Need opinion STers.
I got a bike which has Shimano 105 components. If I want to upgrade just one thing at a time, what is the first thing you would change out for Ultegra? Cranks, Derailleurs, etc?
and why?
rider’s functional threshold power
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None. 105 works just fine. Use the $$ for race wheels ora powermeter. I have ultegrea on my bike and I once thought about upgrading to Dura Ace. To me it’s not worth the $$.
Working hard on that at the moment…
Yup; wheels!
I wouldn’t upgrade anything that isn’t already broken, all you get is something that is marginally lighter and a bit shinier. You don’t really gain any speed. Do your upgrades as stuff wears out / breaks. Realistically, the opportunity for performance gains of 105 vs Dura Ace on a tri bike are negligible, 105 is really good stuff. Maybe swap brake pads for something with higher performance, or swap the BB for Ultegra.
Good points!
The first thing I would change would be the chain and the cassette…after they wear out.
It is a super expensive way to upgrade the bike (one component at a time) If you really wanted Ultegra, you should have done it when you bought the bike. 105 is pretty good these days. Good luck!
The first thing I would change would be the chain and the cassette…after they wear out.
I wouldn’t. Well, actually, I would probably switch to a SRAM cassette, and definitely switch to a SRAM chain.
What kind of bike? Road bike? Tri bike? Cyclocross? New chain/cassette for sure if you don’t know how old. A broken chain = broken rider often. 105 brakes, FD and crank are fine. If a road bike, DA STI levers are very nice (but very $)
It’s a semi-brand new Scott Plasma tri bike. Bought it Fall 2006. I guess it IS pretty accessive to swap things out for new things . I agree with other poster saying if it ain’t broken, don’t replace it…
Wheels… definitely wheels. (assuming you don’t already have a nice pair)
Before wheels, upgrade contact points. Consideration should be paid to saddle / shoes / bars & bar tape / brake levers / pedals, in roughly that order. Upgrade tyres & tubes when the current pair wear out.
It’s a semi-brand new Scott Plasma tri bike. Bought it Fall 2006. I guess it IS pretty accessive to swap things out for new things . I agree with other poster saying if it ain’t broken, don’t replace it…
I kill a chain a year and had one break at the outset of a mass start road race once (not pretty at all for me and the 20 that ran over me), so I put a new chain on every year about a week prior to my A race and after the winter season (so twice per year). Very cheap insurance. Cassettes last a pretty long time, even if you cycle 4-5,000 miles/year.
Wheels/tires definitely make the biggest difference though over 105 to DA anything.
I’m going to go along the lines of “nothing”…unless something is not working for you. Upgrade when something either breaks or becomes a pain. The first thing I upgraded on my tri bike was the cranks because I wanted compact after riding a year. The second was the brake calipers…then the brake levers (return springs are real nice). Ride the bike long enough and far enough and it will become very apparent as to what is not working for YOU. Oh - and if I were upgrading components one at a time…I would skip Ultegra (sans the cassette) and go straight to DA. Ultegra is just not that much better than 105 (DA is not that much better than Ult either). Most of these upgrades will not make you that much faster…
If you are looking to spend $$ to actually get faster in this sport…I would go the route of Powermeter, HR monitor, Swim coach, Coach, Books, ST (dare I say…), Aero helmet…then and only then would I go the route of race wheels. Unless you are losing out of AG places or overall win by 1-2 minutes…race wheels would be my last upgrade in terms of $$ to get faster. Heck…an hour in a wind tunnel may yield faster bike splits than aero wheels.
Don’t know if you have a tri bike and what is on it, but I would leave the 105 stuff and focus on wheels, aerobars and position (get a good fit if you haven’t already) That is where your money will be best spent vs upgrading the 105 to Ult/DA.