rekmeyata

I like my Pasela's a lot too, I have them on my touring bike (weekend touring bike) and they work great, but the regular Pasela's do not have the degree of flat protection that the TG's (Tourguard) have, and the wire beaded TG's are not that much more expensive than the regular ones.

I made an error in my recommendation due to confusion on my part on the remembering the specs for the Pasela T-Serve, this tire is NOT designed with a better flat protection belt than the Pasela TG thus I would not recommend the T-Serve tire for touring.

Again though if flats is a concern while touring I would install a Panaracer FlatAway flat liner at least in the rear tire because a flat there while touring is a big hassle due to the panniers, fenders, and mechanicals, and rear tires are more subject to flats than the front. Getting a flat on the front tire is a smaller issue and I wouldn't put a flat liner in the front unless you absolutely hate flats of any kind...though you should be prepared know how to deal with flats and have the means to fix them regardless.

jowilson

Here are my choices:

Brooks saddle and wheelset

Tires and bar end shifters

bar end shifters and front rack

cant you make it three upgrades please?

Wilfred Laurier

paselas are available in many sizes
and are lightweight well made tires
for the price there is no better tire

the non folding not tourguard versions are twenty bucks
but have a lightweight casing and give an excellent ride
and could make a good low budget racing tire

the narrow high pressure versions are also available with tourgaurd
which make them an incredible training tire

LordMarv

If I had the money or the skill, I'd add a nice dyno-hub and light to my Raleigh One Way, but I have neither...lol

xtc14

Possibly tires and saddle

Depending on your bike, if your doing long distance get a comfy road bike. I tend to get tired with a hybrid, it is supposed to fare good at road cycling and off road but it does not do any of the two things good.

SanDiegoSteve

My knees.

If that doesn't count as two, then add clothes/layers.

Cougrrcj

As I look outside, the color of the grass is white. (there's one of us wiseackers in every bunch) Well, I can't really even see the grass since it has been covered with a white blanket for weeks...

Anyway, to get back on topic: saddle, bar tape and tires. You DO have a helmet and a good pair of padded cycling gloves, right? Add to that a rear blinky light. And I never ride without either my reflective mesh safety vest or a neon lime t-shirt for visibility to bored or distracted drivers...

As for the tires - I can feel the difference between riding a tire at 85psi and one at 105psi. The rolling resistance is soooo much lower if you run tires inflated higher. That adds up on a long ride/tour! I still ride on 27x1-1/8 tires (that works out to a 28mm width). I'm faster and less fatigued with those than the larger 1-1/4" (32mm) tires. The downside of high-pressure tires is that you feel every bump and pavement irregularity. Which is why new cork bar wrap and padded cycling gloves are important - as well as a comfy saddle!

fietsbob

I did... 1)Hub Dynamo LED Lights and 2)a Thudbuster seatpost ..

now both the 20 & 26" wheel bikes..

Retro Grouch 

Tradeing stock?

I have not a Thudbuster but a Moxie that's similar in design. 25.0 diameter but I have a 31.6 mm custom shim for it. I'd be willing to let that go for other bike stuff that you think is equitable.

fietsbob

RG .. sorry , I got mine thru QBP They have weight range interchangeable elastomers ..

The past tense is Did , as in Done , rather than will as in future tense ..

BTW I have 2 shims from USE, both 25.0 ID 27.0 &27.2 OD
and a new PS shim QBP messed up on the order 30.9 > 31.6 ... sell them ..

also have elastomers for the ST for under my weight range (14st) + one thats stiffer ..


the prior one in the parts bin, now, was the Koga WTR OEM pick , a German Made Airwings tour ..
28.2,+ a shim to 31.4 ...

I got the Thudbuster ST, in 27.2 mm and shim sleeve for it to the frame's 31.4 ID..

mrtuttle04

The best upgrade I made last year was clipless pedals and bike shoes. The cost for both was under $200.

knobster

Just start riding longer distances. You'll figure out real quick what you need to change. But it probably won't be anything not related to comfort. When you get over about 80 miles, you'll start noticing things that aren't working for you any longer. Maybe saddle, but only you can know that one. Maybe how the bike is fit to you. You'll need to tinker with the fit to get it right and nobody here could help you with that. Clipless pedals/shoes are nice, but not necessary. Now that I have them, it's weird to ride a bike without them. There are training rides for the STP, make sure you do them and you'll get everything sorted out over time.

cyclist2000

Last bike I got, the first thing that I did was get a large saddle or handlebar bag and switched the pedals to sod's.
I would also add bar ends for additional hand positions.

BikeAnon

The OP stopped logging on over a month ago. He'll never see your responses.

cyclist2000

but others that are interested may read these posts and find the answers interesting.