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Best €400 upgrade - wheels or forks?

  • 31-07-2013 10:43PM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 139 ✭✭


    Hi,

    I bought a Giant Defy 2 last November. Have put up 1,500 km since I got it (typically one spin each weekend). Right now my typical spin is 60km at about 26kmph avg.

    So, I'm thinking now that when I have the bike for a year or so I might spend €400(ish) on a component upgrade.

    I'd welcome any suggestions about what component would make the most noticeable change to my spins. I'm really thinking about what will reduce rolling resistance or improve "feel" of the bike.

    At the moment, from what I've read so far, the best options would be to get carbon forks or else some decent new wheels?

    Thanks


Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,457 ✭✭✭ford2600


    purple cow wrote: »
    Hi,

    I bought a Giant Defy 2 last November. Have put up 1,500 km since I got it (typically one spin each weekend). Right now my typical spin is 60km at about 26kmph avg.

    So, I'm thinking now that when I have the bike for a year or so I might spend €400(ish) on a component upgrade.

    I'd welcome any suggestions about what component would make the most noticeable change to my spins. I'm really thinking about what will reduce rolling resistance or improve "feel" of the bike.

    At the moment, from what I've read so far, the best options would be to get carbon forks or else some decent new wheels?

    Thanks

    Good tyres.

    The rest will make you feel good in same way as new phone or any other gadget


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 139 ✭✭purple cow


    Thanks ford2600.

    I put Gatorskins on it soon after I got it, as I got my first puncture after about 200km. In hindsight it could have been the crappy road surface (Clontarf sea front). I've read some mixed posts about how good they are.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,457 ✭✭✭ford2600


    purple cow wrote: »
    Thanks ford2600.

    I put Gatorskins on it soon after I got it, as I got my first puncture after about 200km. In hindsight it could have been the crappy road surface (Clontarf sea front). I've read some mixed posts about how good they are.

    Never had them put gp4000 get great reviews here.
    Shop around though try german dites


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,457 ✭✭✭ford2600


    purple cow wrote: »
    Thanks ford2600.

    I put Gatorskins on it soon after I got it, as I got my first puncture after about 200km. In hindsight it could have been the crappy road surface (Clontarf sea front). I've read some mixed posts about how good they are.

    Gp 4000 get great reviews here. Shop around though. Try german sites


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,627 ✭✭✭happytramp


    Wheels + €50 full carbon fork from China


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,753 ✭✭✭Bigus


    happytramp wrote: »
    Wheels + €50 full carbon fork from China

    I don't think a 50 euro carbon fork is the best idea, thread on carbon fork failure fatality here.


    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056607413


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,627 ✭✭✭happytramp


    Bigus wrote: »
    I don't think a 50 euro carbon fork is the best idea, thread on carbon fork failure fatality here.


    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056607413

    That thread seemed rather vague to me. More like a story about a broken Cervelo fork rather than forks in general. Anyway I got one from China a few years ago and it's still going strong without so much as a creak. Each to their own though.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 291 ✭✭666bxg


    I have the same bike with the same age and mileage (ish).

    Best upgrade so far was wheels - mavic ksyrium with gatorskins. Only then I realised how crap the giant tyres and wheels were!

    While at that I changed to an ultegra casette and gear changes are noticeably smoother.

    Lastly a fizik saddle - and that has made longer spins more bearable.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 514 ✭✭✭jinkypolly


    Are the blades of your fork not already carbon?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 139 ✭✭purple cow


    I thought it was Aluminium, however, just checking the specs on the Giant website it says the fork is "Advanced-Grade Composite"


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,627 ✭✭✭happytramp


    jinkypolly wrote: »
    Are the blades of your fork not already carbon?

    Full carbon forks would be close to 40-50% lighter than Alu/Carbon ones.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,668 ✭✭✭at1withmyself


    Go for wheels, check the bargain alert thread as I'm sure someone had a great price on a pair of Zondas which would leave you enough money for some nice tubes and tyres at that price.....

    A fork upgrade IMO would not be worth it as most frames come with forks so when your upgrading your frame next year you'll regret buying one now


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 848 ✭✭✭mirv


    Hunt around for decent wheels, tyres and have a look at your chain/cassette/cables for wear and if you wanted to change your gearing to make hills easier.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,506 ✭✭✭✭DirkVoodoo


    400 euro fork? Is this a mountain bike?

    I doubt a Cervelo Soloist fork is cheap, so that warning doesn't really apply. A bad batch was to blame. Moral of the story: Inspect your forks regularly.

    I have a 60 euro "Blackstorm" fork on my Ribble commuter and it performs as well as any carbon fork I've had, I wouldn't really waste money "upgrading a fork" unless it was from alloy to carbon, and even then I wouldn't waste 400 euro.


  • Moderators, Politics Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 24,277 Mod ✭✭✭✭Chips Lovell


    Don't buy new forks. Your bike already has carbon forks.

    The most effective way to reduce rolling resistance would be to ditch the gatorskins and get some good, supple tyres and latex tubes. The price you pay is a few more punctures a year and having to pump your tyres before every spin.

    Bear in mind that most equipment changes will make only very marginal differences on your speed.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,816 ✭✭✭liam7831


    Any good offers on wheels at the mo, my front one seems to be toast. Wit the bike on a stand there is lots of play in where its secured to frame, trek alpha road bike


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