

 

[woosey]

Just as an update, my wiggle basket now has -

Fulcrum 7's (or are 5's worth the extra? / any other suggestions)
Shimano HG50 11-30 9 speed rear cassette (might pick up two of these, would be good to have a spare wheel for the turbo trainer)

Any other suggestions guys?

 

[Cyclist33]

Get the 5s, assuming they are the LG ones.

 

[Cyclist33]

Nice pair of tyres perhaps?

Rubino pro folding slicks?

 

[woosey]

Already have Michelin Pro4 Service Course which i dig and yes the LG (whatever that means :S)

Edit then again the Racing Quattro is only a little bit extra and looks like it might take a bit more stick than the 5's (should still save me weight too)

 

[Citius]

Speed can't be bought (aside from a few seconds here and there). If you are a 'fitness freak', work on your fitness.

 

[woosey]

Speed can't be bought (aside from a few seconds here and there). If you are a 'fitness freak', work on your fitness.

Trust me, i will

 

[Cyclist33]

Already have Michelin Pro4 Service Course which i dig and yes the LG (whatever that means :S)

Edit then again the Racing Quattro is only a little bit extra and looks like it might take a bit more stick than the 5's (should still save me weight too)

The quattros might look fancier but they won't be any stronger than the 5s. Its a matter of your own taste.

 

[woosey]

Hey Guys,

As a follow up to this, i took your advice and have gone from -

to -

So went with the fulcrum sport quattro and put 25x700 gatorskins on there, cleaned the existing cassette and have an 11-32 cassette ready for the old wheels for the turbo trainer / routes with climbs.

Whilst on wiggle decided to treat myself to new pedals (gone from SPD -> SPD SL) and a new saddle

Am i faster? A bit - but TBH i think thats more me trying harder to justify having just dropped £400 on upgrades Gone up the leaderboard on a fair few strava segments already

Thanks for the advice guys

 

[Citius]

Is that stem within it's safe limit?

 

[SteCenturion]

A little bit late for this but, having discovered another thread I would have suggested a new bike.

Planet X have a lightweight Aluminium RT-58 on special offer at just £599.

Full Sram Rival = to Shimano 105
Campagnolo Khamsin wheels
Continental tyres.
11-32 cassette.

An absolute bargain & 2 or 3 CC members have already taken the plunge.

 

[vickster]

£499.99 with rival

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXRT58ALRIV22/planet-x-rt-58-alloy-sram-rival-22-road-bike