Road Cycling - Upgrade question

I have been running around on my Cannondale R400, CAAD4 and looking to upgrade. Any suggestions on where to start?

Currently I have Shimano Sora, its a triple about a year old. Should I look at wheels first? Upgrading Shimora equipment?

I want to start competeing with it. I run a couple times a week and look for biathalons or triathalons.

Appreciate some hints

I have been running around on my Cannondale R400, CAAD4 and looking to upgrade. Any suggestions on where to start?

Currently I have Shimano Sora, its a triple about a year old. Should I look at wheels first? Upgrading Shimora equipment?

I want to start competeing with it. I run a couple times a week and look for biathalons or triathalons.

Appreciate some hintsThrow everything but the frame and fork away. Excel or Colorado Cyclist has ultegra or Centaur build kits for $1030 to $1190.

I would have to agree with tommy, sora is really bad, even the small jump to 105 will make a HUGE diffrence. have your wheels trued and you should be set. You can race on stock wheels and when you have the money go for some nice ksyriums or something.

wow I was going to start a thread exactly like this because I too have an r400. so far ive changed the pedals. The wheels are next. im still debating what wheelset i want though. For now i think i can survive with the sora group (not for long though ;) )

I bought a CAAD5 R-700 and after a year upgraded to Campagnolo Chorus 10 Speed. It had a mix of 105 and CODA stuff on it. I would recommend complete 105 if you are on a budget but want good performance. Otherwise I would recomend any of the Campagnolo Groups from Veloce on up. Mavic Cosmos wheels if you want performance similar to the Ksyrium Equipe for a little savings. If you want to spend $800, Bicycle Buys has a complete Centaur 10 speed build group with Bontrager Race Lite wheels. www.bicyclebuys.com. They also have a 105 Build Kit with some good components like saddles, post, stem, bars and Mavic CXP-21 rims on 105 hubs for $750. Don't get rid of that frame though.

Frame is good? Thats good to hear. I want to make sure I make use of a good base.

I'm new to this so I appreciate input.

wow I was going to start a thread exactly like this because I too have an r400. so far ive changed the pedals. The wheels are next. im still debating what wheelset i want though. For now i think i can survive with the sora group (not for long though ;) )
You can find a new shimano 105 groupo on ebay for a reasonable price, or you could buy a brand new bianchi with a full shimano 105 groupo for a reasonable price :D

Frame is good? Thats good to hear. I want to make sure I make use of a good base.

I'm new to this so I appreciate input.

From what my LBS guy told me, the CAAD4 is the same frame as the CAAD5 with the exception the CAAD5 has an integrated headset and the CAAD4 doesn't.

I had a bike with Sora components; now I have one with Ultegra and Dura-Ace. The Sora parts shifted just fine, but they were a bit heavier and more work to adjust. If you upgrade your shifters and derailleurs to 105, there would be little noticeable difference, in my opinion. The most important difference is that 105 parts will be more corrosion resistant (due to materials and improved finish) and will probably require less maintenance in the long run, especially if you ride when it's wet.

Here's the order in which I would upgrade things, if I were you:

- Clipless pedals and shoes, if you don't already have them. This is the most effective upgrade you can make.
- Wheels+tires. My guess is that your wheels are much heavier than a standard Ultegra/Open Pro setup (you can find these for $200 at Colorado cyclist), and wheel mass huge difference in acceleration.
- Cranks. Sora cranks use steel chainrings and a square bottom bracket spindle. 105 cranks use aluminum chainrings, which will drop a lot of weight, and 105 bottom brackets have hollow oversize spindles, which are stiffer and lighter than square-taper.
- Shifters and derailleurs. 105 will give you crisper shifting, and one more cog in the back.


Personally, I would only bother upgrading the pedals; after that, it's probably more cost-effective in the long run to buy a better bike.

If looking at Campy The Repartocorse has excellent deal on Campy Centaur groupset for around $700 or Veloce for around $600. Also I would suggest new wheels along with that since a campy cassette won't fit on shimano wheels.