Upgrading Handlebars, cranks etc to carbon.

Exumanewbie

I currently have and aluminium 8 speed Schwinn with carbon forks as my racing bike. It will be my bike for at least another year until I have enough saved for a new bike. I've been riding for 8 months and have started racing against others with more expensive and lighter bikes. Would it make sense to upgrade certain parts (handlebars, crank arms, saddle, seat post etc) to carbon parts in an effort to lighten the bike. I normally find good deals on ebay and I can upgrade in small increments. Thanks in advance.


Giles

imposter2.0

It would be a better idea to work on upgrading your fitness..

Exumanewbie

Oh I definitely will. Though its harder in my country since cycling isn't a big thing yet so even though I would probably be considered a Cat 5 my competitors are more at the Cat 123 level.

fat daddy

Imposter wrote:

It would be a better idea to work on upgrading your fitness..

cant he do both ? .... or is it one of those either/or scenarios, like the old water bottle conundrum "I can either spend money and save 300g on a new saddle+ seatpost ..... OR I can carry less water in my biddon .. which one to choose, if only there was a way I could do both"

Anyway

I just shed 1.6kg from my bike - seatpost, saddle, pedals, handlebar, 1x gearing and wheels ... its made a noticeable difference, the bike handles FAR better, it accelerates better, brakes better and manoeuvres better ... all in all its better. And that was a mere 1.6kg ..... I expect though its the WHEELS that made the difference .... but the rest does make it easier to lug up and down steps

Is it any quicker ? .... well its a commuter and its certainly quicker off the lights and sudden bouts of acceleration ... and I have got a new PB on one of my climbs ... BUT is that attributed to the bike, I am getting fitter by the week and I drafted a bus

for me, shedding the weight was worth the expense to make the bike better,.... Is it better for you .. only you know if its worth diverting funds from your next bike ..... I bought my bits knowing I could use them on my other bikes or transfer them if I buy another frame

OH .... and do you really trust a Chinese ebay handle bar .... will it really be that weight and do you trust the quality ?

imposter2.0

fat daddy wrote:

Imposter wrote:

It would be a better idea to work on upgrading your fitness..

cant he do both ? ....

Of course he could do both. But he's only been riding 8 months, so my guess is that only one of those things would be truly worthwhile. If he gets beaten in a race, it won't be because he didn't have carbon bars.

Exumanewbie

Unfortunately at 6'2 (188cm) and 164lbs (74kg) I don't have much left to lose. The terrain where I live is almost pan flat so having a climber type physique wouldn't necessarily help me to compete effectively. Also, I have no qualms about buying second hand so they probably wouldn't be Chinese make.

cougie

There's no weight in handlebars anyway and they're consumables. You drop the bike. You replace them. Its not the place for carbon.

And if you're on the flat then its aero more than weight. Replace the bars with narrower alloy ones. Get a tighter Top.

You're chasing grammes and you wont get any measurable improvement.

imposter2.0

Exumanewbie wrote:

Unfortunately at 6'2 (188cm) and 164lbs (74kg) I don't have much left to lose. The terrain where I live is almost pan flat so having a climber type physique wouldn't necessarily help me to compete effectively.

So that's the weight argument out the window then. That only leaves your fitness....

Exumanewbie

cougie wrote:

There's no weight in handlebars anyway and they're consumables. You drop the bike. You replace them. Its not the place for carbon.

And if you're on the flat then its aero more than weight. Replace the bars with narrower alloy ones. Get a tighter Top.

You're chasing grammes and you wont get any measurable improvement.

Well actually they're already narrow. They're 40cm and I was already going to go to 42cm eventually so I figure why not go for the "aero" carbon handlebars. However, money is tight so if its not going to help....

Exumanewbie

Imposter wrote:

Exumanewbie wrote:

Unfortunately at 6'2 (188cm) and 164lbs (74kg) I don't have much left to lose. The terrain where I live is almost pan flat so having a climber type physique wouldn't necessarily help me to compete effectively.

