Newbie changing bike setup

Raimond
Raimond Posts: 2
edited June 2011 in Road beginners
Hi I have been riding on a Giant ocr with base bar, aero bars and bar end shifters fitted as just been doing lone rides when I have the time. I am now looking to get more into road cycling with a view to group rides and some possible racing, so think having normal drops and sti shifters would be better.

Just wanted any advice on if as its relatively cheap bike if its worth changing this or if it would be better to sell the bike and put the money towards a new road bike?

And if I do change them over is it easy enough to carry out myself or better to get a LBS to do it?

Thanks

Comments

  • night_porter
    night_porter Posts: 888
    I think you have an aero time trial type setup so not necessarily a cheap bike but then I guess you may have bought it cheap?

    It could be reasonably cheap to change over if you are able to setup the gears yourself (plenty of videos on YouTube if you need them). I converted a flat barred road bike with a virtually new pair of drops with STi's, cables & tape fitted to them for about £100 by buying from Ebay. The seller was converting to a flat bar and didn't need any of the kit, you quite often see this on Ebay or even in our classified forum. Altenatively, ask in the Road Wanted forum and someone may have upgraded their bike and have the old bits still in their garage.

    Make sure that the STi levers match your current number of gears or be prepared to change the cassette/chain and maybe chainset as well. This gets considerably more expensive then.

    But if you are joining a club it might be useful to keep the TT bike as is and have a 2nd one for normal road riding. Plenty of clubs have time trial events so you may get plenty of use out of the Giant in those.

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