Ugrades

[Cycling_Samurai]

"Better to ride upgrades than to add upgrades" or something like that.

Well I got into cycling because of COVID19 and didn't want to spend thousands to merely have it stolen.
Got a Cannondale, it came with 105 r5800. Had a 11-28 cassette which was hard for a overweight newbie starting out. So I got 105 r7000 mid cage and 11-32. A little gentler on me parts. Plenty of hills where I live. Can't go far without encountering some sort of hill. Anyway great investment.
I recently added 9100 Dura-Ace shifters, front brake, and front derailleur. Best decision so far. Rides amazingly smooth. 105 was good but is a little clunky and doesn't perform as consistent.
Got the bike used, about a year under the previous owner. Although I could have bought a new bike with Ultegra I choose to simply upgrade the parts I read about. Got 9100 Dura-Ace over r8000 Ultegra because of the deal I got. Didn't need to change the rear brake so that's the only thing I've not upgraded.

What's your upgrades?

 

[Sharky]

One of my steeds is a Decathlon Sport 2. Bought as an emergency replacement for commuting. Cost about £270.

The only upgrades I've done to is change the wheels and tyres. Had to put a different saddle on it for comfort. The chainset was a cheap roumanian triple, so that was replaced with a single. The bars and stem were changed to give a more comfortable position. The brakes were transferred down from my summer bike and of course its seen a few different chains and cassettes.

That's about it, oh apart from the frame set that was replaced with a Ribble.

But that Decathlon just keeps going.

Cheers Trigger

 

[mattobrien]

My Cannondale CAAD12 came in dura ace disc brake guise, the only actual things that were DA were the mechs as the hydraulics shifters of that era (2015) were not series specific. The frame developed a small crack and the whole bike was replaced after a few months, after that I changed the wheels to Fulcrum CarBon Quattro. A lack of talent lead me to have an off and snap one of the shifters, I kept it on the turbo for a few months but come autumn (it is my winter bike) I went to get it sorted. Seeing as it wasn’t going to be cheap to replace like for like, I wanted to upgrade to Di2 ultegra. Ultegra was proving hard to come by, so I ended up replacing shifters and mechs with SRAM eTap. I may have also changed the saddle, bars and stem at some point too. The only originial bits are the frame and seatpost.

 

[Cycling_Samurai]

My Cannondale CAAD12 came in dura ace disc brake guise, the only actual things that were DA were the mechs as the hydraulics shifters of that era (2015) were not series specific. The frame developed a small crack and the whole bike was replaced

What was the cause of the frame crack? I have a CAAD12. I didn't mention that I changed the seat and added suspension for the seat as well as the stem. The bike lanes and roads are inconsistent where I live and there is a 5 mile trail as part of a 135 mile ride I do. So far no cracks. I got some scratches but no cracks. How'd you know that you had a crack?

 

[mattobrien]

What was the cause of the frame crack? I have a CAAD12. I didn't mention that I changed the seat and added suspension for the seat as well as the stem. The bike lanes and roads are inconsistent where I live and there is a 5 mile trail as part of a 135 mile ride I do. So far no cracks. I got some scratches but no cracks. How'd you know that you had a crack?

there was a small dark line near the seat tube (I think). It was either a crack in the frame or paint defect, the paint was warranted for 12 month and the frame longer, so it was replaced. I have no idea what caused it. I have been riding the current frame since early 2016 with no issues and it generally gets used when the weather or roads aren’t nice.

 

[Johnno260]

The only thing left original on my Merida is the Frame, Forks and seat post haha I like the frame.

it’s got 105 R7000 now it’s way better than the 5800 in my opinion.

With some cash I saved on fuel during lockdown I got some handmade DCR wheels, best thing I ever did.

Sure possible I went overboard but who cares the bike puts a smile on my face every time.

I may replace the frame in a few years, been looking at Reilly Ti frames as they are relatively local to me.

 

[Cycling_Samurai]

it’s got 105 R7000 now it’s way better than the 5800 in my

I agree the tech on the group sets is much better than the older. The shadow tech in the derailleur is nice.

 

[Cycling_Samurai]

there was a small dark line near the seat tube (I think). It was either a crack in the frame or paint defect, the paint was warranted for 12 month and the frame longer, so it was replaced. I have no idea what caused it. I have been riding the current frame since early 2016 with no issues and it generally gets used when the weather or roads aren’t nice.

I just read up on cracks in aluminum frames. Didn't realize it was inevitable. I stay away from carbon frames for that very reason. I guess with aluminum it is visible where carbon is likely not. My bike is a 2018 so I got some time hopefully. Maybe with new alloys it will last longer.

 

[rivers]

All of my bikes have had their wheels and tyres upgraded from stock. I might eventually upgrade my summer bike from 105 to ultegra DI2. But I might not. It doesn't hamper me.

 

[MichaelW2]

My old commuter road bike was so upgraded I should have named it Upgrayedd. 5 to 8spd. Used wheels to handbuilt, compact double to triple crankset.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLtQQbU_-jE

 

[winjim]

My CdF now has 11sp Athena rather than 9sp Sora. It's nice and at least has a decent range of gearing on it now. 34-25 was a bit high for Sheffield and the Peak District. And it's Campagnolo so it's better. And it's pre-2014 so it's the last of the sexy silver Campagnolo with the five arm crankset. It did necessitate a wheel rebuild so it now has a nice Hope Pro4 with double butted spokes on the rear, although still that cheapo Shimano hub and straight gauge spokes on the front.

 

[T4tomo]

On my Bianchi Infinito CV I've barely changed a thing. It came with Ultegra, I could choose what tyres & wheels it came with. As I've replaced cassettes over the years I'm now running a Miche 12-29. Individual sprockets can be replaced as and when they need it.

I have bought a couple of used CX/ gravel bikes for me and the the other half. I've invested in a spare set of wheels for each so we can flick between on road (winter set up) and offroad. I changed the saddle on mine for a spoon and bar tape to complement the colour scheme. Her's needed a fair amount of fettling, switching back to drop bars and cantilever brakes and due to wear /age / malfunction I have in time replaced both mechs and shifters, which prompted an upgrade to 10 speed from 9 due to part availability / cost. Its now running microshift shifters & Front mech and a105 rear mech plus it got recabled. I recentlybchnage front brake hanger setup to successfully rid it of the harmonic break judder.

Unless something has broke or worn out, I don't see the point of upgrading group sets for the sake of it. Tiagra will change pretty much as good as Dura ace nowadays. The expense of changing isnt justified

 

[Cycling_Samurai]

All of my bikes have had their wheels and tyres upgraded from stock. I might eventually upgrade my summer bike from 105 to ultegra DI2. But I might not. It doesn't hamper me.

I won't go Di2 because I don't want to rely on charging the batteries. Seems to me that just turning the crank should charge the batteries.

Also if you upgrade, r8000 or 9100 is a nice upgrade.

 

[Ian H]

I suppose my most 'upgraded'* bike is the fixed. It's on its fifth or possibly sixth frame. I have no idea how many different wheels it's had. The oldest components are the cranks, dating back to the 1980s (SR old Campag pattern).

*A term mostly misused, when replaced is meant.

 

[Deleted User]

Wheels generally are my 1st upgrade, my Carbon Defy has 105 but have some 50mm Carbon wheels and I've a Spesh Diverge gravel with Campag Zonda's and some Hunt 650b for rougher stuff. Grx groupset so quite nice. Both have Spesh power seats as that's what fits me. I would like to try Di2 at some point, Ultegra probably due to cost.