What's your favorite Downgrade?
09-08-16, 11:00 AM
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What's your favorite Downgrade?
Who says every component change has to be to a more expensive part?
A while back my rear Mavic Ksyrium SSC developed the dreaded rim crack, so I tossed on a set of Shimano WH-R550s I had lying around just to keep me on the road until I could shop for a set of "good" wheels.
Many miles later I find I am quite happy with these wheels and don't see any reason to not continue using them.
Saving a few bucks doesn't hurt, either...
A while back my rear Mavic Ksyrium SSC developed the dreaded rim crack, so I tossed on a set of Shimano WH-R550s I had lying around just to keep me on the road until I could shop for a set of "good" wheels.
Many miles later I find I am quite happy with these wheels and don't see any reason to not continue using them.
Saving a few bucks doesn't hurt, either...
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09-08-16, 11:02 AM
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Clearance wool socks.
And the ride back down from Sun Mountain is a nice down grade, too.
And the ride back down from Sun Mountain is a nice down grade, too.
09-08-16, 11:06 AM
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I thought this thread was going to be about favorite descents.
The north side of the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway is pretty sweet. Great scenery and a nice mix of gentle, steep and switchback.
The north side of the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway is pretty sweet. Great scenery and a nice mix of gentle, steep and switchback.
09-08-16, 11:08 AM
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I just downgraded my 1987 Modolo calipers to $34 Campy Veloce. They suck much less.
09-08-16, 11:33 AM
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I have a $265 ENVE carbon stem.
I have a $25 alloy stem that is 20mm longer and about 6g lighter.
Logos are heavy and expensive.
I have a $25 alloy stem that is 20mm longer and about 6g lighter.
Logos are heavy and expensive.
09-08-16, 12:32 PM
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I can't say that I've specifically downgraded anything. I'll have to give that some more thought. Perhaps some equivalent parts swaps.
But, after lots of wear, a couple of my bike seats look like something that no thief in their right mind would ever bother to take off of the bikes.
I just hope they never realize that the seatposts are worth more than the seats.
But, after lots of wear, a couple of my bike seats look like something that no thief in their right mind would ever bother to take off of the bikes.
I just hope they never realize that the seatposts are worth more than the seats.
09-08-16, 12:44 PM
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Bar tape from Chinese sellers on eBay.
Looks/feels/smells/tastes just like the high-dollar stuff, but no butt-ugly logos stamped into it.
Sells for $1.50 to $4.00 (including shipping) from China.
Looks/feels/smells/tastes just like the high-dollar stuff, but no butt-ugly logos stamped into it.
Sells for $1.50 to $4.00 (including shipping) from China.
09-08-16, 12:54 PM
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Who says every component change has to be to a more expensive part?
A while back my rear Mavic Ksyrium SSC developed the dreaded rim crack, so I tossed on a set of Shimano WH-R550s I had lying around just to keep me on the road until I could shop for a set of "good" wheels.
Many miles later I find I am quite happy with these wheels and don't see any reason to not continue using them.
Saving a few bucks doesn't hurt, either...
A while back my rear Mavic Ksyrium SSC developed the dreaded rim crack, so I tossed on a set of Shimano WH-R550s I had lying around just to keep me on the road until I could shop for a set of "good" wheels.
Many miles later I find I am quite happy with these wheels and don't see any reason to not continue using them.
Saving a few bucks doesn't hurt, either...
I have never really gotten the wheel change bug. To be fair I have not ridden on anything that costs over $1K but I have not really noticed much difference in wheelsets. I ride Campy Sciroccos, which are probably considered entry level. I tried the Euros, Boras and Shamals and truthfully could not tell much difference if any.
I just bought a slightly used set of Axix 2.0's for $75. I plan on putting them on a new steel build I am going to start soon. They seem heavy. When I finish the build, I will try them for a week or two and then swap them out with a set of Fulcrum 5's that a buddy is going to let me try. If I feel a major difference, I may buy those and sell the Axis ones but I am not counting on it based on my previous experience.
09-08-16, 01:09 PM
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I went from a specialized Romin saddle to a forte pro xfr. I'm much happier on the cheaper saddle, but still haven't found "the one" yet. I've given up seaching for now though.
09-08-16, 01:14 PM
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My favorites are the old side pull calipers I bought for my "Team Dumpster", a Reynolds 501 Peugeot I picked at an "as is" sale for $20. (It had been hit hard by probably an SUV.) $15 got me an un-matched set. Arm to the cable clamp was bent on one. No brand names were to be seen. Only one had a QR. Bought new Tektro levers.
That bike was not a rain bike. In the dry, those brakes were equal to any racing brake I've owned. Real stoppers. Predictable. A joy to ride.
They were not, however, a "downgrade". I was starting from scratch on that bike and keeping it cheap was the goal. (It hit the road at $105 and on-hand parts.) Funny thing is it was such a sweet ride I matched the total inside the year with a new seat. That turned it into my most fun bike since my racing bike 30 yeas before. A year later I matched that total with a custom paint job and lettering. Jessica. A sweet ride, now retired. And inspiration for Jessica J, a ti custom costing 10X Jessica's total outlay. 25,000 collective miles later, I don't regret any of it. Those two bikes have nearly the miles of all the rest my bikes combined over those years.
Ben
That bike was not a rain bike. In the dry, those brakes were equal to any racing brake I've owned. Real stoppers. Predictable. A joy to ride.
They were not, however, a "downgrade". I was starting from scratch on that bike and keeping it cheap was the goal. (It hit the road at $105 and on-hand parts.) Funny thing is it was such a sweet ride I matched the total inside the year with a new seat. That turned it into my most fun bike since my racing bike 30 yeas before. A year later I matched that total with a custom paint job and lettering. Jessica. A sweet ride, now retired. And inspiration for Jessica J, a ti custom costing 10X Jessica's total outlay. 25,000 collective miles later, I don't regret any of it. Those two bikes have nearly the miles of all the rest my bikes combined over those years.
Ben
09-08-16, 01:27 PM
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Suntour friction barcons from brifters
09-08-16, 01:49 PM
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I used to buy expensive gloves. Now I just buy the ten dollar pair from performance bike.
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Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
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Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
09-08-16, 02:15 PM
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09-08-16, 02:45 PM
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09-08-16, 03:13 PM
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I bought a set of 32 spoke on Tiagra hub training wheels a few years ago from a guy who was upgrading. Totally bombproof. Once broke a spoke on a group ride, but opened the brake QR and kept going.
09-08-16, 03:30 PM
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I had a very nice Fizik Antares VSX Saddle with Carbon Rails, MSRP $199, but it did not work for me. Too wide and hard.
Sold it and got an old, kind of beat up Specialized Romin for $20. Very happy with it.
Sold it and got an old, kind of beat up Specialized Romin for $20. Very happy with it.
09-08-16, 03:57 PM
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09-08-16, 04:48 PM
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I don't know if it's a downgrade but I dumped my cycle computers for a Garmin Edge and I am so happy to get rid of magnets and resetting the computer. So much easier.
09-08-16, 04:58 PM
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Haha, but no way. 11-32 9 speed cassette with VGT derailleur - very smooth and quiet! Oh, every once in a while a Ca-chunk but got that with the brifters too.
09-08-16, 05:04 PM
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Where do you think the high-dollar stuff is made..?
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Today, I believe my jurisdiction ends here...
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