To upgrade or save?

nathb84

I have been cycling now for a couple of years and am on my second bike, a Pinarello FP1. I am considering making some upgrades, namely new wheels and a new rear cassette. Firstly the wheels, currently stock shimano r500 wheels and i am thinking or upgrading to shimano rs80 wheels (300 from planet x seems a very good price). secondly thinking of changing the cassette from a tiagra 12-25 to an ultegra 12- 27 to help with the climbs. Has anyone made any similar upgrades, did you feel it was worth it? undecided, don't want to spend money for the sake of it.

I ride a 2 or 3 nights a week, about 20 miles and 40 to 70 on weekends, always looking to increase mileage and speed tho. average around 16mph.

snoopsmydogg

Why does the cassette need to be ultegra? You could get a 12-28 tiagra cassette that would have the same effect.

As for the wheels if you like them, get them. RS80s seem to get good reviews and will most likely be better than what is currently fitted

nathb84

There doesnt seem a huge difference in cassette prices, as i would be buying a new one anyway thought i might as well upgrade and save a few grams, but as i said very undecided.

kev77

viewtopic.php?f=40044&t=12850467

;-)

dragonontheedge

I have done quite a few upgrades to my bike. It runs a mixture of 105 and Ultegra together with Mavic Wheels.

When it comes to the cassette I have stuck with Tiagra. Firstly, I can save more than just a a couple of grams by leaving an energy bar at home.

When it finally wears out I am chuckiing away only £20 quids worth of pig iron rather then £40 or £50 worth.

I very much doubt you would notice any difference in the sort of weight you woukd save by upgrading the cassette. Personally, I would save the cash and use it to up your wheel budget.

Al

jibberjim

Don't spend money on cassettes, replace it and chains more often rather than saving "weight" there, overall performance will be better with new on these consumable items.

Your wheel upgrade difference is minimal there too, you really need to spend enough to get some proper aero wheels, or go for something like a Hed Ardennes or Velocity A23 which will make a difference to the contact patch of the tyre again improving performance (ie something with a wide rim)

nathb84

ok i will stick with a tiagra cassette but will i notice i difference between a 25 and a 27 tooth cog?

jibberjim

nathb84 wrote:

ok i will stick with a tiagra cassette but will i notice i difference between a 25 and a 27 tooth cog?

You get the gears you need, it's not an upgrade or downgrade to have different ones.

kim10

I upgraded from Shimano r500 wheels to the RS80 and I my opinion the difference is quite noticeable. They are and feel lighter, accelerate quicker and just made the feel of the whole bike a bit livelier (in a good way). I think they are a good compromise unless you have £1000+ that’s burning in your pocket for something more expensive. I also upgraded the tyres at the same time to Continental GP4000S and I think these added to the performance to the wheels as well.
With regards to the cassette, as above stick with Tiagra or 105, as you won’t feel the difference upgrading to Ultegra. Changing from 25 to 27 for the lowest gear will make a difference but not much depending on where you are doing you riding. If you are finding you are running out of gears on the hills the maybe that extra 27 ring will give you what you need.

snoopsmydogg

or if you are really struggling on the climbs i believe you can get a 12-30t tiagra cassette