Bike Upgrades

speeder1987

Hi Guys,

I am currently looking at upgrading some components on my bike which is a specialized secteur triple. Ok firstly I am planning on upgrading my wheels and then my groupset (the small things I know). I am not to bothered about weight I would just like smoothness and reliability.

Ok first think I am going to upgrade is the wheels of which I am looking at Fulcrum racing 5's. (£200ish budget)

Secondly I am looking at upgrading the groupset, I have narrowed it down to a couple of choices and this is where I really need some help. The two i'm looking at is the shimano 105, and the campagnolo centaur. Both are a similar price but which would be the best (my mind is telling me to go shimano because I know its good but my heart is telling me to go campag just because I like the idea of it), obviously whichever groupset I go with determines the freehub I get with the wheels.

I think I am going to go with a double this time as I hardly ever use the lowest chainring of my triple. What do you recommend for chainring size? I know its a personal choice but there are som amy different options it is all very confusing.

Lastly I noticed that on merlin they are selling last years 105 groupset for only £280!! will I notice a huge difference if I went for that over this years as it is considerably cheaper?

Anyway thanks in advance for all the help

John

speeder1987

Its running shimano 2300, which i'm guessing is below sorra

cheers
John

EarlyGo

Hi,

I have a 2010 Secteur and have just recently bought a new bike with a full 105 5700 groupset. Therefore I feel qualified to comment!! No experience of Campag though.

Last years 105 (5600) has brake cables that come out of the side of the shifters (the same as on your Secteur). This years (5700) has brake cables that run under the bar tape with your gear cables. This to my eyes looks much tidier and modern. Also think that last years 105 probably has a slightly heavier chainset. Other than that ring Merlin and ask them!! Both are 10 speed.

However, I'm assuming that you have a Sora / Tiagra set-up at the moment? If so, unless you are particularly in love with the Secteur frame, I'd say hang onto your money and put it towards a new bike. This would be more cost effective. The upgrade to 105 only provides a marginal improvement in smoothness and that depends on how well you (or your LBS) can set it up. Sora / Tiagra are reliable groupsets anyhow so I doubt you'd see much improvement on that front. If you do change groupset don't forget to budget for new handle bar tape / gel and new cables.

On the gearing front, you are probably running a front triple with 50/39/30 and a rear 9 speed cassette of 12-25. Only you know how much you use each gear combination but a 53/39 double is fairly common and would give you more top speed if you can spin out on your existing 50 tooth front cog. If not a compact of 50/34 would give you a good range of gears and allow you to save a few gramms by not running the extra chainwheel at the front.

Wheelwise, have you considered Planet-X model Bs? Generally highly regarded on this and other forums. Also Pro-lite Braccianos when they are available are loved by many! Remember to upgrade your tyres too. The Specialized all conditions tyres that come on Secteurs are bomb proof but heavy. You can save 300gramms or so of rolling weight with good tyres and tubes. (Michelin PR3s, Conti GP4000S, Schwalbe Ultremos etc).

Hope this helps,

Regards, EarlyGo

unixnerd

Get a 50/34 compact and run an 11-25 cassette, you'll get a decent low granny gear and a nice high top.

Also Pro-lite Braccianos when they are available are loved by many!

I bought a set and love them, only 1500g and make a huge difference to acceleration and climbing. These will make a bigger difference than a new groupset.

speeder1987

I had a look at the planet x model B's and at £129 they seem very good for the price point, but the fulcrum racing 5's are currently £159 on ribble which is very very cheap, and I much prefer the way they look (I know, I'm being fickle)?

chrishd883

Gears? Only you can say what you need.

Campag / Shimano - both work fine. The campag leves are lighter, but do you like the look and shape? Also campag have the thumb lever - similar to Shimano Sora.

Upgrades? Why not! Alternatively fit mudguards etc and keep the bike as your wet weather ride.

Then find a nice frame on eBay for your new groupset & wheels?

If you don't want or can't have two bikes. then sell the Secteur when your new build is complete. There are some nice carbon frames from China on eBay!

speeder1987

In the end I decided to go for the Fulcrum racing 5 wheels, and some continental gp4000s tyres. Just to let you know, these are currently only £150 quid on ribble!!!

Thanks for all the advice, I can't wait to get them fitted

Cheers
John

cooper.michael1

That 105 groupset on Merlin is cheap for a reason.

Shimano 105 (5600 version) is terribly unreliable in terms of the shifters. I went through 3 sets of STI levers in 2000miles, each time I took them back the reaction from the bike shop was that it was a known problem with the groupset, and on each occasion the new warranty set direct from Shimano came with a note on which said something along the lines of 'may break under shifting'. Avoid, i'd rather stick with 2300.