Upgrading Handlebars, cranks etc to carbon.

Exumanewbie
Exumanewbie Posts: 48
edited February 2017 in Road beginners
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

Comments

  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    It would be a better idea to work on upgrading your fitness..
  • Exumanewbie
    Exumanewbie Posts: 48
    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
    fat daddy Posts: 2,605
    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
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    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
    Exumanewbie Posts: 48
    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
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    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
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    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
    Exumanewbie Posts: 48
    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
    Exumanewbie Posts: 48
    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
    svetty Posts: 1,904
    Races mean crashes - hence better off with alloy bars/stem etc. Work on producing power from an aero position on the bike
    FFS! Harden up and grow a pair :D
  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    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
    Exumanewbie Posts: 48
    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
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Your training seems a bit odd. Five days in a row? No wonder you're struggling by Thursday. Anyone would.
  • smoggysteve
    smoggysteve Posts: 2,909
    Do not race what you can't replace.
  • Exumanewbie
    Exumanewbie Posts: 48
    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
    nicklong Posts: 231
    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
    Exumanewbie Posts: 48
    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
    MiddleRinger Posts: 678
    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.
    ~ ~ How fast is fast enough? ~ ~ ~ ~ Tempo Cyclist - Tasmania ~ ~
  • Moonbiker
    Moonbiker Posts: 1,706
    What country do you live?
  • Exumanewbie
    Exumanewbie Posts: 48
    Moonbiker wrote:
    What country do you live?

    The Bahamas.
  • Giraffoto
    Giraffoto Posts: 2,078
    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.
    Specialized Roubaix Elite 2015
    XM-057 rigid 29er
  • Tashman
    Tashman Posts: 3,497
    Exumanewbie wrote:
    Moonbiker wrote:
    What country do you live?

    The Bahamas.
    Spend the money on rum instead then :)
  • secretsam
    secretsam Posts: 5,120
    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?
    It's just a hill. Get over it.
  • Exumanewbie
    Exumanewbie Posts: 48
    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.

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