TheIndiePlaylis

What is the very first thing to be upgraded or replaced? Go!

corrado33

Nothing. It's a new bike that's specced like I want it to be.

TheIndiePlaylis

Not even a seat change?

corrado33

Road bike? The saddle was swapped at the shop before I finished buying it. Therefore my answer is still "nothing."

Mountain bike? Saddle doesn't matter as much, and my butt doesn't care since I only spend half the time in it anyway.

D1andonlyDman

In my case, if it's a bike I expect to be riding a lot, it gets one of my Ideale or Brooks leather saddles, which are assigned to my three most-ridden steeds.

TheIndiePlaylis

So how long would you say one would need to have to been riding to know every component they'd want on a bike and purchase it completely specc'd out how they want? I imagine, like many others here, that I am not entirely alone in still figuring out what we like and what we find comfortable or required on our bikes.

corrado33

Buying lower specced bikes and "upgrading" is expensive. Buying a bike with the parts you want on it is much cheaper in the long run. I'm not picky about components. If it works well and I have fun riding it, I'm not going to replace it until it breaks.

ColonelSanders

That will depend on whether the seat/saddle suits you or not.

Pedals and handgrips are big ones for changes too.

Whilst there are other things you could change, with any luck, the above 3 things would be the only things that might need urgent attention.

Of course you could always change your tyres, but a lot of people wait till they have worn them out first.

If you have rim brakes and they don't work very well, you could look at improved braking pads like the ones from Kool Stop.

techsensei

Hopefully the tires. Because that would mean the bike is reliable, and that I was riding the snot out of it.

Yendor72

Pedals and saddle. Hard to clip in on flat pedals.

ypsetihw

brake pads, pedals, saddle. +1 if you bought the right bike, then you shouldn't have to change much more than that. maybe add some things, like bottle cages, computer, lights, possibly rack/fenders depending on intended use.

RonH

Before asking us what to change, tell us what bike you bought or are considering and the components that are on the bike. You may have the perfect bike the way it is, except for the saddle.

Hardrock23

I just got a new bike a few weeks ago. Im waiting for fedex to bring me my new brake levers. I thought i would change the saddle first but I got used to it and find it comfy now, for the most part...When i have the money, ill change it to a cut out type saddle, but for now on shorter rides, its fine. The brake levers I cant adapt to, so Im changing those first along with the cables...possibly a different handlebar but im waiting to see on that.

KLiNCK

Tires.

brianmcg123

The Saddle is always first to go.

SpeshulEd 

My last road bike went saddle, bars, stem, wheels, cassette, crankset, wheels again, cassette again, chain, saddle again, stem again, seatpost...and I just ordered a new stem and seatpost again, and will be putting on sram etap next month.

My last mountain bike went pedals, tires, saddle, stem, grips...there will probably be a wheel change at some point.

I like to tinker. Also, both bikes it worked out to be cheaper to buy the complete and replace/sell off what I didn't want than to buy a frame and everything else outright.

Paul Barnard

The internet forum troll.

pseudoware

Add bottle cage, replace saddle, remove reflectors & dork disc

Waxbytes

Pedals, usually at the LBS when I'm buying the bike. I use the stock saddle until I feel a need to change it.
I don't change tires till they wear out, unless they are glass magnets.

bakes1

You kind of are alone because you are on a dedicated cycling forum asking serious cyclists what they didn't spec out correctly when they built their new bike.
Pedals notwithstanding.
I smell troll

Homebrew01

Build up a frame, then get everything right the first time.

deapee

My first time around I wanted to change everything...from the bars to the crankset to the wheels to the tires...so my second time around I did more research and bought a bike that I knew I'd be happy with every component on it (except the saddle).

I don't see why bike dealers don't specify the TYPE of saddle a bike comes with, and offer customers who purchase it their choice of 3 sizes in that saddle.

--

So anyway, the only 4 things I changed on my new bike:

- New saddle before I test rode it
- Added bottle cage(s)
- Pedals swapped to clipless
- Added a mini wedgie saddle bag (my old one was a bit too big and bulky)

I've never had caliper brakes before, but did some research and I planned on upgrading the pads, but haven't found any reason to -- the stock ones for me seem to work flawlessly. I guess that's my favorite part about this bike, I don't worry about the brakes or fuss over them -- they're just there and they work. With my old bike and AVID discs, I was constantly messing with them to try to eliminate noise -- mainly noise when the brake was not engaged.

GravelMN

That would depend a lot on the bike. On my last new purchase, the first thing to go was the stem. Other things that almost universally get replaced include pedals and the saddle. On my MTB and hybrid mutt, the grips went in favor of Ergon grips with built-in bar ends.

So I guess the most accurate answer is: Any contact point or fitment that isn't to my liking. Other than that I tend to hold off on changes and upgrades until the stock parts get quite worn. I do like building my own wheels so all my bikes get handbuilts, but that is more because I like building wheels than because there was anything wrong with the originals.

rydabent

As pretty much stated, you need to add accessories to make a new bike rideable. In my case I added a rack to carry my trunk pack to carry tools and tubes. Also added bottle cages, mirror, computer, and clipless pedals.

MRT2

On my last new bike, I replaced the following before even taking receipt of the bike.

Saddle. The stock saddle was terrible, so switched to a Brooks B17.
Bartape, to match the saddle
Pedals
Handlebars - switched out the stock ones to a wider model at the suggestion of the store owner.
Tires- Though the stock tires would have been alright, at the time, I had an irrational fear of getting flats so switched to a tire with better flat protection.

Replaced the following years later
Back wheel. Rim cracked so upgraded to a touring wheel.
Brake pads. Went from stock to Kool Stop Salmon.
Chain and cassette. Wanted a slightly easier low gear and the shop offered me a deal on an Ultegra chain and cassette.