Oh what Next!!!!!

[Meirion658]

I currently have a Spesh Allez with the sora/Tigra groupset. I bought the bike through the cycle scheme and I am coming up to my final payment very soon. As the scheme only allows me to spend up to £1000 a carbon bike is out of the question as I am not allowed to pay the difference. (Gutted)
So my Question is what would you change on the bike to enhance performance and make the bike lighter etc. Things I am looking at is a change of groupset to 105/Ultergra, New wheels but don’t know where to start on this one or open to any suggestions.

 

[jamesxyz]

As the scheme only allows me to spend up to £1000 a carbon bike is out of the question as I am not allowed to pay the difference. .

1. There are a few Carbon bikes for under a grand (ribble, Planet X etc) although you may want better than 105 spec for that money
2. You might be able to negotiate with a particular LBS - mine qouted the bike as £1000 but I paid the difference unbeknown to the scheme.

 

[ianrauk]

One of the first things to upgrade should be the wheels. You can get some really nice wheels at good price with a fair amount of weight advantage. On my Roubaix I changed the Mavics it came with for Eastons with a saving of 400g. The Crankset is also a good one to change. 105/Ultegra will weigh a good deal less then the Tiagra and Sora sets.

 

[beancounter]

So my Question is what would you change on the bike to enhance performance and make the bike lighter etc. Things I am looking at is a change of groupset to 105/Ultergra, New wheels but don’t know where to start on this one or open to any suggestions.

I may have misunderstood, but were you planning to do these upgrade through the Cyclescheme?

As far as I know you're not allowed to buy just components through the Cyclescheme.

bc

 

[Meirion658]

Just spoken to Cycle Scheme and you are right gutted mmmmm guess I ill just have to start putting some cash away.

Now that has put a spanner in the works which parts of the bike would you first upgrade and why and to what?

Cheers

 

[ttcycle]

If you're wanting to purchase another bike on C2W - if it's over £1000 it's not usually a problem- just speak to the LBS and you pay the difference to the LBS and they write down the value as £1000. If you want to upgrade I'd agree with Ian above but it'll be harder to get it through C2W unless your employer is pretty lax and won't check but I wouldn't rely on that

 

[accountantpete]

Long term you want to look towards getting a bike that has a bit of life in it.

Short term - new wheels either lightweight or aero.

Medium term - Ultegra groupset components esp B/B and crankset as the weight savings really help.

Long term - new frame.

The upgrades will only work as much as the frame allows but they will be noticeable.

 

[Meirion658]

Thanks for that so looking at the short term anyone can give me advice/tips on a good pair of wheels budget wise i could manage approx £200 for the pair or is that a bit OTT for the frame that i have?

 

[addictfreak]

If you're wanting to purchase another bike on C2W - if it's over £1000 it's not usually a problem- just speak to the LBS and you pay the difference to the LBS and they write down the value as £1000. If you want to upgrade I'd agree with Ian above but it'll be harder to get it through C2W unless your employer is pretty lax and won't check but I wouldn't rely on that

+1

I know we have been here before, but I did as TT says above and paid extra to my LBS, no questions asked.
As for components, I have not done that myself but I am certainly aware of some colleagues buying wheels etc. Again it was done between them and the LBS.

 

[accountantpete]

Wheels users fall into 2 camps - the handbuilt wheel users and factory wheel users.

I use factory wheels as I find them stiffer and lighter - which translates into better performance at a slight cost as regards comfort. For a decent pair at £200 you should be looking at a lightly used second hand pair on eBay - Mavic Ksyrium,Campag Zonda or Fulcrum Racing 3's. They retail at £350-400 new.

They will be ok with the frame you have -and you will notice the difference.