Opinions on whether to upgrade or not

TerryCTR

I've only had my Allez Sport 2 months and I am happy with it but on the odd occasion I have thought having another 1-2 cogs on the rear cassette would have been useful - not really enough reason to look at changing so I just got on with riding.

However today the other half asked about changing to a compact on her dolce eq and it got me thinking that I could potentially transfer the sora groupset onto her bike and look at upgrading mines. Ultegra would be nice assuming my bike is compatible (I have asked spesh themselves what my options are) although the recent thread where BB30 wasn't always regarded as a good option made me hesitate slightly. I've read a few threads where members end up being advised to go for a better bike/spec over going daft on the upgrades on a lesser bike and perhaps 105 is enough.

I quite like the cervelo S3:
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/product ... wgodkU0Ahw

and the Cannondale Evo Ultegra 2015
http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/arti ... led-42020/

but of course that's another load of money that I will have to save for one of these so in the meantime I could just convert hers to a compact and leave the allez as is.

What are people's opinion on upgrading my current bike and to what level if it all?

bendertherobot

Yours is certainly Ultegra compatible. Standard bottom bracket rather than BB30.

Worth it? Probably not, though the Allez is an excellent bike.

One of your stumbling blocks is your wheels. I don't know if they are, if you got new Ultegra, 11 speed compatible.

TerryCTR

I did read that when looking at Ultegra today, its just Axiis classics that come with the bike so yeah probably not compatible and that got me thinking that the cost would be ramping up to the point of just settling for 105 say and saving for another bike down the line

mangetout_rodney

If you want to keep your wheel set as is then you could go to an Ultegra 10 speed group.
If you want to go to an 11 speed (105/Ultegra/Dura) then upgrade the wheels.

It is pretty usual to upgrade the wheels before you upgrade the group- the rotational weight saving of the wheels is going to be much higher than the rest of the group.
You could do the group and wheels at the same time, of course.
Or keep the existing bike as is over the winter, save your pennies and buy a lovely new bike with a posh group and nice wheels next summer.

I'd do the latter, myself but YMMV.

TerryCTR

New and shiny I must admit attracts me most but I probably don't do enough miles to justify that at this point.

Id be happy to upgrade the wheels as I know that's where the biggest weight saving will come from but I guess that's when it can get pretty expensive buying a worthwhile wheelset.

Excuse my ignorance but I thought 105 was 10 speed?

mangetout_rodney

TerryCTR wrote:

New and shiny I must admit attracts me most but I probably don't do enough miles to justify that at this point.

Id be happy to upgrade the wheels as I know that's where the biggest weight saving will come from but I guess that's when it can get pretty expensive buying a worthwhile wheelset.

Excuse my ignorance but I thought 105 was 10 speed?

105 comes in 10 and 11 speed now: http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/lat ... 105-119393

Philby

As you've only had the bike a couple of months it is likely that your fitness will improve as you ride it more thereby potentially negating the need additional gears. As pointed out you will possibly need new wheels to upgrade to Ultegra or even the new 11 speed 105. Using the bike over the winter in its current state and getting new wheels, chainset etc. in spring once the censored has disappeared from the roads might be the most sensible option, or alternatively saving up over winter and getting a new higher spec bike for 2015.

TerryCTR

I think you are right mate, its still early days so I'll just leave mines as is. I think I'll still look at converting hers to a compact which shouldn't cost too much.

Thanks for the replys