General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Bike upgrade help Please! Rss Feed  
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2008-02-20 5:10 AM

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Subject: Bike upgrade help Please!
I currently ride a Cervelo P2SL and have been fairly happy with it.  The only times I really have trouble is after the 50-60 mile mark when the bumps start to get to me.  I do manylong rides per year, and have 2 IM's scheduled this year, I am looking for the next step to upgrading my bike.  My thoughts are to go for carbon wheels (do they really make the ride softer on an aluminum bike?) or should I invest in a carbon frame now, and consider specialized wheels in the future.  Any suggestions?  I have about $1000 to spend.  I do know that specialized wheels can make me faster, but I would like to make comfort my next priority.


2008-02-20 6:08 AM
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Subject: RE: Bike upgrade help Please!
I would recommend a used set of carbon wheels
2008-02-20 6:53 AM
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Subject: RE: Bike upgrade help Please!
Tire pressure
2008-02-20 7:00 AM
in reply to: #1222818

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Subject: RE: Bike upgrade help Please!
I have a spinergy wheel set with the PBO carbon spokes and they seem to work well and I got them on Ebay for less than $600 a set, but my bike is carbon also and that takes alot of the bumps out. What tires are you running? If you are using 700x20 I would move to a 700x23 or 25 with a little less tire pressure that will help also.

Ron
2008-02-20 7:43 AM
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Subject: RE: Bike upgrade help Please!
I put my mountain bike saddle on my race bike a few month ago. This has improved my comfort by an amazing amount. I used to get sore after a couple of hours. Now I am in IM training and am up to almost 5 hour rides without problems. My saddle now does not have much padding (170g) but the plastic shell it is built on is much softer than the one in my old saddle so absorbs vibrations much better.
2008-02-20 7:50 AM
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Subject: RE: Bike upgrade help Please!
pitt83 - 2008-02-20 6:53 AM Tire pressure


+1  Makes all the diff in the world.  That, and a good set of gloves/shorts.



2008-02-20 9:15 AM
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Subject: RE: Bike upgrade help Please!
Carbon wheels really shouldnt make your ride softer. In fact, I would suggest that if they do, the wheels arent stiff enough. Carbon may soak up some vibrations... but its not going to make a huge difference in comfort.

If they will fit, you could run 700x25 or 700x28 tires. Adding some sidewall will absorb a lot of the bumps, without as much of a reduction in tire pressure. Otherwise, the free option is to reduce the pressure in the tires you have now... but you will be slightly slower... unless the comfort gained helps increase your speed over the long haul.

I think for $1000 you are going to be hard pressed to find a carbon frame. I do think that it would make some difference in comfort though. You might be able to sell your frame, and use the $1000 you have and buy a new carbon P2C ??? It just might mean going without a bike for a week or so.
2008-02-20 11:25 AM
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Subject: RE: Bike upgrade help Please!
ranger5oh - 2008-02-20 10:15 AM

Carbon wheels really shouldnt make your ride softer. In fact, I would suggest that if they do, the wheels arent stiff enough. Carbon may soak up some vibrations... but its not going to make a huge difference in comfort.

If they will fit, you could run 700x25 or 700x28 tires. Adding some sidewall will absorb a lot of the bumps, without as much of a reduction in tire pressure. Otherwise, the free option is to reduce the pressure in the tires you have now... but you will be slightly slower... unless the comfort gained helps increase your speed over the long haul.

I think for $1000 you are going to be hard pressed to find a carbon frame. I do think that it would make some difference in comfort though. You might be able to sell your frame, and use the $1000 you have and buy a new carbon P2C ??? It just might mean going without a bike for a week or so.


x2, with a twist. Depending on the age and condition of your P2SL, you could probably by the new P2C for $2500 and sell your P2SL for somewhere in the $1200 to $1500 range. That would get you to your price target. You and I are not the only ones thinking this way, so now there is a shortage of the new P2C developing.

Last night was my first ride on a carbon bike, and my initial reaction was that there was a huge difference in ride quality.

Another less expensive option is to lower the tire pressure and get the right saddle. My new saddle is killer and needs to be changed, it definitely makes for an uncomfortable ride.
2008-02-20 12:08 PM
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Subject: RE: Bike upgrade help Please!

Tri-FatBoy - 2008-02-20 7:50 AM
pitt83 - 2008-02-20 6:53 AM Tire pressure


+1  Makes all the diff in the world.  That, and a good set of gloves/shorts.

+2. Tire pressure will make a lot more difference in ride quality than any type of frame material.

2008-02-20 1:36 PM
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Subject: RE: Bike upgrade help Please!
You might try getting a carbon seatpost. I've got a mostly aluminum frame with a carbon seatpost and fork and I've had very, very few problems.
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