Upgrades what do I need to know?

[flying start]

Hi all just thinking about upgrades on a flat bar road bike (Giant rapid 3)
Bike is specked with sora, brakes and shifters are one piece, the set up is 8x3
So thinking is it just a case of swapping the mechs for the likes of road mechs like 105 or better (what's better than 105?) and swapping to 9 or 10 speed I know the shifters will need to be compatable so new brake and shifters to!
And swapping cranks to a double instead of a triple. Will be getting new wheels to likes of mavic so cassette as well? Or is this much more complicated than that not so clued up on that sort of stuff so could do with some pointers if possible any advice welcome Thanx lee!

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/rapid.3/9318/49830/ link to the bike here if it works

 

[Noodley]

just buy a new road bike

 

[flying start]

Can't afford a new road bike i was just going to buy as I can afford them? And don't want to go down the finance rought!! I was just going use the the bike untill I have all the parts

 

[Glover Fan]

I think the point noodley was trying to make without elaboration was that by the time you spend the money upgrading the parts you mentioned it would be more financially prudent to just buy a better bike.

 

[James D]

Have you done any research regarding prices for these upgrades? 105 groupset is approx £430ish this includes shifters/cranks/cassette/brakes etc plus fitting costs unless you have the knowledge to fit it yourself. Wheels you are probably looking at £150 (not sure what model you are looking at?). As the above posters say it's probably cheaper in the long run to buy a new bike. Of course you can buy the upgrades over a period of time as an when budget allows....

 

[Herzog]

Have you done any research regarding prices for these upgrades? 105 groupset is approx £430ish this includes shifters/cranks/cassette/brakes etc plus fitting costs unless you have the knowledge to fit it yourself. Wheels you are probably looking at £150 (not sure what model you are looking at?). As the above posters say it's probably cheaper in the long run to buy a new bike. Of course you can buy the upgrades over a period of time as an when budget allows....

Upgrades are also easier to slip in the house unnoticed - a new bike is slightly harder to conceal.

 

[jowwy]

I'm sure the OP was asking about upgrades - not whether he should buy a new bike

maybe, just maybe he likes his current bike and as everyone else does, he wants to upgrade the components as when he can afford to do so.......ever thought of that before replying

sheeesh some people

 

[Psyclist]

Hi all just thinking about upgrades on a flat bar road bike (Giant rapid 3)
Bike is specked with sora, brakes and shifters are one piece, the set up is 8x3
So thinking is it just a case of swapping the mechs for the likes of road mechs like 105 or better (what's better than 105?) and swapping to 9 or 10 speed I know the shifters will need to be compatable so new brake and shifters to!
And swapping cranks to a double instead of a triple. Will be getting new wheels to likes of mavic so cassette as well? Or is this much more complicated than that not so clued up on that sort of stuff so could do with some pointers if possible any advice welcome Thanx lee!

If you're changing groupset, I'd go for SRAM Rival (unless you like the way Shimanos STi shifters work) it's the equivalent of 105 and I don't think you're going to need a pure race orientated groupset (Force & Red ) on a flat bar road bike. If not stay on 105. I have 105 derailleurs on my Giant Defy, they work well and are light enough for me for casual rides or a little race.

Not sure what your plan is? Are you buying groupset parts separately? If so, I'd get:

• Rival Compact chainset (Force if you want to lose a little more weight)///If you like 105, get that, or Ultegra if you want to save a little weight.
• Rival Medium cage rear derailleur///105 medium cage
• 10 speed PG1070///Same cassette unless you want cheaper, just get Tiagra or 105
• Rival Shifters///105 shifters
• Rival Double front derailleur///105 double
• SRAM Apex brakeset///105 brakeset
• SRAM PC1071///Shimano 105 10 speed chain.

As for wheels, what wheels are you thinking of? Mavic are great, but there are lighter wheels out there. Reynolds Shadow 2011 on CRC are cheap at the moment and 1600grams (without cassette,tyres and tubes) which is good for the price.

 

[flying start]

Hi all, kineic-uk ive Just been looking at the SRAM components seen the double tap shifters 9 & 10 speed think they come on the boardman pro hybrid! Yes thinking of buying individual bits as I can afford them and the better half won't be any the wiser but a new bike is a no no she will kill me!!!
the bike has sora on at the min but does not need to be 105 just thort this would be a good level to gio to, just seen SRAM do a flat bar brake lever bl700 which would go well with the SRAM rival brake calliper in black! As for wheels I've been offers some SRAM s30 al sprint wheels from my lbs new still boxed £350 and they will keep hold of them unroll I've get the money together!

 

[compo]

Hi all, kineic-uk ive Just been looking at the SRAM components seen the double tap shifters 9 & 10 speed think they come on the boardman pro hybrid! Yes thinking of buying individual bits as I can afford them and the better half won't be any the wiser but a new bike is a no no she will kill me!!!

You haven't yet got your better half properly trained.
My wife just gave me permission to tell you that.

 

[flying start]

Ha Nice one compo BUT how do you go about training the better half to understand theses things (buying upgrades or even a new bike?) Think it's best not to tell her anything and all is well!
Thank for posting the list kinetic-uk just priced up the list on crc all in it come to about £471.00 thats going with the double tap SRAM 10speed shifters for flat bars! can't seem to find any brake leavers compatable for flat bar? SRAM do some but stockists are all US don't want to pay for the over seas costs! mmmm very temped to go down the SRAM rought now!!

 

[Psyclist]

Ha Nice one compo BUT how do you go about training the better half to understand theses things (buying upgrades or even a new bike?) Think it's best not to tell her anything and all is well!
Thank for posting the list kinetic-uk just priced up the list on crc all in it come to about £471.00 thats going with the double tap SRAM 10speed shifters for flat bars! can't seem to find any brake leavers compatable for flat bar? SRAM do some but stockists are all US don't want to pay for the over seas costs! mmmm very temped to go down the SRAM rought now!!

I can't assure you 100%, but I think you can use SRAM 10 speed MTB shifters with the road groupset.

 

[flying start]

I can't assure you 100%, but I think you can use SRAM 10 speed MTB shifters with the road groupset.

What about the brake could I use tektro 721cx flat bar brakes or for a little more there is cane creek?

 

[Psyclist]

What about the brake could I use tektro 721cx flat bar brakes or for a little more there is cane creek?

Yup, you can use Cyclocross brakes on calliper brakes. Many fixed gear riders use them.

 

[TheDoctor]

I personally would stick with 8 speed, as replacement levers are ruddy expensive, and going to 9 or 10 speed won't actually save weight or make you faster.
Concentrate on improving the wheels, and the tyres. They'll get you most bang-per-buck. And get a track pump (if you don't have one) - it'll make inflating the tyres a gazillion times easier.
When the brake blocks go, get KoolStop salmon ones - they stop you better and don't wear the rims out as much.
As the chainrings wear, replace them with alloy ones. That'll save weight, and alloy ones are hardly more than steel. Plus you get to tweak the gearing if you need to.
And the cheapest upgrade - ride the bike more to get fitter!!