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9 comments
I agree with what Fish_n_Chips said.
For what you'll spend an the Tiagra groupset and the Techlite wheelset, you'd be cheaper buying something new that's discounted in a sale - like the Cannondale CAAD8 Tiagra 2015 road bike on sale for £637 at Evans Cyles
https://www.evanscycles.com/cannondale-caad8-tiagra-2015-road-bike-EV214033
I think you'll be better off buying a new bike discounted/on sale.
You could snap up a Boardman 2014 with Tiagra on sale due to a new paint 2016 model.
Also reserve one during Easter 10% online and use British Cycling discount for another 10%.
What is your max budget?
Get well soon.
If just a winter / training bike then stick a pair of Shimano R501 wheels on it and some 25mm Michelin Pro4 Endurance tyres. If you need lower gears swap the cassette for one with a 28 or 30t biggest cog.
If you start changing speeds to 8 / 9 / 10 as a minimum you'll need new shifters, chain and cassette, which can be expensive.
Oh and those wheels are tubulars.
I agree no point replacing everything bar the frame, and replacing wheels may be tricky as you're having to stick with a 7 speed freewheel. Have a look at what you can get from Merlin Cycles or Decathlon.
I'm sorry but I don't quite understand that. Surely if I get new wheels and the Axle width is the same it will fit?
My son has a junior Halfords Carrera Tdf and if I were looking to do any upgrade it would be the wheels and tyres. The roughness of the bearings, the fact that the bearings were stupidly tight when delivered, and the sheer weight of the wheels, means that pretty much any pair of wheels would be an upgrade!
As he is likely to only be using it for a short while until he grows a bit, all we have done is replace the tyres and set the cones correctly so the wheels can at least spin relatively freely.
You could get a whole new bike for the money you'll pay for the groupset & those wheels (a brand I've never heard of before)
Tiagra brakes are 49mm short-drop while your TdF may have long-drop (57mm) that provide enough clearance for mudguards, so may not be compatible. You should also check whether the front derailleur mounting is band-on or braze-on.
If it were me I'd run the Carrera as a general/year-round/all-weather bike and put the money towards something new(er) and lighter with a carbon fork and decent spec to begin with. But if you want to freshen it up I'd look at Fulcrum 5 LG / 7 LG or Shimano RS010 wheels and Tiagra 4600 groupset (£220 at Merlin) or Sora 3500 9 speed drivetrain with Tektro R359 57mm calipers.
The very first thing I'd do, if you haven't already, is fit better tyres and Kool-Stop brake pads.
Thanks for you feedback!
I believe the brakes have the same drop distance?
In fact I'm getting my new steed (Lucille 2.0) soon. I was only looking at modding this for fun and as a winter/training bike. I'd like more gears because I'm moving to extremely hilly terrain!
I have Gatorskins on currently.
Thanks again