Upgrades...

nickponty

I currently have a 2013 Trek 1.5 with standard kit except for pedals. When I bought it, my LBS told me I'd be hunting for upgrades to various things before I knew it. I was skeptical (its my first road bike, I figured it would do just fine) but now have been bitten by the bug, am doing the Ride London 100 in the summer and have got to thinking about potential upgrades.

I've got a couple of hundred quid I could spend so my question is how I could best spend it. Should I upgrade Tiagra components to 105? Or should I upgrade my wheels and tyres to something like the Shimano RS10 and Conti GP4000?

Having never upgraded my bike before, I've no idea what changes make the biggest difference!

Thanks!

trek_dan

Faster tyres would be the only thing I'd upgrade. You definately wouldnt notice any difference between Tiagra and 105 groupset. You might notice a small difference in stiffness and weight changing the FSA chainset for 105. Not sure on the weight of the wheels (or the rider) but they look perfectly ok to me, probably need to spend more like £400 to upgrade them.

nickponty

Thanks Dan, that's really helpful. I don't want to spend a great deal as I'm going to get a new bike come the summer anyway, so this is just to tide me over until then, and make my 100 miler a bit more bearable! New tyres sounds like a good way to go...

fluff.

Not really much point in upgrading something you're not going to use in a few months? Maybe a Garmin, or new sunnies, or shoes, etc etc, something you can use on the new bike too.

danlikesbikes

+1 on tyres & some decent inner tubes too. Save the rest of your pennies for your new ride too!

antonyfromoz

I agree with the earlier comments - £200 to upgrade a bike is not really enough to make any noticable difference and seeing as you are looking to get another bike soon it would be just throwing money away. Having said that, if the saddle is not comfortable then it is well worthwhile to invest some of that money into an after market saddle that better suits your body as 100 miles is a long way to ride if you are suffering - and this is an investment that you can take with you to the next bike too if you keep the original. Another idea, if you have not already done so, is to spend the money on items like clipless peddles and bike shoes to improve your peddling efficiency and a good pair of bib pants to improve your comfort on the ride regardless of the saddle you are using.

rjkflyer

Some good advice above, but to support it...

1. Tyres: go to 25mm Conti 4 Seasons: robust, smooth and possibly lighter than those you have. The 25mm will give you a smoother ride by far, and less real-world rolling resistance.
2. +1 clipless if you haven't
3. +1 re saddle if it's not comfortable for LONGER than your longest ride so far, if you get my point...

cycleclinic

First you need to decide what you want from the "upgrades". Please do not fool yourself into thinking that more expensive kit will make you a better rider. Clipless pedals and good tyres will nake a difference to you but the tyres have to fit for the roads you ride. GP4000s are brilliant but no tough enough for winter use in Suffolk. Too many flints here to puch holes through them. For some people a GP4000s is the perfect tyre for others something moe hard wearing is more appropriate.

Decide what you want the "upgrades" to achieve and then buy the approriate parts to achieve that end. RS1O wheels will be no better than what you have on your bike currently.

nickponty

Thanks all, that's really helpful. Much appreciated. I'd thought that I could use whatever I upgraded to now on the new bike, but it sounds like £200 won't get me anything that I'd want on the new bike (current plan is a Ribble Sportive Bianco)

I've already gone clipless, which has made a real difference. Saddle is fine now I've got some good quality padded bib tights but may think about a saddle with a bit better padding for longer distances but I'll see how I go on longer rides once the weather warms up a bit!

On tyres, I currrently have 23mm Bontrager R1's, which are the standard with the bike, I'm not sure why going up to a 25mm would mean less rolling resistance, surely an increased contact surface would mean more. My rides are mainly on decent roads up to Epping and beyond, and I've not felt like I need to get anything more comfortable, happy to trade off a little bit of comfort for a bit more speed if that's possible! Conti 4000S seem to be widely praised...

passout

I agree about tyres. 25mm do 'work better' IMO. Just check you have enough clearance on your frame - I guess you will. I'd go Michelin Pro Race myself.

In terms of comfort then a saddle that suits you is important - I always go Selle SMP these days. Obviously you'd take a saddle with you, when you get your new bike.

I wouldn't bother with anything else to be honest. If you were to upgrade anything else, I guess I'd go for wheels (ones which would be an upgrade for you 'next' bike would make sense but that would probably mean spending more than you stated).

velohutts

I would suggest splash out on some high grade bib shorts.
Get some mudguards for your current steed - this can then become your winter workhorse if your keeping it.
Keep the rest for your new bike and go up a set of wheels or a groupset.
25mm gives better rolling comfort and dependent on the pressure you run them a v similar contact but slightly higher air resistance (negligible) imho unless your on an aero frame with a skinsuit and aero helmet.
Enjoy the new bike , you will feel faster on it which is what matters !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!