Upgrade advice- road bike

NORTHERNER33
NORTHERNER33 Posts: 41
edited October 2009 in Road buying advice
After upgarading the wheels of a bike what is the best upgrade to focus on next- bottom bracket or handelbars? Ideally I want to avoid buying a full new group set.I already have a FSA SLK chainset from 2007 but wondered if upgrading the bb would save weight and work better- maybe ceramic? Also are SPECIALIZED SWorks handelbarS any good?

Comments

  • skyd0g
    skyd0g Posts: 2,540
    Have you already done tyres + tubes along with the wheels? In some ways a small thing, but can make a big difference to the rolling weight of the wheel as well as handling. :)
    Cycling weakly
  • NORTHERNER33
    NORTHERNER33 Posts: 41
    yes added Ksyrium ES + Michelin Pro 3 tyres
  • top_bhoy
    top_bhoy Posts: 1,424
    Depends on the frame - upgrading a cheap end frame would be a waste of resources best kept for a higher end frame to make any upgrade beneficial.
    Click here to view Top_Bhoys Pedal Force:
    Click here to view Top_Bhoys RC2:
  • NORTHERNER33
    NORTHERNER33 Posts: 41
    in progress to update to an S works SL3 frame but wanting to make sure I don't misss any other simple upgrades when I swap my groupset. Thinking of a new bb for my FSA SLK chainset + maybe new handelbars- Sworks or maybe Zipp?
  • gkerr4
    gkerr4 Posts: 3,408
    NORTHERNER33 wrote:
    in progress to update to an S works SL3 frame but wanting to make sure I don't misss any other simple upgrades when I swap my groupset. Thinking of a new bb for my FSA SLK chainset + maybe new handelbars- Sworks or maybe Zipp?

    depends what you mean by 'upgrade' - you won't save a lot of weight through changing the BB and the reduction in friction through ceramic bearings wont be noticed at all!

    handlebars - again, you won't save weight - but you might get more comfortable ones.
    I changed the ITM bars on my S-Works roubaix for cinelli neo morphe ones - they are almost certainly heavier than the alu ones but they feel great - one of the best 'upgrades' i have ever made.

    the barmac is a nice handlebar / stem combo - but I didnt like the cable routing options (or lack of!) for my campag groupset. smart looking bit of kit though.

    what about saddle? - and even things like the cassette if you are seaching for weight savings?

    what are the specs of the rest of the bike?
  • NORTHERNER33
    NORTHERNER33 Posts: 41
    SL3 FRAMESET+ CHORUS GROUPSET+ DURA ACE CASETTE+ KYSRIUM WHEELS+ TOUPE SADDLE+ KEO CARBON PEDALS
  • gkerr4
    gkerr4 Posts: 3,408
    Hmm - nice spec (althoguh how have you got a chorus group working with a D/A cassette?)

    Did you say an FSA chainset? - how about changing to full chorus?
  • NORTHERNER33
    NORTHERNER33 Posts: 41
    THE D/A cassette is a new addition that I have to add to the existing group set. group set theefore is all chorus apart from D/A cassette and FSA SLK chainset
  • gkerr4
    gkerr4 Posts: 3,408
    but how does that work? - the spacing is all wrong - you can't run shimano cassettes with campag groupet - the shifts will be awful.

    Your ES wheels aren't shimano freehub are they?
  • NORTHERNER33
    NORTHERNER33 Posts: 41
    sorry ULTEGRA!!!
  • gkerr4
    gkerr4 Posts: 3,408
    it still won't work right..
  • NORTHERNER33
    NORTHERNER33 Posts: 41
    ULTEGRA GROUP SET + DURACE ACE CASSETTE WILL WORK - no reason not to
  • Slow Downcp
    Slow Downcp Posts: 3,041
    Shifting would be crisper with Campag cassette - unless the DA cassette has be respaced for Campag.
    Carlsberg don't make cycle clothing, but if they did it would probably still not be as good as Assos
  • gkerr4
    gkerr4 Posts: 3,408
    NORTHERNER33 wrote:
    ULTEGRA GROUP SET + DURACE ACE CASSETTE WILL WORK - no reason not to

    oh sorry - yes - ultegra wil be fine - chorus not so!

    in that case the FSA chainset is probably better - what about brake calipers - they ultegra too?

    you're not far off having that bike about as good as it gets!
  • NORTHERNER33
    NORTHERNER33 Posts: 41
    yes Ultegra calipers
  • STEFANOS4784
    STEFANOS4784 Posts: 4,109
    What on earth is going on here? :? :?
    winter beast: http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr34 ... uff016.jpg
    Summer beast; http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr34 ... uff015.jpg
  • desweller
    desweller Posts: 5,175
    STEFANOS4784 wrote:
    What on earth is going on here? :? :?

    I'm amazed no-one has told him to 'upgrade his training'.
    - - - - - - - - - -
    On Strava.{/url}

Categories