If you had spare cash what components would you upgrade?

Nuggs

Zinn + tools

Soni

Hi guys, been out today and bought the following:-

Union maintenance stand
TopPeak Multi Tool
2 replacement brake wires
Prolink Progold oil
Bontrager GEL Handlebar tape (in black, to replace my white (which has now turned black! existing tape)

Haven't set the stand up yet but tested the display stand in the shop with a heavy mountain bike on it and it seemed very sturdy.

alfablue

I have the Union stand (also sold/branded as Bike Tools) and I am very happy with it, very sturdy. Also Prolink Progold is the very best in my experience.

Spitchips - BANNED

The seat I would upgrade. You can get some decent gel seats for £45+ which offer a real comfy ride - you dont get to your destination with a numb bum.

With the spare cash maybe get some punture protection strips for tyres - minimises headaches and hassel.

Spitchips - BANNED

or else a bike repair stand for about £100 - good for servcing bike.

Soni

alfablue wrote:

I have the Union stand (also sold/branded as Bike Tools) and I am very happy with it, very sturdy. Also Prolink Progold is the very best in my experience.

Hi Alfablue, i remember us discussing in a thread a little while ago when i had just purchased White Lightning and you said the Progold would have been the better option, well whilst i was in the bike shop i mentioned about the rear cassette being thick black and that i had been using the White Lighting and asked what they used on their bikes and they recommended the Progold also! So thought i would go for it and blow the White Lighting out of the window!

Soni

Spitchips wrote:

The seat I would upgrade. You can get some decent gel seats for £45+ which offer a real comfy ride - you dont get to your destination with a numb bum.

With the spare cash maybe get some punture protection strips for tyres - minimises headaches and hassel.

Funny, as i haven't experienced any problems with the seat although i was expecting it especially after doing 55 mile club rides as my Marin Palisades Trail mountain bike which has a gell saddle hurts my Coxix even after only 10 minutes.

I've just collected some Bontrager Hard Case this afternoon from the bike shop which are one of my Christmas gifts and they got really good reviews, so hopefully they will cure my puncture problems....

SCR Pedro

Hey there,

I seen the Trek 1.5 in a bike shop at the weekend. The green is actually very nice, but I think the bike should at least come with a Tiagra groupset.

I've got a new set of wheels coming for my SCR2. I have already replaced the seatpost for a carbon one, and personalised the handlebar tape. Apart from some really good tyres, there's not much more I'd do to it except for a lighter crankset.

Pedro

Soni

SCR Pedro wrote:

Hey there,

I seen the Trek 1.5 in a bike shop at the weekend. The green is actually very nice, but I think the bike should at least come with a Tiagra groupset.

I've got a new set of wheels coming for my SCR2. I have already replaced the seatpost for a carbon one, and personalised the handlebar tape. Apart from some really good tyres, there's not much more I'd do to it except for a lighter crankset.

Pedro

Totally agree about the Tiagra, but they try and cut corners on the parts they think they can get away with. As most of the time is spent on the middle crank at the front, the Sora doesn't really get used apart from the STI shifters of which work really well with the Tiagra on the rear, in every time and really smooth also.

I was talking to the guy in the bike shop today and he reckoned i would notice more difference by replacing the brake wire as opposed to replacing the brake calipers, because he said that the bike manufacturers cut huge corners with these types of things because people don't realise or take any notice, whereas a rear derailier will be noticed if its Sora and not Dura Ace!

So, i've purchased 2 new brake wires for £2.50 each and he reckoned i would notice a difference for sure.

As for the green, yeah i really like it, even the guy in the bike shop that i originally purchased it at said it had grown on him since he originally set it up, as at first he thought 'What the Heck!'

softlad

Soni wrote:

So, i've purchased 2 new brake wires for £2.50 each and he reckoned i would notice a difference for sure.

I wish I shared his optimism. Personally, I think new brake cables will make sod-all difference to your riding experience - unless of course your original cables are rusted, frayed and jamming in the outers..

Soni

softlad wrote:

Soni wrote:

So, i've purchased 2 new brake wires for £2.50 each and he reckoned i would notice a difference for sure.

I wish I shared his optimism. Personally, I think new brake cables will make sod-all difference to your riding experience - unless of course your original cables are rusted, frayed and jamming in the outers..

I did wonder how something so cheap could make so much of a difference, but then i thought why on earth would he lie over such a cheap item........

Apparently its cheap wire they put on the bikes when they are manufactured and that results in it stretching and not holding as much tension.....

Nuggs

Maybe a turbo trainer so you can work on upgrading the engine?

edhornby

just a thought - do you have a track pump ??? if you get a good quality pump with a pressure gauge on it this will make a big difference, it's so much easier to get the tyres pumped up again, and running on the correct pressure makes a huge difference to the ride....