What components is it worth spending extra money on

[the snail]

A good quality frame/forks that fits you well, a comfy saddle and some decent well-built wheels. The other bits are much of a muchness, just replace with what suits your budget when it wears out.

 

[2IT]

so what do you look for in a non race bike. touring/ audax/ hybrid/ commuter styles

Don't race yet like many here we like a nice bike regardless of use. Having just gone from a Fuji Roubaix to a Fuji Transonic this is what I noticed.

1) Any down grade in components could be felt. My Roubaix had an Ultegra rear derailleur and the Transonic 105 rear so disappointed that I took the 2.8 back and got the 2.5. There were other downgrades too that were noticeable Believe me, it would have been nice to save the money though. Therefore don't downgrade components or frame or you will likely notice it too. It seems like once you go up, it's hard(er) to come down.

2) Wheels are after the saddle in what I notice the most. Wheels can/do make a bike lighter, stiffer, and faster (if aero).

3) Some of what has been mentioned is maintenance whether it's drive train, tires, cables, etc. A bike that is as good new is like new to the original owner.

4) What the frame is made of matters less than fit. Still happy with both frames. Since I sweat a great deal prefer a frame and components that won't rust.

PS the Roubaix is white and the Transonic is black carbon and I'm trying to deal with it with a white water bottle and saddle and more color in my kit. There is a big white FUJI on the frame and some white highlights. The white 2.8 looked great yet the component upgrade would have been more expensive. A color you like matters.

 

[Moon bunny]

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.

Whenever I see a matt black bike I get an urge to spray it with adhesive and shower it with glitter.

 

[Arrowfoot]

I can't recall seeing any of the established brands offering a matt black finish. I have seen matt light grey and shiny black as a backdrop contrast for nice designs and lettings.

 

[marcusjb]

As ever, you do tend to get what you pay for, but diminishing returns and all that. I love having decent kit and have some very tarty bits on the bikes. Does it make a difference? Probably not much!

Stuff that really makes a difference and is worth spending on is clothing for winter so you can carry on putting the miles in ready to pay dividends in summer. I'll wager that someone who spends a couple of hundred quid on some good winter gear and rides through winter will see bigger improvements than someone who spends a couple of hundred quid on a new component and doesn't ride through winter.

I think it was Merckx who said "don't buy upgrades, ride upgrades".

 

[mjr]

I think it was Merckx who said "don't buy upgrades,

...ride up grades." Like, hills.

 

[winjim]

Merckx was a racer. The OP ain't.

 

[Racing roadkill]

For me personally, it's the saddle, and the tyres.

 

[Racing roadkill]

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

I don't give a monkey's about the colour of the bike. The thing that I find irritating is the "black is proper pro yeah, blud, dog, bro, dog, bro" mentality, of some folk. Again, that's fine, but not if they insist on getting all sneery, and insistent on letting everyone else know, just how 'pro' their black bike makes them. A prime example of a vocal minority, giving the majority a bad name.

 

[bozmandb9]

I'm not sure it is so easy - I'm looking to upgrade my road bike for races. I can't figure out whether it's worth going from Veloce to Athena, or Chorus. The group sets cost ~£250, £500 and upwards of that. The performance difference? Difference in durability? No idea.

Wheelsets - Khamsin, Scirocco, Zonda, Planet X 60/60...Performance? Durability? <shrug>

The whole industry is designed not to inform, so that consumers buy stuff they don't need.

I wouldn't bother with groupset Tin Pot, I have Athena now, had Centaur before. I think the difference is a few grams really. In bang per buck it must be wheels all the way for racing. I know I could shave over half a kg there! (zonda vs old Racing 7)

 

[Tin Pot]

I wouldn't bother with groupset Tin Pot, I have Athena now, had Centaur before. I think the difference is a few grams really. In bang per buck it must be wheels all the way for racing. I know I could shave over half a kg there! (zonda vs old Racing 7)

Agree - but this is the frustrating thing; weight is the only factor your can measure yourself and point at. So we over emphasise it's usefulness!

I'm probably buying some Ribble Superleggera 100/80 aero wheels, if the bean counters let me. I'm trading weight for an inferred aero benefit. They should be publishing the aero performance of wheels, but they don't because they don't have to - people like me are still buying anyway! <bangs head>

 

[bozmandb9]

Agree - but this is the frustrating thing; weight is the only factor your can measure yourself and point at. So we over emphasise it's usefulness!

I'm probably buying some Ribble Superleggera 100/80 aero wheels, if the bean counters let me. I'm trading weight for an inferred aero benefit. They should be publishing the aero performance of wheels, but they don't because they don't have to - people like me are still buying anyway! <bangs head>

I agree in terms of overall weight, but I think lighter wheels are worthwhile, which is why I'd far rather have the weight saving from wheels, rather than an upgraded groupset (though I'd not be saying no to Super Record if it was offered!).