Bike upgrade on Boardman Carbon?

Squillinossett
Squillinossett Posts: 1,678
edited December 2009 in Road buying advice
Due to christmas cheer, Mrs Squill has agreed to treat him to some new brakes for his bike as the Trektro (SP) ones that come with it are apparently poor at best!

And not wanting to pass up on the change of "free" bike bits, need the view on these:

http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/aca ... GOSBK.html

Dont want ot spend too much as she already has ordered me the Carbon Thoork saddle as a treat on top of Squills other presents (hoorah for Port and Wine!)

Thanks, and Hapopy Christmas!
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Comments

  • marin_maniac
    marin_maniac Posts: 513
    Just get the Rival brakes. Sorted.
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    Probably not an upgrade.

    Force/Rival brakes are what you want with decent pads.
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  • Squillinossett
    Squillinossett Posts: 1,678
    Rival Brakes will come in at well over £50...
  • dave_oc
    dave_oc Posts: 46
    Squill - From what I can gather on the forums you've upgraded the wheels, saddle, stem, bars and brakes on the Boardman before you've even got it!!!!!! It must be killing you to have all these parts lying around and no bike - maybe you should have just bought a frame to start with!! :wink:

    For brakes I'd say +1 for Sram Force to complement the rest of the groupset on the Boardman- only £92 inc discount at Merlin (?2009):

    http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/road-bike ... ipers.html

    Or £100 for the 2010 version at CRC:

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=40337
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    Squillinossett wrote:
    Rival Brakes will come in at well over £50...

    No point "upgrading" to something of equal or lower quality though.
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  • dave_oc
    dave_oc Posts: 46
    oops, sorry, didn't know the budget was limited to £50. I really don't think the FSA ones will be much of an upgrade.

    How about:

    Sram Rival 2010 £59 delivered

    http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Sram-Rival-Blac ... _26938.htm

    or the Ultralight forged ones from Planet X -225g for the pair and only £50

    http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/aca ... FORBK.html

    Merry Christmas!! :D
  • Squillinossett
    Squillinossett Posts: 1,678
    Woulld you go for the forged or the Rival for the money?

    Yea, upgraded a few things, but will be selling the stock items, and as I goit most cheaply, its not cist me much money really, and parts are much, much better than stock!

    EA90 SL, FSA K Force Crank and Zipp Bar/Stem...

    Plus bike has only cost £550 due to C2W...not really much money!
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    Squillinossett wrote:
    Woulld you go for the forged or the Rival for the money?

    Do you want braking performance or light weight?
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  • Squillinossett
    Squillinossett Posts: 1,678
    Performance, so I assume you will suggest the Rivals?
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    Rival
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  • Squillinossett
    Squillinossett Posts: 1,678
    There is somone selling some rivals in the classified section for £35, so PMed about those, but also somone selling some 105 5600 calipers.

    How do the 105's compare to Rivals Red?

    Thanks for help
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    105 are pretty good, probably not as good as Rival though.
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  • Squillinossett
    Squillinossett Posts: 1,678
    Shall see, the 105's have seen 10 miles, the Rivals im not sure about so have asked.

    I have loads of Kool Stop pads at home, so I will be replacing pads to these, so that bit is not an issue.

    How do callipers wear? if they have done 1000/2000 miles, will they still work as new. provided they have been cared for?
  • rake
    rake Posts: 3,204
    squill the standard pads are s h i t e . i kept the tektro r580 and put koolstop dual compound on. the brakes are 10x better. i cant see much wrong with the calipers. i would try them first with top quality pads and then judge them. either koolstop or swisstop green.standard shimano dura type fitting. give them a few miles to settle in.
  • Squillinossett
    Squillinossett Posts: 1,678
    I have bought DJBarrens 105's and will be paired with some Salmons! (they are pretty much new @ £35!)

