Would you rather save up for a better gruppo or a better wheelset?
06-15-13, 10:58 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 752
Bikes: CAAD10
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Campagnolo SR EPS on Aksium Race = upgrade wheels
SRAM Apex on Lightweight Meilenstein = upgrade groupset
SRAM Apex on Lightweight Meilenstein = upgrade groupset
06-15-13, 11:25 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 8,550
Bikes: Wilier Izoard XP (Record);Cinelli Xperience (Force);Specialized Allez (Rival);Bianchi Via Nirone 7 (Centaur); Colnago AC-R Disc;Colnago V1r Limited Edition;De Rosa King 3 Limited(Force 22);DeRosa Merak(Red):Pinarello Dogma 65.1 Hydro(Di2)
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 551 Post(s)
Liked 277 Times
in
145 Posts
Save up for another bike.
06-16-13, 03:36 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Posts: 279
Bikes: Lynskey Helix OS and R330, Parlee Z1, Anderson 953 Custom
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
When I first rode, a new gruppo.
After having ridden a while, new wheels.
Now, neither...
...or a new material bike - Titanium, Carbon, Steel
Mark
After having ridden a while, new wheels.
Now, neither...
...or a new material bike - Titanium, Carbon, Steel
Mark
06-16-13, 03:19 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Mountain View, CA USA and Golden, CO USA
Posts: 6,341
Bikes: 97 Litespeed, 50-39-30x13-26 10 cogs, Campagnolo Ultrashift, retroreflective rims on SON28/PowerTap hubs
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 550 Post(s)
Liked 325 Times
in
226 Posts
If it's mechanical and not Campagnolo with the classic five cogs smaller / three larger behavior the gruppo is crap and should be replaced. If it is, no "upgrade" is necessary until discontinued small parts wear out or your favorite cogset is discontinued which suggests a count increase.
Last edited by Drew Eckhardt; 06-16-13 at 03:28 PM.
06-16-13, 06:38 PM
#13
or tarckeemoon, depending
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: the pesto of cities
Posts: 7,017
Bikes: Davidson Impulse, Merckx Titanium AX, Bruce Gordon Rock & Road, Cross Check custom build, On-One Il Pomino, Shawver Cycles cross, Zion 737, Mercian Vincitore, Brompton S1L, Charge Juicer
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I build my own wheels and enjoy the challenge of making them as awesome as possible on the cheap. I can't really get that excited about buying a new group.
06-16-13, 06:52 PM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 564
Bikes: 1976 Raleigh,2015 Bianchi Intenso, 2012 Specialized Secteur.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 48 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
wheelset. My groupo works fine and a new wheelset even looks cooler.
06-16-13, 08:21 PM
#15
Senior Member
Assuming that your current gruppo and wheel set are "entry level," I would go for the wheel set. When I finally caved and bought a pair of good wheels (Easton Ascent II, now EA90SLX I was amazed at how much quicker and more responsive my bike felt. You can then upgrade your gruppo piecemeal as your funds allow (and sell off the old components to help pay for the new stuff).
06-16-13, 08:41 PM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Posts: 279
Bikes: Lynskey Helix OS and R330, Parlee Z1, Anderson 953 Custom
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thinking about it some more while riding over the weekend, I would get the following:
1) A decent cycle computer with heart rate monitor,
2) A wheel-based or crank-based power meter,
3) Then, while deciding whether to upgrade your wheels or group set, you could track your progress and maybe even get a coach.
4) When you finally decide which upgrade to get, your power meter can show how insignificant that choice was.
This is kind of what I did.
Mark
1) A decent cycle computer with heart rate monitor,
2) A wheel-based or crank-based power meter,
3) Then, while deciding whether to upgrade your wheels or group set, you could track your progress and maybe even get a coach.
4) When you finally decide which upgrade to get, your power meter can show how insignificant that choice was.
This is kind of what I did.
Mark
06-16-13, 09:13 PM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Zion
Posts: 632
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 40 Post(s)
Liked 9 Times
in
9 Posts
Black and white situation - my vote is better gruppo > better wheels. All day, every day.
I'm the wrong guy to ask (do as I say, not as I do), but agree that it seems to make more sense to buy a new bike than over-upgrade an old one.
I'm the wrong guy to ask (do as I say, not as I do), but agree that it seems to make more sense to buy a new bike than over-upgrade an old one.
06-16-13, 10:51 PM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: location location
Posts: 3,035
Bikes: MBK Super Mirage 1991, CAAD10, Yuba Mundo Lux, and a Cannondale Criterium Single Speed
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 344 Post(s)
Liked 297 Times
in
207 Posts
Upgrade the engine!
(How has nobody mentioned this yet?)
(How has nobody mentioned this yet?)
06-16-13, 11:20 PM
#20
Banned.
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Fredsville
Posts: 122
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
06-17-13, 06:05 AM
#22
I'm doing it wrong.
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,875
Bikes: Rivendell Appaloosa, Rivendell Frank Jones Sr., Trek Fuel EX9, Kona Jake the Snake CR, Niner Sir9
Mentioned: 85 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9742 Post(s)
Liked 2,812 Times
in
1,664 Posts
If I was riding on something like Tiagra and it was working properly, I would upgrade the wheels. If Sora, I would probably upgrade the group to 105 or better. Really, I wouldn't spend the money unless the frame was worth it and it fit properly. If not, I would be saving for a new bike....or frameset.
06-17-13, 08:28 AM
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 8,550
Bikes: Wilier Izoard XP (Record);Cinelli Xperience (Force);Specialized Allez (Rival);Bianchi Via Nirone 7 (Centaur); Colnago AC-R Disc;Colnago V1r Limited Edition;De Rosa King 3 Limited(Force 22);DeRosa Merak(Red):Pinarello Dogma 65.1 Hydro(Di2)
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 551 Post(s)
Liked 277 Times
in
145 Posts
Oh yeah?!?! But is the OP deserving of the upgrades? Is it commensurate with his abilities? 
