Getting my Focus Variado back on the road

graeme_s-2

I have a Focus Variado that I (used to) use for winter training and summer commuting. I ended up with a 20 mile each way commute on shitty roads for the last 3 months of 2011 and basically killed the bike. All last year I commuted on my fixie and used my Planet-X Pro Carbon for training even when the weather was grotty, but I want my other road bike back up and running.

It has a 105 5600 groupset with a compact chainset. It needs the following replacing:

• headset
• cassette
• chain
• outer chainring
• wheelset (the hubs need servicing, but I reckon the rims are knackered as well, so might as well put the hub servicing money towards a wheelset)
• tyres
• 1 pair of brake pad holders (knicked for my fixie as the pair on the front of that were knackered)

My Planet-X has some PX model C wheels on it, so I did like the idea of buying some nicer wheels for that bike, and then moving the model Cs onto the Variado, but I don't think I can afford it. I want to get the bike back up and running reliably without spending too much.

I'm thinking about getting a pair of Planet-X AL30s to put on my Pro Carbon, and then moving the Model Cs onto the Variado - not quite the bling I'd been hoping for, but for £150 seems a sensible buy.

I think I can probably get the other bits for £150-£200, bringing the whole lot in under £350. Am I missing any sort of obvious way to do this cheaper?

styxd

I think you should be able to get the other bits in your list (depending on what you want) for much less than £200 which will give you some extra money for a better wheelset!

graeme_s-2

I'll probably have my LBS do some of the work (I'm cack handed and don't have the appropriate tools), so was factoring in a bit for labour too. Any left over money will probably go in my back pocket, as it's a bit of a stretch to do this at the moment.

Also before I start commuting on it again next autumn/winter, my fixie is going to need a new chain, sprocket, chainwheel and saddle.