    Many thanks guys for input
  • sub55
    sub55 Posts: 1,025
    zero gravity or DA
    constantly reavalueating the situation and altering the perceived parameters accordingly
  • rake
    rake Posts: 3,204
    are the ritchey wheels for sale. i could use some on my winter bike.
  • Squillinossett
    Squillinossett Posts: 1,678
    I will be selling the wheels when I get the bike (3rd week in jan)

    Will be 100% unused, as my ea90's will be going on at the shop

    Feel free to PM me with offer
  • Squillinossett
    Squillinossett Posts: 1,678
    sub55 wrote:
    zero gravity or DA

    Someone didnt read the main post... :wink:
  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    sub55 wrote:
    zero gravity or DA

    He's asking about a £50 upgrade. Not a £300 upgrade.
  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    Squillinossett wrote:
    Woulld you go for the forged or the Rival for the money?

    The forged Planet X brakes actually work pretty well - but I would recommend good pads in them. I've used them before and had no problems and they DO look pretty cool.

    I personally wouldn't like to have bits from Sram and Shimano on my bike, so depending on what else you've got - would either steer away from the 105 or the Rival brakes. (The Planet X brakes are non-branded and will fit in with everything else on your bike).

    As for your other question about pads - good ones can last 1000's of miles no problems. I'm still running a set with about 5000 miles on them. And they were stock in my Sram Red brakes.
  • rake
    rake Posts: 3,204
    i think the sram red pads are made by swisstop? are rival breaks poor then?
  • Squillinossett
    Squillinossett Posts: 1,678
    Pokerface wrote:
    Squillinossett wrote:
    Woulld you go for the forged or the Rival for the money?

    The forged Planet X brakes actually work pretty well - but I would recommend good pads in them. I've used them before and had no problems and they DO look pretty cool.

    I personally wouldn't like to have bits from Sram and Shimano on my bike, so depending on what else you've got - would either steer away from the 105 or the Rival brakes. (The Planet X brakes are non-branded and will fit in with everything else on your bike).

    As for your other question about pads - good ones can last 1000's of miles no problems. I'm still running a set with about 5000 miles on them. And they were stock in my Sram Red brakes.

    As its the new Boardman, it will be Rival group set, but im not overly bothered about mixing it up if it gives me better braking performance!
  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    rake wrote:
    i think the sram red pads are made by swisstop? are rival breaks poor then?

    Yup - Red pads are made by SwissStop. Same for Rival. So Rival braking will be just fine.

    Therefore - to me it comes down to preference. Rival OR the PX brakes will both stop you just fine with good pads. Rival brakes will probably be a tad better.

    Rival will cost you more though.
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    Do the SRAM pad holders accept Shimano style pads?
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  • rake
    rake Posts: 3,204
    edited December 2009
    i think so. i was tempted to get rival calipers to complete the groupset but after changing pads i dont think there is a need, i havent used rival brakes though. i dont know what pads are in the tektro but they are poor.
    if i was to change i would use black rival to match the set and they will be totally compatible lever wise. i think its a bit hastey to upgrade without trying and assesing the situation.
  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    redddraggon wrote:
    Do the SRAM pad holders accept Shimano style pads?

    Yup.
  • Squillinossett
    Squillinossett Posts: 1,678
    rake wrote:
    i think so. i was tempted to get rival calipers to complete the groupset but after changing pads i dont think there is a need, i havent used rival brakes though. i dont know what pads are in the tektro but they are poor.
    if i was to change i would use black rival to match the set and they will be totally compatible lever wise. i think its a bit hastey to upgrade without trying and assesing the situation.

    TBH, for the sake of £30 i might as well buy something that I KNOW will work from the word off. Sell Trektro brakes on ebay for £10/£15....job done.
  • Squillinossett
    Squillinossett Posts: 1,678
    rake wrote:
    i think so. i was tempted to get rival calipers to complete the groupset but after changing pads i dont think there is a need, i havent used rival brakes though. i dont know what pads are in the tektro but they are poor.
    if i was to change i would use black rival to match the set and they will be totally compatible lever wise. i think its a bit hastey to upgrade without trying and assesing the situation.

    TBH, for the sake of £30 i might as well buy something that I KNOW will work from the word off. Sell Trektro brakes on ebay for £10/£15....job done.
  • marin_maniac
    marin_maniac Posts: 513
    I can vouch for Tektro brakes. They are complete poop.

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