Upgrading Road Bike

I would personally upgrade the wheels if you are interested in racing and want to upgrade something. Frame or component upgrades (from your current steed) while certainly nice, will not make any significant difference in your speed, and therefore your race results. Anyone who tells you different has been drinking some variety of koolaid.

You can get a substantial difference in performance by just changing the bike tires.

danfoz said:

I would personally upgrade the wheels if you are interested in racing and want to upgrade something. Frame or component upgrades (from your current steed) while certainly nice, will not make any significant difference in your speed, and therefore your race results. Anyone who tells you different has been drinking some variety of koolaid.

Exactly. What is it that you want an upgrade to achieve? What do you think your bike is currently lacking?

Usually, changing the nut that holds on the bars is the biggest upgrade a bike can get. After that, tires (inflated to the correct pressure of course) are the best option for reasonable money. I recommend Continental GP4000S. Wear a top that's fairly tight and doesn't flap around in the breeze and a brain bucket that stays put on your head and doesn't drip sweat in your eyes. Mitts are a must. Make sure that the bike is properly functioning - the bike shifts though all the gears smoothly even when riding as hard as you can and the brakes stop smoothly and quickly. If there are midweek races and you feel the need for experience - go do those instead of training by yourself. If there's a series of races aimed at beginners (such as an 'early bird' series) make the effort to attend those. Some regions put on such races for beginners and have experienced riders in the bunch passing comments and advice as needed. Race, race and race some more. Race the bike that you can afford to replace things on should you crash. Spend some quality youtube time worshiping at the Altair of Hinault. What Would Hinault Do?

Fit.
1. Drop a stem spacer or two?
2. Longer stem?
3. Bars with a deeper drop?

I doubt you'll need to change the wheels out while doing club/training races or Cat 4/5 races, but look at your tires for an easy area to shave weight and gain grip.

"What Would Hinault Do?"

Punch the [censored] out of anyone that got in his way.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by swampy1970 [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

Usually, changing the nut that holds on the bars is the biggest upgrade a bike can get.

Good one.

You guys have some good ideas for bike mods, but they are all old-school. All the OP needs to do in 2013 is buy a new Pearl Izumi Pro LTD Speed Jersey. It's 22-24 watts savings @ 30 mph exceeds even the gains from $2000 aero wheels......well, according the ad anyway.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by dhk2 [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

You guys have some good ideas for bike mods, but they are all old-school. All the OP needs to do in 2013 is buy a new Pearl Izumi Pro LTD Speed Jersey. It's 22-24 watts savings @ 30 mph exceeds even the gains from $2000 aero wheels......well, according the ad anyway.

Do they mention what the comparison is against, another skin tight jersey or an XL t-shirt?

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by CAMPYBOB [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

look at your tires for an easy area to shave weight and gain grip.

As mentioned in this quote and a couple other replies, upgrading tires can shave weight (nice on paper), gain grip (very nice in the wet and on fast decents), AND gain rolling speed (depending on tire/tube combo could be quite substantial).

My favorite performance combo:

1. Two Vittoria 320tpi CX Open tubulars at about $60 a piece.
2. Two Vittoria latex inner tubes at about $16 a piece.

The math suggests a 30-40+ watt savings over a typical OEM setup. That's a very real couple miles per hour faster for about $160 bucks.

The downside of the above? Ridiculously low wear factor on the tires and the latex tubes will require daily inflation.

YMMV.

"Do they mention what the comparison is against..."

[IMG]cyclingforums.com700Open ↗[/IMG]

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by CAMPYBOB [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

"Do they mention what the comparison is against..."

[IMG]cyclingforums.com700Open ↗[/IMG]

He was in my office yesterday talking with one of our editors... HAMMERTIME!

"He was in my office yesterday talking with one of our editors... HAMMERTIME!"

Did you try and touch him?

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by danfoz [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

Do they mention what the comparison is against, another skin tight jersey or an XL t-shirt?

No, but that doesn't matter, can be whatever you want, it still saves 22-24 watts @ 30 mph. Just buy today and stop asking questions.

Humm...now wonder if it comes in a Large (or Euro size 6 XXL) with "club fit" (pour mon ventre americain)?

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by dhk2 [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

No, but that doesn't matter, can be whatever you want, it still saves 22-24 watts @ 30 mph. Just buy today and stop asking questions.

Humm...now wonder if it comes in a Large (or Euro size 6 XXL) with "club fit" (pour mon ventre americain)?

Awsome, now just to find a hill we can ride down to reach our designated 30mph to save our wattz.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by CAMPYBOB [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

"He was in my office yesterday talking with one of our editors... HAMMERTIME!"

Did you try and touch him?

No but I was tempted to ask how he blew through a 100 mill so quick.

Buying a whole bike is too expensive and waste money,choosing a set of high performance wheels,as like carbon stuff,super light weight can help you move up your ride speed rapidly.

"No but I was tempted to ask how he blew through a 100 mill so quick."

Hookers & Blow!

"Buying a whole bike is too expensive and waste money,choosing a set of high performance wheels,as like carbon stuff,super light weight can help you move up your ride speed rapidly."

As long as they're Yeoleo!!!!

Wow Its great ...:p