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Sensible upgrades to Trek 1.5 before thinking about new bike?

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  • September 29, 2015 at 6:07 pm #24869
    Ish303

    My current bike (Trek 1.5 with 10 speed Tiagra) was my first road bike so when choosing things were all new and alien to me.
    Now I’ve had it a couple of years I am starting to get a feel for what I want.
    I really like the Trek for the mixture of riding I do which is a couple of 50-60km rides each weekend, the odd long distance 100ish km plus a handful of triathlons each year.

    I’ve been think about upgrading the group set to 105 and in looking at the cost to fit it even wondered about jumping up to Ultegra.
    Then I started to wonder if I’m looking at that kind of cost whether it’s worth it on the current frame and if I should plump for a whole new bike?
    On the trek I’m pretty happy but the Tiagra rear dérailleur seems to take some fettling to keep in check and even then sometimes takes a second or so too long to shift, hence the look at 105.

    Anyone got advice or done a similar swap out? I’m kind of conscious that Ultegra might be something that outperforms the bike and I wouldn’t necessarily recoup (some of) the cost if I sold it later on.

    I would like to start pushing the distance up a bit so have been thinking of something a bit lighter and that would soak the vibes up more.

    Is it new bike time or best to just sort out the niggles (Tiagra) and see how that goes?

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  • September 30, 2015 at 1:19 pm #860901
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    Ish303

    Our scheme is £1000 but I was
    Our scheme is £1000 but I was under the impression that above that you cover it yourself and there’s no saving on that portion.

    Although maybe I’d better check as that puts a spanner in the new bike option and would push me to the upgrades.

    September 30, 2015 at 1:12 pm #860899
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    Man of Lard

    Ish303 wrote:
    My logic is

    Ish303 wrote:

    My logic is along the lines of:
    105 groupset – £300
    Fitting – £110
    New wheels (maybe) – £300
    Total – £710

    Or fit it yourself, get it “close” and take it for adjustment. That’s what I just did and the adjustment was barely a two-figure sum at the local bike-fettler.

    September 30, 2015 at 1:09 pm #860897
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    bikeclips

    Depends on the scheme – ours
    Depends on the scheme – ours is £10,000!!!

    September 30, 2015 at 1:01 pm #860895
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    Simon E

    Have you replaced the shift
    Have you replaced the shift cables (inc. outers)?

    Nothing wrong with Tiagra, and some people have said that the hidden cables of 105 etc create more drag.

    I was under the impression that c2w only applied on bikes up to £1000. Would be nice if I’ve got that wrong B-)

    September 30, 2015 at 12:37 pm #860893
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    Ish303

    Don’t get me wrong, I am
    Don’t get me wrong, I am pretty happy with the Trek. My main niggles (and they are just niggles) is the shifting feels like it could be better, hence thinking 105 or Ultegra.
    I am happy overall with the comfort of fit, but I find after a while the vibes start to get a bit tiresome, hence looking at slightly more forgiving rides.

    I couple of well chosen upgrades may sort these things out, I guess I am more concerned that if I do them and then feel a bit underwhelmed.
    Maybe the best thing will be to try and get a test ride on a bike with the higher spec shifters and then a ride on a bike with better shifters and a slightly more forgiving ride and then see how I feel.

    My logic is along the lines of:
    105 groupset – £300
    Fitting – £110
    New wheels (maybe) – £300
    Total – £710

    Or new bike £1700
    Cycle to work savings making it roughly £1300
    Flog old bike for maybe £300

    Then maybe I’m around £300 off getting a whole new bike with ultegra, better wheels etc.

    I just don’t want to be thinking I wished I’d have gone for the new bike in a years time.

    September 30, 2015 at 11:41 am #860891
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    Simon E

    If it’s working properly I
    If it’s working properly I can’t see why you feel the need to upgrade. Lots of people happily ride much bigger distances on similarly specced bikes as well as what might be termed ‘inferior’ equipment.

    Perhaps the fit of your Trek isn’t quite right for you. Saddle height, fore & aft, stem length and even handlebar shape can all be adjusted.

    September 30, 2015 at 7:56 am #860889
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    Stumps

    I recently looked at getting
    I recently looked at getting a carbon frame but after looking at the pro’s and cons people put on here i decided against it and kept my bike the way it was.

    As Simon E pointed out new wheels are your first point of call (make sure you get decent ones) and i’m sure after that you’ll be happy with your bike as it is. The difference between 105 and Ultegra is not worth the extra cash imho.

    September 30, 2015 at 7:40 am #860887
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    Ish303

    I admit the deals are making
    I admit the deals are making me look, a full 105 groupset for <£300 seems a good price. But also been looking at the cannondale synapse ultegra 2015 bike as it sounds like it would be a little more comfortable on longer distances. But since we have the cycle to work scheme there comes a point when the cost of new wheels and groupset upgrades (and fitting costs) add up and with the savings the scheme offers I am wondering whether to go for the new bike (you can see I'm talking myself into this!). That said, since I'm not necessarily dissatisfied with the trek my sensible side is thinking a couple of upgrades would be more cost effective. I guess I'm worried about making small upgrades that in a year or so I feel I want to change again, and then regret not putting a bit more dosh in now for a bike that is way above my ability level that I feel I don't need to look around. Has anyone else made similar upgrades? And if so where you happy with the changes or did you end up buying something new in the end?

    September 29, 2015 at 8:43 pm #860885
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    Simon E

    105 or Ultegra won’t be any
    105 or Ultegra won’t be any faster and unless your rear mech has had a really hard life it should work fine if adjusted properly (and using fresh cables). A lighter bike won’t necessarily ‘soak up’ vibration.

    Decent tyres with appropriate pressures make the biggest difference to ride quality. After that some nice wheels are probably the next thing to consider.

    Having said that, if you have some money burning a hole in your pocket then I’d look around for deals on 2015 models.

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