New Bike or New Wheels or Other ???

Future 2050

Right lads in a predicament. Was going to buy a new bike. However the bike I have is perfect fit and I am very comfortable on it. It is full carbon but the gears etc. are 105 type. and wheels probably Ok but not great. These do not bother me though as I have not used any better and do not know any better.

I was looking at savage AR3 Felt (with Sram Red group set) today - one i was thinking of getting. However giving the time ae are in - Nama and all that - I cannot justify the price of in excess of € 3,000.

My question is to all is - if you were in my shoes would you:

a) cycle as is (bearing in mind I am racing (or trying to anyway))

b) Upgrade group set (this I believe would cost approx. € 1,200) ...advise please if otherwise

c) Upgrade tyres (this I believe would cost approx. € 1,000) ...advise otherwise please.

d) buy both wheels and group set

e) Buy theFelt for 3k +

Bare in mind I do not care what my bike or components etc.look like. I just want to purchase items that are a value for money investment to make me overall faster.

Also are the sram red as good as the dure ace ????????

Thanks all

Lumen

What are you expecting to happen when you put Dura Ace on your bike?

Only you can make yourself faster.

So if you have money burning a hole in your pocket, some combination of: coach, powermeter, sunny training camps.

IMO.

Russman

Bearing in mind the times we're in, I'd say you have to consider how much faster (if any) a new €3k bike would make you. I'm not a racer so am not really knowledgeable on the groupsets/components and their relative advantages but, in the nicest possible way, would suggest its the engine and not the bike that makes one quicker to a noticeable degree.
Just my tuppence worth.
That Felt is gorgeous though.......:D

mloc123

Spending 3k on a new bike thinking it will make you faster? Should fit in nicely around here

Murph100

F@ck me .... and here was I thinking Hutch Fusion 2 Tubeless were expensive

Future 2050 wrote: »

c) Upgrade tyres (this I believe would cost approx. € 1,000) ...advise otherwise please.

Future 2050

I had an aluminium bike before I got carbon - when I got the carbon made huge diff Instantly. - Surley good components etc make diff. Did previously for me

blorg

Very unlikely it would make a big difference. What do you have right now exactly? 105 groupset should be fine for racing. After 105 level most of what your are getting is small weight savings.

What sort of racing are you doing? How do you find the bike in races at the moment.

As Lumen says, add training, maybe work on your position.

Quigs Snr

You have to decide if you are spending to make yourself faster or spending to buy a bike that warms your heart everytime you see it.

Your current bike is fine. None of the combos mentioned are likely to improve your speed. In fact, Contador would probably win the Tour on your bike. Lumens suggestions make more sense.

If on the other hand you are looking to buy a fancy bike just because you want it and you can afford it, then go for it and don't apologise for it or try to justify it. Nearly everyone here is riding a bike that they can't do justice, why should you be any different. Most guys my age spend their money on far less worthy things than a bike, I never feel bad about spending money on bikes.

Russman

"I had an aluminium bike before I got carbon - when I got the carbon made huge diff Instantly. - Surley good components etc make diff. Did previously for me"


Thats probably the case at the lower end of components but you eventually reach a point of diminishing return. There was a post here a few weeks ago with a similar angle where it was said by someone (can't remember who) that 105 is good enough for anyone and the higher end groupsets were just saving a few grams here and there.

Again, I'm no expert, but I would have thought its a bigger jump from Alu to Carbon than from 105 to Ultegra or Dura Ace etc.

Future 2050

thanks- alot of help - think I will stick with what I have so. - so getting faster what is the key. In peoples opinion

Russman wrote: »

"I had an aluminium bike before I got carbon - when I got the carbon made huge diff Instantly. - Surley good components etc make diff. Did previously for me"


Thats probably the case at the lower end of components but you eventually reach a point of diminishing return. There was a post here a few weeks ago with a similar angle where it was said by someone (can't remember who) that 105 is good enough for anyone and the higher end groupsets were just saving a few grams here and there.

Again, I'm no expert, but I would have thought its a bigger jump from Alu to Carbon than from 105 to Ultegra or Dura Ace etc.

mloc123

Future 2050 wrote: »

thanks- alot of help - think I will stick with what I have so. - so getting faster what is the key. In peoples opinion

Train more?

bcmf

As said the bigger advantage will be going fron Alu to Carbon.component wise a decent BB from there there from Veloce and 105 upwards there isn't much between them. A decent frame and plenty of miles.

amused2death

mloc123 wrote: »

Spending 3k on a new bike thinking it will make you faster? Should fit in nicely around here

Everyone knows the more money you spend on a bike the faster you go. There is a scientific equation that proves it somewhere. I am in the process of testing it myself by a €4,000 outlay and I have just converted my garmin from mls to kms so everything looks faster. Remember when the split happens the wife aint gonna want the bike!

crumliniano

All advice so far seems pretty sound. Only thing to add is that I would have thought good wheels would make a difference. If I had carbon frame, 105 Groupset and money burning a hole in my pocket that's what I'd look at. You didn't mention what type of wheels you currently have. Deep dish sexy carbon wheels could make a nice dent in your budget and since you do race you won't feel like a tool on them.

Future 2050 wrote: »

c) Upgrade tyres (this I believe would cost approx. € 1,000) ...advise otherwise please.

I assume that's a typo - if not, what kind of tyres are they?