Cycling UK Forum

So I've had a PlanetX London Road bike with Tiagra 10 speed for almost 2 years. Served me well but the only upgrades I've done have been to change the tyres to marathon pluses for a first tour to guarantee no punctures. I've added guards and rack of course.

Also I've changed from 11-25 to 12-32 cassette, chainring still the compact set it came with (50-34 IIRC). Medium cage rear derailleur too.

What is a cheap upgrade that is worth doing?

BTW my next change is going to be a change from 700x38 to 700x32 possibly 28 tyres. Not sure whether marathon supremes, gatorskins or vittoria brand equivalents to gatorskins. BTW the LBS said my rims were about 24.5 wide, think that's not very useful since it's the outside width and he didn't seem to know how to use a vernier. Would a 28 or 32 be best?

How much to get a decent set of wheels? Where is good to get wheels from? I've heard wheel upgrades often make a big difference.

Any other upgrade i should consider?

I guess what classes as an upgrade would be pretty personal, my upgrade for that bike would be to replace the Marathon Pluses with some Vittoria Hypers or Rubino Pros.

Are the upgrades for easier riding or for durability and reliability?

What's the purpose of your intended upgrade? If it's usefulness and you ride at night, then a dynamo hub setup is a great wheel upgrade. Or do you want to go faster? (If yes, then ditch the Marathon + for Hypers)

It's just to get s better ride. Difficult for me to define but i reckon after getting the marathon pluses i slowed down. This is on tarmac and gravel or easy trails.

I need a mix of good rolling resistance, puncture resistance and a degree of comfort over rough roads. The roads round here are worse than the trails I've done. I'm thinking 32mm tyre width gives enough cushioning.

I ride at night over winter months on my commute but I'm happy with rechargeable lights. A hub dynamo does interest me for touring. Charging phones, battery packs, lights etc would be useful. I'm guessing it's likely to be cheaper and better to get new wheels at the same time. Any good wheelbuilders near Lancaster? Any off the peg wheels that might suit?

Basically I want upgrades that help me increase speed but still be good touring when loaded and decent without a load too.

The tyres will be the most noticeable change.

A common practice, which I do myself, is to have two sets of wheels. The heavier, cheaper, touring, rugged, commuting set and the expensive, lightweight, delicate, "fast" set.

Go and see Paul Hewitt in Leyland if you fancy some new hand built wheels.

Tangled Metal wrote:It's just to get s better ride. Difficult for me to define but i reckon after getting the marathon pluses i slowed down. This is on tarmac and gravel or easy trails.

I need a mix of good rolling resistance, puncture resistance and a degree of comfort over rough roads. The roads round here are worse than the trails I've done. I'm thinking 32mm tyre width gives enough cushioning.

I ride at night over winter months on my commute but I'm happy with rechargeable lights. A hub dynamo does interest me for touring. Charging phones, battery packs, lights etc would be useful. I'm guessing it's likely to be cheaper and better to get new wheels at the same time. Any good wheelbuilders near Lancaster? Any off the peg wheels that might suit?

Basically I want upgrades that help me increase speed but still be good touring when loaded and decent without a load too.

Have a look at Spa's offerings. Good value for money. Or Hewitt is not that far from you.

I'd not go below 32mm for your intended use. Hypers would be more of a puncture risk but nicer to ride. And cheap to buy. Worth a try?

Deliquium of this parish is selling a pair of 700x32mm Hypers cheap,I'd buy them first before doing anything else.Try them and if you like them problem solved.
viewtopic.php?f=32&t=113060

Tangled Metal wrote:It's just to get s better ride. ............
I need a mix of good rolling resistance, puncture resistance and a degree of comfort over rough roads. The roads round here are worse than the trails I've done. I'm thinking 32mm tyre width gives enough cushioning.............

Going down in tyre size from 38 to 32 will normally give you a harsher ride, not a smoother one.
Current tyres Marathon plus 700 x 38? what do you weigh, what pressures do you run?

+1 on hub Dynamo
+1 on tyres: hypers, kojaks or ones.

belgiangoth wrote:+1 on tyres: hypers, kojaks or ones.

Kojaks aren't quick IME

531colin wrote:

Tangled Metal wrote:It's just to get s better ride. ............
I need a mix of good rolling resistance, puncture resistance and a degree of comfort over rough roads. The roads round here are worse than the trails I've done. I'm thinking 32mm tyre width gives enough cushioning.............

Going down in tyre size from 38 to 32 will normally give you a harsher ride, not a smoother one.
Current tyres Marathon plus 700 x 38? what do you weigh, what pressures do you run?

I weigh 86kg and running towards the higher end of the recommended pressure range. IIRC it says 60 to 90 and I'm on about 85 if my track pump gauge is close enough accuracy.

I used to have a road bike running 23mm tyres. I wasn't really bothered by the ride but my wheels needed truing every fortnight due to rough roads on my commute. I'm pretty confident I'll find 32mm ok but would not want to reduce width any more than that. I thought the 38mm pluses were 35mm. I remembered that I went from 37mm to those 38mm pluses. I really wanted to run 35mm. Now i think 32mm is better. Something lighter and more flexible.

I did think marathon supremes since i believe they have a much better rolling resistance than pluses. Now i think vittoria has a good tyre for rolling resistance and decent puncture resistance. Hypers IIRC

I'm 70 Kilo, I run 35mm tyres at 50 front and 60 rear, I think you would have a lot better ride with a lot less pressure.

just for fun, heres what i run.....
47mm 30 front, 40 rear
35mm 50 & 60
32mm 60 & 70
28mm 70 & 80 (not used anything that small for a year or two)

531colin wrote:I'm 70 Kilo, I run 35mm tyres at 50 front and 60 rear, I think you would have a lot better ride with a lot less pressure.

just for fun, heres what i run.....
47mm 30 front, 40 rear
35mm 50 & 60
32mm 60 & 70
28mm 70 & 80 (not used anything that small for a year or two)

That's what I'd run 32mm Hypers at,perhaps 75psi in the rear,I weigh 85kg.

Other than the tyres I don't see you've much to gain from any cheap upgrades.
If it hasn't already had one, give it a good Spring strip down and service, if it's had much winter use I'd replace the cables, maybe for some upgraded ones, I like jagwire. When I know a bike is spot on with everything exactly as it should be it always feels like an upgrade even if it has no new parts.