Domane 2.3 2014 Shall I upgrade chainset

ChattyBoxes

Hello I have a TREK Domane 2.3 2014 currently it has a compact chainset:


Shifters Shimano 105, 11 speed

Front derailleur Shimano 105

Rear derailleur Shimano 105

Crank Shimano RS500, 50/34 (compact)

Cassette Shimano 105, 11-32, 11 speed

Chain Shimano 105

I am wondering is it really worth it or shall I look to lighten the bike with new wheels etc? As I am planning to do some Alpine climbs in the summer and my bike isn't the lightest.

Any advice apart from blood sweat and tear are free would be gratefully received

Cheers

In order to take

bikes`n`guns

Wheels.

Nothing wrong with 105 and that chainset is fine with that groupset.

ex-pat scot

and you will be praising your 34T inner ring after the first alpine col.

I'd be looking firstly at weighing saddle, seatpost (if not an integrated one), tyres and wheels. They would be where I think the obvious weight savings would start.
Chainset would not be my first place to look. Perhaps if the rings needed replacing (it's more cost effective to buy a new chainset than two new rings)

markhewitt1978

Wheels are always the first and most important upgrade. The stock Bontrager wheels are very heavy and slow. Upgrade to something like RS81 and the difference will be huge (which is what I did with my Trek)

Next thing to look at for weight savings - apart from the rider - is often the seat post, stock seatposts can often be far too long for what you're running and made of material the with the density of a neutron star.

ChattyBoxes

Cheers Folks,
Its kind of what I thought but as a "newbie" I don't know about chainsets. Now to find decent wheels on my budget....

markhewitt1978

It's not that the chainset should be upgraded. I went from R565 (which by the looks of it is very similar to yours) and fitted Ultegra 6800 and the difference was noticeable. It's just that is a way down on the list.

ChattyBoxes

ChattyBoxes wrote:

Cheers Folks,
Its kind of what I thought but as a "newbie" I don't know about chainsets. Now to find decent wheels on my budget....

Err Actually I have checked and I have a 10 speed not 11, I don't think it will make much of a difference... Will IT?

Also will I have to look for a 10spd wheel clincher set??? I have no idea!

markhewitt1978

ChattyBoxes wrote:

Err Actually I have checked and I have a 10 speed not 11, I don't think it will make much of a difference... Will IT?

Also will I have to look for a 10spd wheel clincher set??? I have no idea!

Little to no difference. Chainsets don't care what speed you're running, I run an '11-speed' chainset on my 10 speed setup.

11 speed wheels come with spacers for 10 speed cassettes. Some wheels such as RS80 are 8/9/10 speed only so you could get a better deal.

Are you sure about it anyway, as 11-32 cassettes are a common 11 speed ratio, not common for 10 speed at all.

keef66

I'd suggest just better tyres initially, and run the stock wheels till you wear them out.

If you're determined to replace the wheels, I'd suggest ensuring they'll take 8/9/10/11 speed so you have the option to upgrade to an 11 speed groupset in future.

(I have the older RS10 and R501 Shimano wheelsets which only take 8/9/10 speed, which is annoying cos the new 105 groupset is only £300, but I can't justify new wheels at the mo )

markhewitt1978

keef66 wrote:

(I have the older RS10 and R501 Shimano wheelsets which only take 8/9/10 speed, which is annoying cos the new 105 groupset is only £300, but I can't justify new wheels at the mo )

Similar to you I have RS10 for the winter and RS80 for the summer, neither of which are 11 speed compatible, otherwise I would have switched. So I'm staying with 10 speed for the forseeable future.

keef66

markhewitt1978 wrote:

keef66 wrote:

(I have the older RS10 and R501 Shimano wheelsets which only take 8/9/10 speed, which is annoying cos the new 105 groupset is only £300, but I can't justify new wheels at the mo )

Similar to you I have RS10 for the winter and RS80 for the summer, neither of which are 11 speed compatible, otherwise I would have switched. So I'm staying with 10 speed for the forseeable future.

I'm still waiting for the wear indicators on the RS10's to disappear. Trouble is, now I have the R501's on the winter bike, the RS10's with their summer use could last indefinitely. Maybe I'll hold out for the 5900 12 speed groupset??