Re evaluate your bike: possible upgrades areas:

  • maintenance
  • Comfort
  • performance

 

A.  Maintenance:

  1. shifter cables and drive train adjustments
  2. chain stretch causes wear:
  • chain
  • derailleur upper jockey pulley/ lower pulley idler pulley
  • rear cassette wear
  • crank wear

3.   brake pads

  1. detailed lubrication all moving parts drive train
  • front derailleur
  • rear derailleur
  • jockey/idler pulleys on rear derailleur
  • cable housings
  1. reassess FIT

contact points:

  • seat
  • handle bars

6.   handle bar wrap

7.  shift lever adjustments

8.  pedals

9.  shoes

10.  cleats

11.  adjustments (hot spots, sprint forward, cadence rearward

12.  knee issues rearward

13.  crank size

  • 53/39 road standard crank
  • 52/36 time trial
  • 50/34 climbing

14.  crank length

length depends on inseam,  flexibility  & knees

15.  True Wheels

16.  shifter/brake levers

  • size hands
  • wear on braking parts

 

B.   Comfort upgrades:

  1.  saddle
  2. Carbon fiber handlebar
  3. carbon fiber seat post
  4. Carbon fiber front fork
  5. 2.  Bar Tape

 

C.     Performance upgrades:

weight

  1. $1000/pound  1 pound off bike 2:30 minutes on cat 2 climb!

These are expensive & Generally ones that make your bike stiffer & lighter

Generally losing 10 pounds off of you does the same! (lighter bikes tend to be stiffer & lighter)

  1. wheel sets
  • Full Carbon
  • Alu/Carbon
  • Aluminum
  • areo wheel sets …30mm, 60 mm, 80 mm
    advantages …fast … disadvantage cross winds
  • climbing wheel sets … light weight w/low profile

 

  1. Drive train upgrades … weight & shifting speed

                Shimano                              Sram                                                     Campy

Good     105                                         Rival                                                       chorus eps

Better   Ultegra / (+di2)                 force                                                     record eps

Best       Dura ace / (+di2)              scram red +electronic                    super record eps +eps electronic

  1. frame up grades:
  • steel
  • aluminum light weight
  • carbon fiber
  • titanium

choices are all about stiffness & weight & aerodynamics

entry:    $1400-$1700  Entry level bike: … 105, rival, chorus … 18-19 pounds  Intermediate:   Ultegra up  generally better drive train/ wheels … 17-18 pounds  $3000 – 4000

Advances:     even better drive train/wheels … 15-16 pounds $4000+

5,    Race special Best of best rider specific

  • sprinters
  • climber
  • rough surface
  • all around

see your Licensed Bike Shop