bike component upgrade options????

2009-07-02 1:27 PM

Expert

715

Subject: bike component upgrade options????

how do you know what sorts of things you can swap out on your bike for an upgrade?
for instance, i have a 2004 raleigh grand sport.
what can i do to upgrade some of the componentry on it if i so choose to?
currently, its all stock. can i upgrade the gearing front and rear? currently has a shimano sora system (triple front / 8 rear), but can i swap out to a compact double up front, and go to a 9 cassette in the rear?
handle bars? rims? fork?
i am content with what the bike has, everything shifts quickly and smoothly and works like it should. it only has about 1100 miles on it (900 are from me). i would just be interested in knowing how far i can take upgrading on this certain type of bike.
i really dont have a clue.
thanks in advance. and no, im not going to be upgrading to a newer bike any time soon. i really like the darn thing even though it may be 5 years old and entry level......

2009-07-02 1:39 PM

in reply to: #2258804

Resident Curmudgeon

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The Road Back

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Subject: RE: bike component upgrade options????

What's wrong with the components you have now?

What do you expect to gain by upgrading them?

I'm rarely in favor of upgrading perfectly good working components, the cost-benefit just isn't there. Put your extra cash that's burning a hole in your pocket into a savings account titled "New Bike Fund."

Do you have clipless pedals? Aerobars? If you don't, those have relatively low costs and relatively high benefits to performance.

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Nelg

2009-07-02 1:40 PM

in reply to: #2258804

Expert

937

Traverse Cityish

Subject: RE: bike component upgrade options????

Upgrading drivetrains is a loosing proposition as you'll have more in the gruppo than the bike is worth.

What do you have for a wheelset? Other than working on the engine, wheels are the first thing to look at for speed in a bike. Well, after aero bars and a aero helmet too.

greyg8r

2009-07-02 1:40 PM

in reply to: #2258804

Expert

774

Subject: RE: bike component upgrade options????

You can upgrade everything on the bike, even the fork. The only question is whether it is economically feasible to do so.

2009-07-02 1:49 PM

in reply to: #2258833

Expert

715

Subject: RE: bike component upgrade options????

the bear - 2009-07-02 2:39 PM What's wrong with the components you have now? nothing.

What do you expect to gain by upgrading them? gearing - seems like shifting from 5-6 in the rear is a big drop in cadence. thought maybe adding a gear could lessen that. i mostly ride in the 6 in the rear, but shifitng to up to 5 just seems too much different. but i can live with it after reading other responses.

I'm rarely in favor of upgrading perfectly good working components, the cost-benefit just isn't there. Put your extra cash that's burning a hole in your pocket into a savings account titled "New Bike Fund." noted! i will hang on to what little cash i have, and put it towards a "new bike" fund.

Do you have clipless pedals? Aerobars? If you don't, those have relatively low costs and relatively high benefits to performance. i am clipless (spd's) and love it. no aerobars yet. dont know if i want them....but will consider.

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2009-07-02 1:58 PM

in reply to: #2258838

Expert

715

Subject: RE: bike component upgrade options????

Nelg - 2009-07-02 2:40 PM Upgrading drivetrains is a loosing proposition as you'll have more in the gruppo than the bike is worth. What do you have for a wheelset? they are stock Alex alum rims.
Other than working on the engine, wheels are the first thing to look at for speed in a bike. Well, after aero bars and a aero helmet too. im not necessarily looking for equipment to pick up untapped speed from the bike to make me any faster, just maybe that "something" that can make the ride smoother/lighter/stronger/sleeker/racier. i am confident in my training on the bike to know that i am still making progress with the engine and can hold my own.

does that make sense? am i just wording things in a way that is telling me a new bike will give me that?

2009-07-02 2:05 PM

in reply to: #2258856

Resident Curmudgeon

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Subject: RE: bike component upgrade options????

What do you expect to gain by upgrading them? gearing - seems like shifting from 5-6 in the rear is a big drop in cadence. thought maybe adding a gear could lessen that. i mostly ride in the 6 in the rear, but shifitng to up to 5 just seems too much different. but i can live with it after reading other responses.

Buying a new cassette is cheap, less than $35 retail for 105 level, cheaper still on ebay, and not what I would consider an "upgrade" but more of a sideways move.

Determine what cassette you have, then see if a different one will help you. Sounds like you may benefit from a tighter range, if you have like a 12-27 you could do better maybe with an 11-23?

2009-07-02 2:11 PM

in reply to: #2258893

Expert

715

Subject: RE: bike component upgrade options????

the bear - 2009-07-02 3:05 PM What do you expect to gain by upgrading them? gearing - seems like shifting from 5-6 in the rear is a big drop in cadence. thought maybe adding a gear could lessen that. i mostly ride in the 6 in the rear, but shifitng to up to 5 just seems too much different. but i can live with it after reading other responses.

Buying a new cassette is cheap, less than $35 retail for 105 level, cheaper still on ebay, and not what I would consider an "upgrade" but more of a sideways move.

Determine what cassette you have, then see if a different one will help you. Sounds like you may benefit from a tighter range, if you have like a 12-27 you could do better maybe with an 11-23?

currently geared with a 30-42-52 front-------13-26 rear. i'll check out that sheldon dude's web page on gearing ratios to see what kind of difference an 11-23 can give me.
thank you!

2009-07-02 2:16 PM

in reply to: #2258804

Resident Curmudgeon

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Subject: RE: bike component upgrade options????

Also look to see exactly what size cogs (# teeth) are involved in "shifting from 5-6 in the rear." If it's more than one tooth then maybe a different cassette can address that specific problem you have with it.

2009-07-02 2:29 PM

in reply to: #2258916

Expert

715

Subject: RE: bike component upgrade options????

its a 2 tooth change. from 17 teeth to 15. which at 90 rpm, is a 3 mph difference. so that explains the the significance of the shift for me between those gears. looks like i could go to a 12-23 and have some smoother gearing choices in the normal range i ride. i'll see how it goes after my next race in a couple weeks.

2009-07-02 2:34 PM

in reply to: #2258804

Resident Curmudgeon

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Subject: RE: bike component upgrade options????

Yeah, one wouldn't think that kind of difference would matter much, but if it's right at your sweet spot it can be aggravating.

You never mentioned, but would it help to be on a different chainring at that speed?

2009-07-02 2:45 PM

in reply to: #2258954

Expert

715

Subject: RE: bike component upgrade options????

like you said, it is right at the sweet spot. being at 52-15 is the perfect gear for meriding around 24 mph. but a slight headwind or grade, and i just want to drop back one gear. and i feel that shift up is more than i want. it'd be great if my upshift was just one tooth different from there and not 2.
as for the chainring question, if i were to ride in 42-13 in stead, it would be putting me right in the gear range that i feel i am missing. it seems like more shifitng though than i would want to do, to drop down 1 chainring, and move down 2 in the cassette.......am i whining? IMO, thats too much finagling for a "lost" gear in the cassette. good point though. i will try it my next ride and see if i can make it work efficiently for me.