Bike Upgrades Advice

RandomCake

Hi All,

I'm fairly new to serious cycling, although I've cycled to work for the last two years!
My bike is an oldish Dawes Galaxy (estimated at mid-ninetys - early two thousands).
I've done a triathlon, and enjoyed it looking at doing some longer cycles and begining to think about upgrades!
Part of me would like to look at new bikes, but from my reading, weight isn't everything!
Especially
I've ordered some lighter tyres and aerobars, and am now considering my next upgrade, my current rims can't realistically take any thinner than a 28mm tyre, so I think a new set of wheels for racing might be good, my budget is likely to be £200-300, any suggestions on a reasonable pair of wheels that might be suitable?
Or, am I wasting my time? Is weight of the bike more important than I think? Should I just buy a new bike?

Thanks in advance,

RandomCake

gavbarron

Weight helps but isn't the be all and end all, it really matters on hills but for now a good set of wheels will make a huge difference. thinner tyres around 23mm will offer significantly less rolling resistance than what you use now, also lighter wheels will accelerate easier. A weight saving from rotating mass such as the wheel is much more significant than making the equivalent saving from a frame. Invest in good wheels now and you can put them on a new bike in future.

As for what wheels, well the world is your oyster and if you can stretch to the upper end of your budget then there is a lot of wheel for the money if you go second hand. Hunt around and a set of mavic ksryium SL would be my choice, light and bombproof although for a good set you may have to stretch a little further but it will be worth it.

Other good brands in this price range are Fulcrum, Bontrager (some), Shimano

Don't count out having a good wheel builder make a set up for you, they can often do light and hardy wheels for good prices and will be able to tailor something to your budget so possibly give you the best bang for your buck

If your budget can't cover a new bike to go with the new wheels then have a look at the bike to work scheme

EarlyGo

Hi Random,

Triathlon on a Dawes Galaxy! Respect due!!

For your wheels, if you can stretch to £330 then Shimano RS80s are the dogs! Otherwise Planet-X Model Bs are a lot easier on the wallet, fairy light and also highly regarded on this forum.

I agree generally with what gavbarron said. However, the Galaxy weighs about 14kg. An average (say £1000) road bike would weigh about 9kgs. That's nearly a stone of extra weight you're lugging around! On longer rides that much extra weight will really slow you down. Also the Galaxy has a very upright riding position as opposed to a road bike's racier and therefore more aerodynamic position. Both these factors will have a significant impact on your average speeds. Are you sure you can't stretch to a new bike?

Even if you just take any reasonable road bike for a test ride I think you'll be surprised how much quicker it will feel than your Galaxy.

Regards, EarlyGo

Monty Dog

I would suggest that you buy a new bike and keep the Galaxy as a training / winter bike. Whilst the Galaxy is fine for touring / audaxes regardless of the upgrades, it ain't ever going to turn into a lightweight bike suitable for faster-pace events and racing.

RandomCake

EarlyGo wrote:

Hi Random,

Triathlon on a Dawes Galaxy! Respect due!!

For your wheels, if you can stretch to £330 then Shimano RS80s are the dogs! Otherwise Planet-X Model Bs are a lot easier on the wallet, fairy light and also highly regarded on this forum.

I agree generally with what gavbarron said. However, the Galaxy weighs about 14kg. An average (say £1000) road bike would weigh about 9kgs. That's nearly a stone of extra weight you're lugging around! On longer rides that much extra weight will really slow you down. Also the Galaxy has a very upright riding position as opposed to a road bike's racier and therefore more aerodynamic position. Both these factors will have a significant impact on your average speeds. Are you sure you can't stretch to a new bike?

Even if you just take any reasonable road bike for a test ride I think you'll be surprised how much quicker it will feel than your Galaxy.

Regards, EarlyGo

Yeah, it wasn't a long triathlon, only 20k cycle, but I've done 30k practising and done it in an hour and 2 minutes, the main thing stopping me going further is finding the time to ride for hours at a time! Family commitments, and work keep getting in the way!

Considering that the frame shape is getting in the way of me going faster, and not just the weight! Which I'm not overly concerned about, until I get my BMI down an extra few KG on the bike mean very little

The idea of another bike in the garage will not go down well, I've already got too many (old racer hybrid, the Galaxy, a trials bike, a mountain bike, a BMX, I might be missing one!) Guess some are going to have to go (not seen much use in years, except the fully rigid mountain bike that I ride to work when the Galaxy is in the shop or has got a puncture).

Maybe I'll start looking for something second hand around £500...

Back to the drawing board!

RandomCake

nicktheluddite

+1 on what Monty Dog said - the Galaxy is superb for touring (especially fully laden touring) but you are right that the lower position of a 'proper' road bike will be faster. If you want to ride all day then I'd stick with the Galaxy, if you want to go blasting around at high speed then sell the old road bike hybrid and get a £500 road bike.

EarlyGo

Random,

Yep, sell a couple of those bikes that are gathering dust asap. The 2012 bikes are coming out now and everyone has a sale on their 2011 bikes so now's a great time to buy. How's about a Specialized Secteur Sport with it's easy geometry, Specialized Allez if you fancy something a bit racier or a Trek 1.2?

Go on, you know you want to!!

Regards, EarlyGo