Tinman0110

I'm riding a 20 year old Giant Innova hybrid, and new road bike isn't in my budget for the foreseeable future. I just finished riding my first century and had time to think about ways of upgrading my bike, but wanted to get an idea of whether or not what I'm considering makes sense. I've already upgraded the wheels (Shimano R500). During the ride I started thinking about swapping the flat bar for drops, and upgrading the brakes & possibly derailleurs. Does this make sense, or am I way off? I'm relatively new to cycling (at least anything beyond the occasional ride around the neighborhood, and after spending the last two months getting ready for the century I just finished, I want to do a lot more long distance rides. I appreciate any comments, suggestions, advice, or constructive criticism. I posted this under mechanics because I'm trying to figure out what, mechanically, I can do my bike better fit the way I'm riding now.

Thanks,
Mike

dsbrantjr

"new road bike isn't in my budget"

Look into buying a used one. By the time you get done making your hybrid into a kind-of road bike you will probably have spent more on it than it would cost for a used real road bike on Craigslist or the like. You can then either keep the hybrid or sell it to partially offset the cost of the other one.

Wilfred Laurier

agreed
ride the giant as is until you find the real second hand road or touring or cx bike of your dreams
replace what breaks on the giant while you save and shop for the right used bike
keep your tires inflated well and ride the hell out of whatever you have

clarkbre

Constructive Criticism...

The Giant Innova is a very basic, sturdy hybrid. It's not a road bike and it would cost quite a bit to make it a road bike...and it still wouldn't add up to a true road bike.

That being said, it can be mildly modified to help road riding. I have been slowly modifying my Innova for around town faster paced riding. Here's what I've done:

1. Swapped the stock grip shifters for Rapidfire 3x7 shifters/brake levers. $30
2. Installed bar ends for more hand positioning. $9
2. Swapped the stock (worn out) 700x35c tires out for 700x28c slicks. $50
3. Swapped the original 11/28 7 speed cassette for a 12/21 for closer gear ratios. $23
4. Swapped the stock extra long cage derailleur for a used long cage 9 speed Tiagra rear derailleur. $12

So, for a few bucks here and there, I have made the bike much more road worthy. More than anything, the new tires and closer gear ratios really made the bike more fun to ride. I can easily keep at a constant cadence and the smaller, smooth tires have much less resistance so the bike moves faster with the same power output from me. It's definitely not a true road bike, but it is much like an urban focused flatbar road bike for getting from point A to point B in short order.

(This pic was taken the day before I swapped the to Tiagra derailleur)

HillRider

The real problem is your shifters and brake levers won't fit a drop bar and changing them will be quite expensive. You will also need new bars and a matching stem. As noted, a decent used true road bike can probably be bought for less than this conversion will cost.

BTW. Shimano's R500 wheels have 8/9/10-speed hubs. Did you upgrade your 7-speed cassette to 8 or more or just use it with the 4.5 mm spacer?

Tinman0110

Thank you, all of you. I knew this would be the right place to float the idea and get honest feedback. I believe I will follow your advice and save up for used road bike. In the mean time I'll look at bar ends and swapping out the original 7-speed cassette. This bike is my daily ride/commute as well as my training/century bike. Your suggestions make more sense than my idea of trying to make it something that it was never really meant to be. Thanks again,

Mike

noglider 

The best way to upgrade any bike is with the tires. The rest is mostly fluff, by comparison. Get some smooth and light tires. You will enjoy them.

Wilfred Laurier

as others have said
new tires cables and brake pads
make a bike like new

Tinman0110

After reading everyone's comments/suggestions, I think I'm going to stick with bar ends and better brake pads. I'm also really thinking about getting a second set of wheels with road tires, that I'll use for events/centuries, etc. I'm going to keep the R500s that I have the bike now for my commute/training rides, I'm very happy with them and I like the Schwalbe tires I have on it for commuting into DC. I do have another question however, if I'm going to buy another cassette for the second set of wheels, is it worth switching both to 8 or 9 speeds? My personal thought is that it really isn't worth the added expense, that I'd be just as well off staying with 7 speeds, but since I am new to this and I've gotten such good advice so far, I thought I'd throw it out there.

bradtx

tinman0110, the best bang for the buck changes are tires and gearing. I wouldn't buy another set of wheels, but rather a different cassette(s), the cassette removal tool and a chain whip. I have different cassettes I can swap to a bike to better suit it for the expected conditions and it takes all of five minutes. I think clarkbre's mods are a good model.

Brad

clarkbre

In short, no, don't switch to more speeds.

You should really go to Sheldon's Gear Calculator and see what gear inches you normally use and regear the bike within that low and high range. By regearing my bike, I lost the bottom 3 and top 2 gears but it put all 21 gear ratios much closer together. It's easier to ride and the regearing only costs about $25.

Wilfred Laurier

more speeds is not only unnecessary
it is also more complicated than simply installing a cassette with more speeds

you also need new shifters and a chain to match
and possibly a derailleur
depending on what you have now

noglider 

Don't upgrade the drivetrain. It's not cost-effective. Get Kool Stop brake pads. You can get Panaracer Pasela tires for $20 each. If you want to go higher, you get something even nicer.

Check the chain wear. I replace chains early to prevent sprocket wear and also to save trouble on cleaning. A new chain feels nice.

Wilfred Laurier

+1 for panaracer paselas
the best performing tires i have used
the ones without tourguard anyways