What components is it worth spending extra money on

[Spoked Wheels]

Not knowing what you have to start with it's a bit of a guess whatever I say but, since you ask, here are some candidates to consider

Saddle,
tyres
handlebars, grips, bar tape, bar ends, etc. take your pick
maybe a stem to give you a more comfortable position
pedals
wheels (if yours aren't reliable/durable enough)
bigger cassette ( more sprockets) (smaller chainring)

 

[Fab Foodie]

black bikes get mentioned a lot on this forum I don't understand the hatred?

You will ....

 

[Fab Foodie]

Frame suitability and fit.
Wheels and Tyres
Hub Dynamo lighting
Saddle.

Everything else is much of a muchness. More expensive drive trains don't make you faster, just give you bragging rights in the pub. Most brakes these days with decent blocks are good enough.

There are some zealots here regarding mudguards ... Just ignore them and do as you please.

 

[Pale Rider]

Given that a puncture is overwhelmingly the most likely cause of a breakdown, my answer is spend extra on tyres.

Further, those super puncture-resistant tyre won't be so resistant after a few thousand miles, so it's also worth replacing the tyres regularly, not waiting until you can see the canvas.*

*Showing my age there, these days it would probably be a kevlar band.

 

[Mr Celine]

well the question was prompted from a visit to a bike shop and looking at seemingly very similar bike but have a £400 or more price difference. I was wondering what are you getting for the extra money. Are you going to feel a difference in the ride or will one last longer. I guess it is hard to answer without specific comparisons but I guess I was bemused by the amount of choice out there

Strong
Light
Cheap

Any bicycle can have up to a maximum of two of the above attributes. I suspect that your bike and the similar in appearance but more expensive one do not share the same pair of attributes.

 

[Dave 123]

I read across two lines there and wondered "why do you need a puncture resistant saddle? How bony is your bum?"

Not very, plenty of tread on that!

 

[Dave 123]

brakes are easier to assess but what constitutes a "good drive train"

Depends on what you're using it for....on a road bike I'd say Shimano*105 or Ultegra. Dura ace is a bit too much for a rag arse like me!

*Don't know about other brands.....

 

[Andrew_P]

Everything, absolutely everything.

 

[Globalti]

I spend my money on supple tyres. If that means a couple of extra punctures a year, so be it; I don't mind fixing punctures by the roadside. I would hate to be riding a good bike with nasty hard, heavy commuter tyres that give a harsh ride. For me you can't beat the comfort and grip and the feeling of security that you get from a set of Veloflex Corsas or the Vittoria branded equivalent.

....and it's not like supple tyres are expensive at £52 for a pair of Veloflexes from Ribble.

 

[mjr]

Depends on what you're using it for....on a road bike I'd say Shimano*105 or Ultegra. Dura ace is a bit too much for a rag arse like me!

They've never recovered the heights of the 600 Arabesque

 

[Levo-Lon]

And matt black is just so wrong. Bikes in that colour are bought by people who secretly yearn for the return of Tank tops, Cuban heels, flairs and porn star 'taches.

they dont honest..

 

[Tin Pot]

they dont honest..


View attachment 118639

 

[Levo-Lon]

Check out that tie..lol

 

[jowwy]

I would rather see matt black with small accents of colour to break it up. Rather than some of gearish bright monstroseties i see on the roads.

 

[Globalti]

Check out that tie..lol

Er... what's wrong with it? The knot?