Upgrade my $3400 carbon road bike

[Edward C.]

Hi everyone, my cannondale road bike cost $3400, I have already ride around 1600km, now I would like to upgrade my bike, do you have any suggestion? Tire, wheel, cog etc?
By the way, is big different between $1500 and $500 wheel? It’s hard to imagine $1500 wheel equal to my bike around 1/2 cost, what is the different?
Thanks.

[foo on patrol]

What wheels do you have on it now and what rubber?

Foo

[blizzard]

What are you trying to achieve through upgrading?i.e faster, lighter, more comfortable? Do you race and care about power? Is your bike rim or disc?

Cheapest performance upgrade is good tyres (depends on what is currently fitted) eg. Gp5000 or Vittoria Corsa.

It's really hard to recommend upgrades without knowing what your goals are.

[mikgit]

Upgrades, just open up the Schmokle website and go wild! Becuase if you have no defined parametes on "upgrades" may as well go redonkulous.

[10speedsemiracer]

Wheels and tyres first. If budget is not an issue (even if it is..) get a set of handbuilts made up and fit some Vittoria Corsa tyres.

Am guessing you have a current era CAAD13 105 or thereabouts. So Formula hubs/DT Swiss 470s and Vittoria Rubino 25mm rubber. Nothing overly wrong with this combo, but there are improvements to be had. Better rolling hubs. Lighter, faster rolling tyres.

After that, it's a case of keeping the bike well maintained and getting the fit just right.

[warthog1]

I agree wheels and tyres.
I have these on my giant
https://www.this link is broken.au/prime-rr-50-v ... ess-bundle
Absolute bargain.
I don't rate the tyres in that bundle, but I do the wheels.
I rate them better than my 404 firecrest
They come in disc also.
Not superlight but not heavy either.
Aero is more important than weight if speed is your aim, unless you spend every ride going up hc climbs.

[Edward C.]

I want lighter( =faster???) and more comfortable, my existing tyre is “Vittoria Zaffiro Pro Slick, 700 x 30c”, “ Fulcrum Racing 900 wheel 700c” and rim brake, I usually ride 20km per hour on weekend for exercise not race, I checked the Vitoria corsa price on Bike bug web site just only $120 per one, it will be big different to my exiting one????Thanks.

What are you trying to achieve through upgrading?i.e faster, lighter, more comfortable? Do you race and care about power? Is your bike rim or disc?

Cheapest performance upgrade is good tyres (depends on what is currently fitted) eg. Gp5000 or Vittoria Corsa.

It's really hard to recommend upgrades without knowing what your goals are.

[Edward C.]

By the way, has everyone can response me is $1500 wheel big different to $500? What is the different? Can I feel it obviously?
I got some extra money from gamble, that’s why I want upgrade my bike , thanks.

[Edward C.]

I mean if I spend $500 even $1000 for get some minor different or just mentally feeling better, I won’t take this option.

[g-boaf]

Probably just good tyres. Maybe if the current saddle isn't comfortable change it - but you have to find the right saddle. Who knows.

Otherwise I probably would just save the money.

The biggest faster improvement is the fitness of the rider.

[blizzard]

By the way, has everyone can response me is $1500 wheel big different to $500? What is the different? Can I feel it obviously?
I got some extra money from gamble, that’s why I want upgrade my bike , thanks.

The measurable difference is weight, $500 wheels are probably around 1800g, for $1500 you can probably get wheels around 1500g. Typically you go from low profile <30mm alloy rims at $500 to deeper section ~40mm carbon, which should be more aero. Also an important factor for a lot people is looks - Carbon wheels generally look better than alloy.

Zaffiro Pro tyres are on the lower end. I would upgrade to Continental GP5000 30mm tyres as the first upgrade. These are normally around $80 each on Bikebug - a fair bit cheaper than the Corsa's.

[NASHIE]

By the way, has everyone can response me is $1500 wheel big different to $500? What is the different? Can I feel it obviously?
I got some extra money from gamble, that’s why I want upgrade my bike , thanks.

Nothing mate, i race $500 wheels and will never spend more than $500 on wheels. It may 'feel' nicer on the first few rides then what next. You have a nice bike just ride it. Spend money on good nutrition, maybe a bike fit.

[AndrewCowley]

Get some Fulcrum Racing 3 wheels. Combine with a decent set of tyres (Continental, Schwalbe, Pirelli, Michelin etc...) and you'll notice the difference.

[Thoglette]

Tyres, tyres, tyres.
The supplest* and widest you can fit.
And, yes, it’ll cost 10% of the bike’s value.
* “open tubular” is a good starting search term

[warthog1]

I want lighter( =faster???) and more comfortable, my existing tyre is “Vittoria Zaffiro Pro Slick, 700 x 30c”, “ Fulcrum Racing 900 wheel 700c” and rim brake, I usually ride 20km per hour on weekend for exercise not race, I checked the Vitoria corsa price on Bike bug web site just only $120 per one, it will be big different to my exiting one????Thanks.

https://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/1467 ... ght-wheels

Aero trumps weight for most riders.
At 20kmh it will matter far less.
Campagnolo Zondas are a good stong and relatively light wheel.
Grab some GP5000 tyres as others have mentioned and you should notice a difference.

