bilbo67

Hi - apologies if this isn't the correct forum - I've just joined!

I bought a 2008 Marin Palisades Trail some time ago which I ride for 80% commuting to work (mostly road) and some weekend off-roading (20%). I am really enjoying the bike. My question is - what upgrades should I consider first? I want to stay with Shimano kit. Better derailleurs? Shifters? What real benefits will I see?

Cheers in advance.
Bob

dabac

Upgrading for the sake of upgrading is little other than economic folly, you would have been better off buying a bike with the kit you already wanted in the first place.
The way to make upgrades that is the least financially questionable is to wait until something get worn or broken. Unless you can score some great deals on ebay, craigslist, garage sales or cloesouts....
The very least thing you can do is to ride it until you figure out what exactly your complaints are with the current set-up.

What would make sense if you're riding roads during the week and trails during weekends is to get another wheelset. You could run slicks and a road cassette for the commuter pair and a set of wider, treaded ones for the weekend. That'd give you some real benefits for the commute.

As to differences: As long as the equipment is new, clean and properly adjusted just about everything works fine for casual riding.

BCRider

I agree. The best upgrade you can give the bike is to finely maintain and rebuild as required. You'd be amazed at how well even baseline product can work if it's tuned and maintained right. Even cheap wheels roll like top end stuff when the bearings are cleaned, new balls installed and the preload is tuned to just the right setting.

On the other hand if you swap out stuff for higher end product but don't properly tune it then it could very easily end up not working as well as the stuff you took off.

Why not take this as a project for learning how to work on all the components of your bike.

bilbo67

Thanks guys - sound advice.

Bob