Stock bikes

[mattobrien]

My commuter / wet weather bike is as it came out of the shop, but that was built to my spec so nothing to change. I do have a plan to upgrade to hydraulic brakes at some point and knew this when it was build, so it is sympathetic to that potential future upgrade, which will probably be a whole new gruppo as they don't appear to make a 10 speed hydraulic mechanical shifter Oh and the rear wheel will need a new free wheel and redishing. Must save some pennies...

I do have a friend who is still riding his Cube Litening Pro in stock form. Realistically it needs a new saddle, as I understand it is an instrument of torture and I would also switch our the wheels to something slightly more befitting the other components.

I rode my summer bike in stock form for much of last year, but then I changed the tyres and have since swapped the wheels, saddle and bar tape. And swapped the pedals too - who would have believed it, it actually came with pedals. They are now residing on my winter bike...

 

[AnythingButVanilla]

I've changed bits and pieces on my bikes but it wouldn't occur to me to change things that are fine as they are. My hybrid needed a new back wheel and I changed the plastic pedals on my road bike because I hated them. The Brompton is still exactly the same although I might get a Brooks saddle at some point because my bum deserves it Maybe once I start riding properly again though, I've done fewer than 30 miles this year!

 

[Beebo]

stuff gets changed when it wears out.

 

[winjim]

CdF gets its tyres swapped depending on where I'm riding it. Bianchi has a shorter stem but otherwise stock, but only because the upgrades I want are prohibitively expensive so I'm having to save up.

Do new brake pads and a bottle cage count?

 

[User33236]

All my bikes are different to how they came including the latest two that had a saddle and cassette / saddle and tyres changed even before they were first ridden.

 

[MisterStan]

My TCR remained 'stock' for about a year, until the tyres needed replacing. I got some new wheels a few months later and treated myself to a new saddle this year. I am intending to upgrade the chainset, but as there is nothing inherently wrong with it, i'll wait until the rings have gone.

Edit: chains, cassettes, cables etc I class as consumables, therefore wouldn't count replacing them as a 'change'

 

[vickster]

stuff gets changed when it wears out.

When that happens, I get a new bike (or even if it gets dirty)

 

[vickster]

CdF gets its tyres swapped depending on where I'm riding it. Bianchi has a shorter stem but otherwise stock, but only because the upgrades I want are prohibitively expensive so I'm having to save up.

Do new brake pads and a bottle cage count?

Brake pads yes, bottle cage no as most bikes don't have them (if you keep switching then yes)

 

[raleighnut]

I tend to put new bits on my "best bike" so an upgrade on that leads to a dropdown upgrade on 3 or 4 others.
However I beggared that system up a bit when my new 653 frame got done in all Campagnolo so now I've got an Ultegra hollowtech triple crank that I can't decide which bike to fit it to. I may swap it for the 105 on the Raleigh then put that on the MTB, dunno.

 

[Rob3rt]

I think Rob may ride SRAM red?

I do on my road bike yes. Which is what I reacted on the basis of since £40 sounds cheap compared to that, but I don't recall my red mech costing much more than other lesser models at the time, maybe £50-60 more, maybe I got a bargain. On my TT bike the mech is 105 I thought even that would cost more to replace tbh. Shows how often I look at stuff...

 

[GrasB]

Relatively. Compared to £2000's worth of engine work on a car, £40 on a rear mech is nothing.

A DA9000 group set costs £1900. A decent quality set of forged, thus strong & light, alloy wheels & tyres can cost double that without getting to exotic.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

And a full blown V8 conversion in to a found shell MK1 Escort can cost you 20k or more.

I'm obviously not being very clear here. It is cheaper to do meaningful alterations to a lot of stock bikes than it is to do meaningful alterations to other stuff. Because it is cheaper it gets done more often. Naturally exotica exists in every walk of life and that costs more but in real world cases people probably modify bikes a lot because it doesn't have to be that expensive a thing to do, relative to the cost of other things and for that matter relative to the cost of the bike. Although, naturally if you've already spent a lot of money on the initial components, the replacement components are going to be more expensive.

Does that make sense now?

 

[Supersuperleeds]

I've not yet changed a stock saddle, tyres and pedals get changed before they leave the shop (Marathon Plus and DMR V12s on all my bikes) Chain and cassette normally need changing after a couple of months and they need their six week service after a week

 

[ChrisEyles]

My commuter (touring bike) is as sold, except for consumables. If I had money to burn I would swap out the handlebars for a slightly narrower set, but they do the job!

My "Sunday best" bike is an ongoing renovation project, so sourcing lots of "new" period correct parts has been a fun challenge.

Funnily (luckily!) enough, I've never yet come across a truly uncomfortable stock saddle - this is the one thing I'd definitely swap out asap if it was non-optimal. The rest is a lot of fun to play around with, but can get a bit pricey!

 

[lesley_x]

Specialized () is as it was except pedals. Still even on original tyres and tubes after 4 years. It's a super comfy bike, I haven't needed to change a thing. My ass likes the mens saddle on it too.

I changed the bar tape on my TCX to make it look prettier and the dust caps (lol). Also changed pedals. Will maybe need a saddle change at some point too, it's not as comfy as the Specialized saddle.

To be honest I'm happy with my bikes as they are, they fit me great and are comfortable, don't feel the need to upgrade anything.