upgraded components - worth bothering with?

denty85

I'm pretty new to road bikes and have just bought myself a Specialized allez double. I know the cheap one, but it's a lot of money to me at the min so i'm chuffed to bits with it.

My question is: Obviously there are quite a few unnamed parts on my bike being the base model and i'm already getting addicted to the idea of buying new bits. Being primarily Shimano componetnts, how much of a difference is there throughout the range of shimano products?

ie. my brake calipers (is this the right word) are unnamed, would i get much benefit out of fitting 105's or Dura ace parts. Would it really make a noticeable difference? to me, they look like pretty simple parts with a simple function - is it just better materials in the better name parts?

And before anyone says, i know i could have spent any extra money on a better model rather than parts but it would be a gradual upgrade if any.

Thanks

AndyD2574

The benefit of upgrades will be lighter parts, more durable, slicker working mechanisms.

Honestly mate you can go mad with upgrades and I think you have done right and gradually work on your machine and add piece by piece.

Ride it for a while as it is and decide whats important to you and then upgrade that. The obvious ones are nice carbon railed saddle, nice set of wheels........big weight saving!

Remember that with shimano the parts are good whatever the level its at.

denty85

thanks Andy. I think clipless pedals, shoes and tyres will be first. I'm not planning on anything else yet but was just wondering where the difference was.

What you said makes sense though.

Cheers

langster

The best thing to spend your money on would be some good winter riding clothes so you could spend more time on your bike, and eventully some better wheels if you intend to race. otherwise this machine is very capable of doing everything you need it to.

meanredspider

Wheels, tyres and contact points if anything

On my Focus Cayo:

The PO upgraded the drops to carbon
The PO upgraded the pedals to Look Keos
I've upgraded the saddle to a Spesh Taupe
I've upgraded the wheels from RS10s to RS80s
I've upgraded the tyres from Schwalbe Luganos to Conti GP4000s

I'm now very very happy with it. It's still cost me less than a new, standard Cayo.

Lagavulin

Might as well get some wear out of the components that your bike came with, particularly at this time of year. You may however wish to grab some bargains if you see something you fancy for installation later in the year.

I upgraded my Allez from the Tiagra calipers to 105 and noticed a big improvement. Couldn't say whether that was caliper, pad compound or more likely a combination of the two. They weren't expensive but the braking improved and also required less fettling.

Think the supplied tyres have probably improved since I purchased mine in 2006. It may however still be an area you want to look at sooner rather than later. I purchased mine towards the end of the summer and the Spesh Mondos were OK until flints and the general build up of road crap started slicing and dicing my rubber.
Something like Michelin Krylion Carbons or Continental Gatorskins may serve you well as early investments. I know I can became very disheartened due to the sheer number of punctures I suffered in my early road cycling days.

If you don't have one already a track pump is a must have.

Lagavulin

Oh and +1 for shoes/pedals. I couldn't go back to toe clips.

nochekmate

Keep an eye on the classifieds - there are often some reasonably priced shimano stuff up for sale.

Without wishing to sound too mean, you'll pay a premium price for Dura-Ace gear and perhaps the Allez frame does not really warrant that premium. 105 will be absolutely fine and significantly cheaper!

markos1963

A club mate of mine raced the whole season last year on his Allez winning several races and doing well TTing on it. The only things he spent money on were good quality tyres and a good saddle.
Spend your money on good riding kit instead(shoes,bibs,w/proofs etc) that way you'll enjoy your riding more and spend more time on the bike which will speed you up far quicker than any upgrade.

keef66

+1 to wot Markos said

No need to spend anything really, unless your backside doesn't get on with the stock saddle after giving them a reasonable chance to get to know each other.

Better tyres would be the most cost-effective upgrade if you have cash burning a hole in your pocket, but after that it's very much diminishing returns for increasing expenditure. I'd try to wear out your existing wheels before considering a replacement.

Monty Dog

Generally, I only replace parts when they wear-out or contact points where I want to change position. Don't get trapped into putting DuraAce onto a basic bike - it'll still be a cheap bike with expensive parts. By all means fit cartridge brake shoes with replaceable pads - they will improve brake feel and likewise, better tyres when the roads and drier and cleaner.

Pross

meanredspider wrote:

Wheels, tyres and contact points if anything

+1

If bitten by the bug chances are you will want to upgrade your whole bike at some point so just wait until then. Wheels and tyres can then be used on your current bike and are the 'upgrade' that make the most difference. Contact points but only if your current saddle and bars / bar tape are uncomfortable as comfort is the most important thing.

dodgy

Don't buy upgrades, ride up grades :twisted:

Butterd2

If you have cheap brakes they will have cheap pads. These are worth upgrading, get some that come in a cartridge if you don't currently have cartridge pads to make future changes easy. Koolstop Salmons, or Swisstop Greens if you have a little more money, will make a big difference.
Other than that tyres as said many times above. Conti GP4000S's are my tyre of choice.

smeev

HI,

I was in the same position with my 2010 allez double. caught the bug & all.....
Have upgraded the brake to 105's, just wanted something a bit more robust & they make a hell of a difference the the no brakes that are on the allez. Have upgrade the alex rims to RS20's & rubino pro tyres. Like many, i have not got a lot of funds to upgrade, house, family, kids, the usuall. I am now saving up for a comlete 105's component package & the 2300 components that are on the allez, i will put to one side for my winter bike, when i get round to it.....

aclintern

reckon that brakes are well worth upgrading most of the nameless types can be improved upon greatly - think safety! I upgraded to Dura Ace and the bike became amazing afterwards - it instills confidence.

chunkytfg

Yeah but you are talking about spending £200 on a pair of brakes for a £500 bike!!

Not worth it.

Yes go for 105 ones as they will be noticeably better but even then probably only marginally better than what you have with a set of swissstop green pads for a quarter of the price of the DA brakes which will still need decent pads!!

Buckled_Rims

I was a previous owner of a an Allez. To be totally honest, I wish I had kept it. It was an 8 sp and looking at the spare component costs compared to my 105 bikes, it's a steal for what I do in winter.

If you have money to burn, upgrade. However, if you just want to ride, buy new good tyres at first, then wheels after you get fit. After that in my opinion you start to waste money for fractions of a second gain.

My 105 is far better then my old Sora, but not by 100's of £ worth. In fact over 100 miles, I doubt I'd really gain more then a few minutes.