Cyclist33
Guest
- Location
- Warrington
Hmm bloody predictive text
Upgrade
- Thread starter Kevin Alexander
- Start date
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youngoldbloke
The older I get, the faster I used to be ...
Before you 'upgrade' anything it's worth becoming familiar with what is on the bike anyway, and then deciding if what you fancy will actually be an improvement, or just bling.
winjim
Straddle the line, discord and rhyme
OK, I have a VN7 and here's what I'm upgrading and why.
- Fit mudguards. Crud roadracer 2. In the words of house Stark, winter is coming, innit.
- Tyres. Zaffiro wire clinchers to be replaced with Rubino folders when they wear out. Might as well get full use of the ones I've got.
- Groupset. Replacing current Xenon/Veloce 10sp with full Chorus 11sp. Why? Because Chorus 11sp is well sexy. Also, I'm currently building a bike with Athena 11sp so it makes sense to have two bikes with similar drivetrains for ease of maintenance etc. Plus the stock FSA BB is a bit rubbish and I want to put on a standard chainset because compacts are for girls. Oh yeah, and Chorus 11sp is well sexy.
- Brakeset. Probably put on Chorus to go with the drivetrain, which is well sexy.
- Wheelset. I'm going to take the £250 I was going to spend on a pair of Zondas and invest it in a trueing stand and a wheelbuilding course as I fancy building my own. The stock Miche/Ambrosio wheels are pretty good anyway.
OP
OP
Kevin Alexander
Veteran
Thanks Jim
The reason I am looking at handlebars as this is something I can buy right now.
Thanks for the points though, def look into them
The reason I am looking at handlebars as this is something I can buy right now.
Thanks for the points though, def look into them
vickster
Squire
What benefit do you expect to get from handlebars unless the ones you have are the wrong size?! What's actually wrong with them in terms of their usability? New tyres, better bartape, a saddle that is comfortable, matching bottle cages etc are relatively low cost. Wheels next
winjim
Straddle the line, discord and rhyme
Keep the fifty quid a set of bars would cost and you're already a fifth of the way to a pair of Zondas. Or a tenth of the way to a pair of Neutrons if you want to blow that whole £500. Spend the intervening period riding your bike and really getting to know it. That way you'll appreciate the upgrade all the more when it does come.
Herzog
Swinglish Mountain Goat
- Location
- Bern, Switzerland
Unless your bars are knackered, there's no point "upgrading" them - waste of money!
RebornBumbler
Senior Member
- Location
- Barnstaple
The word 'upgrade' is probably causing most of the problem.
There's nothing wrong with replacing bars - in fact it was the next planned change for my Felt (before I crashed it and lunched the bars completely, thus making it a requirement !)
I don't consider it an upgrade - it's customisation of the bike to my requirements, like my saddle and bar tape changes.
I have large hands, and find the ergo-style multi-bend-thing and relatively short drop uncomfortable after a while in the drops, and I'm now more flexible than I was so I can spend more time there.
But there's a pretty good chance that the replacement bars will be lighter, too.
The main point I'd like to make is that it took some months of riding to determine that I'd want to change the bars, and what type I'd need to go for. Riding more (saving pennies the whole time) invariably helps make better decisions...
There's nothing wrong with replacing bars - in fact it was the next planned change for my Felt (before I crashed it and lunched the bars completely, thus making it a requirement !)
I don't consider it an upgrade - it's customisation of the bike to my requirements, like my saddle and bar tape changes.
I have large hands, and find the ergo-style multi-bend-thing and relatively short drop uncomfortable after a while in the drops, and I'm now more flexible than I was so I can spend more time there.
But there's a pretty good chance that the replacement bars will be lighter, too.
The main point I'd like to make is that it took some months of riding to determine that I'd want to change the bars, and what type I'd need to go for. Riding more (saving pennies the whole time) invariably helps make better decisions...
Fab Foodie
hanging-on in quiet desperation ...
- Location
- Kirton, Devon.
Best wheels and tyres you can go for will be the best upgrade you can make and will transform the feel, handling and probably the speed of the bike. Anything else is merely window dressing.
Nothing wrong with improving comfort points though ....
Nothing wrong with improving comfort points though ....
steve292
Guru
- Location
- Weston-super-mare, north somerset
I changed the stock wheels for Fulcrum racing 3's & the tyres to specialized turbos. £370 ish iirc made the bike look better & maybe faster certainly seems so.
I have since then changed the bar tape to specialized bar phat gel tape (£15ish) & I bought a fizik arione saddle(90ish). I also bought a fsa carbon seatpost to replace the alloy one off ebay(30ish).
I will say that the last three have transformed the bike in terms of comfort.
hope that helps. the bike is a specialized allez sport btw.
I have since then changed the bar tape to specialized bar phat gel tape (£15ish) & I bought a fizik arione saddle(90ish). I also bought a fsa carbon seatpost to replace the alloy one off ebay(30ish).
I will say that the last three have transformed the bike in terms of comfort.
hope that helps. the bike is a specialized allez sport btw.
