Originally Posted by
jack002
If I was posting this and mention weight and hills, I'd be asking about GEARS? How can I get lower gears? If you ever had a triple with a 20" low, you'd know what I'm talking about. I'm not familiar with the GIANT FCR3, what kinda gears are on it?
FCR3 gearing depends on age - but my OCR3 had 8 speed with a triple. 52/42/30 and a 12/26 cassette.
FCR and OCR and same frame and components- except bars and levers.
My OCR3 was fine as a starter bike. Weight was acceptable for a cheap bike and for the price- the components were good---Except for the wheels and tyres.
Tale I have told before- but
a downhill I do regularly And I got to 30 mph - but I did ease off on a corner. Problem is that the mountain on the same hill and I got to 37mph and the corner was only a curve. Talked to the LBS and they loaned me a pair of wheels- A pair of Krysiums with 23 size tyres on them. Next trip down the hill and the curve was just a bit more lean on the bike and it felt so stable. The stock wheels are not that special- or light and I had been noticing a lot of front wheel flex on cornering.
Got a pair of handbuilt wheels- 105 hubs- Mavic CXP33 rims and 36 spokes with a X2 lacing pattern. They are fantastic and did not cost a fortune. Speed was back up to the 37mph on the hill but average speed on my normal 40 to 50 mile ride wnt up by 2 mph. Still have the wheels and use them on the current bike(s) and the OCR is relegated as a loaner to friends.
So first upgrade to me would be tyres- then wheels and I hate to say it but to lose weight on the rest of the bike will cost money. Bars and stem would not be expensive unless you go really lightweight but I don't think much else would be worth upgrading till it wears out. It is a cheap bike that works but only up to a level.