Upgrading a bike
 

Got this here roadbike i am working on. For the first time in my life i am looking at upgrading a bike with aftermarket components. More than anything the emphasis is on lightweight components since this is a lightweight carbon frame. When looking into this subject i quickly developed a sense of the costs involved. I am not going full raytard and obtaining the lightest stuff out there, just trying to bring the bikes weight down maybe 5-10% to roughly 8 KG. Bit sceptic about buying the lightest stuff out there as these specs may compromize on durability. FYI, the alu stem on the bike is 150 gr. and i found can shave off 50 grams, maybe down to the low 90 grs considering costs. Replacing the two quick release skewers with a lighter set and shave off another 70 grams. Found a nice tit. pair from Aerlite at 54 gr. I noticed i can play around with the bolts and switch out the steel bolts with titanium or alu. ones where applicable. All this looks to be a lot of work getting into, but i am up for the challenge and getting wiser every step i take. I will have to take babysteps and do one upgrade after the other as i am not able to go on a shopping spree and spend my weekly $$$ allowance all at once, so for now i am getting a new stem, QR levers, and titanium bolts. Already obtained lightweight carbon handlebar and platform pedals. Not gonna do the wheel upgrade yet as that is a big expense, but not looking at carbon fiber wheels, just the alus. I am thinking this project will take close to a year to complete, but the bike in question will be up and running during this work in progress. If i get hooked on this project, the last thing i will do is replace the derailleurs. Let me make a point that this is not my bike, so i am only doing this to pay it forward so to speak. Placing the emphasis on weight of the various components really do put things into perspective for me, allowing me to see the bigger picture since i don`t have all that much experience with the aftermarket part of the sport.

So what upgrades have you treated your roadbike to lately?

:popcorn

First, I don't see the "this here roadbike" picture.... you must have forgotten it.
Number two... wheel upgrade is the number one upgrade you can do.

New bar tape. Is that an upgrade?, I have under the tape gel pads now..

Lol, i use these tough foam grips i pulled off excercise machines on my Le mans, they're trick

thought about coating it with bar tape, but nah

1st dense rubber grab-on bar sleeves, in the 80's shredded once in the sun
for very long ..UV breaking it down, probably.

so were thinner after you used them , where you touched them most often..

wrapping them with black cotton bar tape cured that..

Some old roadies i collected the foam grips had deteriorated, torn even. on one bike was OK probably didn't get much light! so slid them off for a ladies indi 500 i flipped, looked good!

the ones i'm using are similar to what you'd find on an ugly stick fishing rod, heavy duty quite comfortable too

Using the piece-meal approach, the Tour will be over long before you knock off the 5 - 10%.

I agree with #2...Wheels are the best bang for the buck for a weight weenie.

Brad

There is no such thing as lightweight platform pedals.

Sure there is. The Xpedo ones i got from China were rather small for platform pedals, but clocked in at only 195 grams for the pair. You have to admit that is lightweight. The ones i am using are 430 grams for the pair (Nukeproof)

https://www.ebay.com/itm/XPEDO-TI-TI...53.m2749.l2649

Hmm, well alrighty then. So the wheel set on the bike now is the WH-R501 weighing in at around 1900 grams if i`m not too far off. Thinking about an alu wheel set around 15-1600 grams.

I shaved 15 lbs off my bike.....Got in better shape and lost the weight off the rider :)