[AndrewCowley]

Campagnolo Zondas are a good stong and relatively light wheel.

Just so the OP knows ... Campagnolo Zondas are the same as Fulcrum Racing 3's. Slightly different spoke pattern between the two but the same wheel in functional terms. If you were looking at one of these, then be sure to check both and get whichever is cheaper.

[warthog1]

Campagnolo Zondas are a good stong and relatively light wheel.

Just so the OP knows ... Campagnolo Zondas are the same as Fulcrum Racing 3's. Slightly different spoke pattern between the two but the same wheel in functional terms. If you were looking at one of these, then be sure to check both and get whichever is cheaper.

Yeah they are. Zondas are normally a touch cheaper and the G3 spoking pattern looks better imo with its closer spacing of the spokes.
Both 2:1 though.
Agreed, whichever is cheaper.

For a moderate increase in price those prime 50mm deep carbons are also wider and tubeless ready.
A better, faster wheel.

[LateStarter]

Hi everyone, my cannondale road bike cost $3400, I have already ride around 1600km, now I would like to upgrade my bike, do you have any suggestion? Tire, wheel, cog etc?
By the way, is big different between $1500 and $500 wheel? It’s hard to imagine $1500 wheel equal to my bike around 1/2 cost, what is the different?
Thanks.

$3,400 is already a lot of money for a bike and 1,600km is not very much riding to date. What don't you like, we all want to go faster, I want to go longer but looking at most of the bikes & riders I see out there I can tell you the secret is the rider and much less the bike. A great rider will be great on an ordinary bike and an ordinary rider will be ordinary on a great bike. It will cost you $1500 in bits to save the equivalent of half a bottle of water, tip out the water at the start of your next ride and save the money. Spend the money on a better, fitter you, maybe a little on a "good" bike fit that concentrates on comfort and efficiency and when your current tyres are done get some GP5000 (I really like the 32s), they are IMO the best all round (rolling, grip, longevity, puncture resistance for a good price), I get 10,000+km from them and then move them to my "second" bike.

When you have done another 10,000km then consider again with the benefit of your experience, don't get sucked into the "upgrade" treadmill, it will rarely be as great as you anticipate. Good Luck.

PS, I sometimes feel a bit of guilt regarding the money I have spent on bike #2 & bike #3 when the difference between #1 & #3 over a full day ride (12 hrs / 200km) might only be 10-15 minutes

[Edward C.]

Hi, that 300g different you mean a pairs of wheel or single? Thanks.

By the way, has everyone can response me is $1500 wheel big different to $500? What is the different? Can I feel it obviously?
I got some extra money from gamble, that’s why I want upgrade my bike , thanks.

The measurable difference is weight, $500 wheels are probably around 1800g, for $1500 you can probably get wheels around 1500g. Typically you go from low profile <30mm alloy rims at $500 to deeper section ~40mm carbon, which should be more aero. Also an important factor for a lot people is looks - Carbon wheels generally look better than alloy.

Zaffiro Pro tyres are on the lower end. I would upgrade to Continental GP5000 30mm tyres as the first upgrade. These are normally around $80 each on Bikebug - a fair bit cheaper than the Corsa's.

[Derny Driver]

Hi, that 300g different you mean a pairs of wheel or single? Thanks.

Pair

[MattyK]

I'd hold on the wheels. Plenty of small things and accessories that can make life more enjoyable, but will all be very personal.

Clothing - good shorts and jerseys
Shoes, pedals and cleats
Saddles
Get a bike fit to optimise your position and comfort (probably incorporates some of the above items)
Computer and out-front mount

After that I'd start with tyres (GP5000s and latex tubes) as on-bike upgrades.

[caneye]

OP - Do another 1600kms and ask the same question again. Your perspective of the bike might be different.

[g-boaf]

OP - Do another 1600kms and ask the same question again. Your perspective of the bike might be different.

This is the best response.

But a set of good grippy tyres won’t go wrong. A decent bike computer as well. I love the Garmin 1030 that I have. It is simple to use (touchscreen controls on a big screen) and the battery life is great.

[Edward C.]

I am using Bryton computer not very good but ok, your one is too expensive for me:(

OP - Do another 1600kms and ask the same question again. Your perspective of the bike might be different.

This is the best response.

But a set of good grippy tyres won’t go wrong. A decent bike computer as well. I love the Garmin 1030 that I have. It is simple to use (touchscreen controls on a big screen) and the battery life is great.

[Edward C.]

All, I am already target on Racing 3 and GP 500, cost around $860. Now I have a concern, after a few year if I want selling my bike on gumtree, I have to take off the racing 3 and put the original wheel back, can I do this action at bike shop while I do minor service without any extra charge? Because it’s hard job for me, the rear cog issue.
Thanks.