So that's the weight argument out the window then. That only leaves your fitness....

Yea I'm working on it. Just cant find training partners with strength similar or slightly better than mine. I ride 4-5 days a week. Long group rides on Sunday, sprint work on Monday, double day on Tuesday with a group ride in the am and hill reps in the evening, easy day on Wednesday and a race paced group ride on Thursdays where I hang on for dear life.

svetty

Races mean crashes - hence better off with alloy bars/stem etc. Work on producing power from an aero position on the bike

imposter2.0

Exumanewbie wrote:

Yea I'm working on it. Just cant find training partners with strength similar or slightly better than mine.

And then you contradict yourself below...

Exumanewbie wrote:

and a race paced group ride on Thursdays where I hang on for dear life.

Exumanewbie

Imposter wrote:

Exumanewbie wrote:

Yea I'm working on it. Just cant find training partners with strength similar or slightly better than mine.

And then you contradict yourself below...

Exumanewbie wrote:

and a race paced group ride on Thursdays where I hang on for dear life.

Not really. I can hold on for so long before I'm subsequently dropped. I think I'd benefit from a group ride where I can last longer than 10 miles.

cougie

Your training seems a bit odd. Five days in a row? No wonder you're struggling by Thursday. Anyone would.

smoggysteve

Do not race what you can't replace.

Exumanewbie

cougie wrote:

Your training seems a bit odd. Five days in a row? No wonder you're struggling by Thursday. Anyone would.

Well depending on how I feel I take Wednesdays off. Do you have any suggestions? I've gotten immensely stronger in 8 months (from 13 mph to almost 20mph) in a 40 mile solo ride.

nicklong

Put the money into a decent home/turbo trainer (fluid, or smart if you can stretch to a Tacx Vortex or Elite Rampa) and a subscription to Trainerroad or Zwift, and follow a proper training plan for 3 months.

You'll be immeasurably faster compared to if you bought a few bits for your bike. Best upgrade for the money.

(And then buy the carbon bits next year).

Exumanewbie

nicklong wrote:

Put the money into a decent home/turbo trainer (fluid, or smart if you can stretch to a Tacx Vortex or Elite Rampa) and a subscription to Trainerroad or Zwift, and follow a proper training plan for 3 months.

You'll be immeasurably faster compared to if you bought a few bits for your bike. Best upgrade for the money.

(And then buy the carbon bits next year).

Sounds like a plan. Thanks

MiddleRinger

Save the money towards your new bike. If you must throw cash as the old one then replace the wheels and tyres as that's where you'll see the most benefit. Train hard, race harder and then reward yourself with a flash new bike when you can afford it.

Moonbiker

What country do you live?

Exumanewbie

Moonbiker wrote:

What country do you live?

The Bahamas.

Giraffoto

I don't know why no one has yet said that you're looking to upgrade the wrong parts - if you want to save weight, start with wheels and tyres before you start thinking about carbon handlebars.

Tashman

Exumanewbie wrote:

Moonbiker wrote:

What country do you live?

The Bahamas.

Spend the money on rum instead then

secretsam

Tashman wrote:

Exumanewbie wrote:

Moonbiker wrote:

What country do you live?

The Bahamas.

Spend the money on rum instead then

LOL or sun cream and shark repellant (love the Bahamas, BTW)

Turbo and Zwift a decent plan, but weather where you are is pretty decent! A coach, perhaps? New frame? Power meter?

Exumanewbie

SecretSam wrote:

Tashman wrote:

Exumanewbie wrote:

Moonbiker wrote:

What country do you live?

The Bahamas.

Spend the money on rum instead then

LOL or sun cream and shark repellant (love the Bahamas, BTW)

Turbo and Zwift a decent plan, but weather where you are is pretty decent! A coach, perhaps? New frame? Power meter?

Im looking at a turbo and zwift or training peaks.