Hey, I own a 5 year old marin ridgeback, a regular city tourer. Now, ive been thinking about upgrading to something lighter etc for some time. instead of buying something brand new, I've decided to gradually replace the main components on my ridgeback with stuff purchased second hand. To start the ball rolling I'm gonna get some wheels. Now, the wheels I currently have are standard touring wheels. What i want is some nice thin road tires. First question is will i be able to fit them? My current bike has a 7 speed cassette so im guessing i need to get something which is compatible?? Would i have to get new breaks and a new rear deraillieur. What about the front? Is this gonna be worth the hassle? Should i just go down to Halford?
If anyone can point me in the right direction id be most grateful. Thanks JT
Hey, I own a 5 year old marin ridgeback, a regular city tourer. Now, ive been thinking about upgrading to something lighter etc for some time. instead of buying something brand new, I've decided to gradually replace the main components on my ridgeback with stuff purchased second hand. To start the ball rolling I'm gonna get some wheels. Now, the wheels I currently have are standard touring wheels. What i want is some nice thin road tires. First question is will i be able to fit them? My current bike has a 7 speed cassette so im guessing i need to get something which is compatible?? Would i have to get new breaks and a new rear deraillieur. What about the front? Is this gonna be worth the hassle? Should i just go down to Halford?
If anyone can point me in the right direction id be most grateful. Thanks JT
My experience up uprades (based on a new frame for a perfectly good but heavy old bike) is that as well as replacing the bits you had budgeted for you end up buying all sorts of other bits. In my case this was a new set of brake calipers as the old ones wouldn't fit, a braze on rather than band on front mech, and various other bits which put the rebuilt bike into the realms of what I could have bought a new one for. But I think I ended up with something better than buying a new bike, given that new bikes often have cheap components (the big name bits on a Halfords bike often only include the gears) and it is more suited to my riding than a cheap racer. Also be aware that 7 speed road stuff is obsolete now; there are very few parts still available and tend to be bottom of the range. I would say add up all the parts you are intending to buy then allow another £100 before you decide what to do.
