Best upgrades after wheels?
 

What would you upgrade after wheels on a brand new high mod carbon road bike? I'm thinking about swapping out my 10+ year old entry-level Look Keo pedals for Look Keo Blade Carbon Ti, or replacing my Fizik Airone Versus Evo for a Berk composites Lupina. What would you do?

I never hesitate to spend what it takes on contact points. Shoes/pedals, saddle/shorts, bars/bartape/gloves.

+1. That's where it'll make the biggest difference, not necessarily in performance, but enjoyment/comfort.

Tubes and tires are the number one upgrade for performance.

After that, I'd go with handlebars and cranks.

Wheels would be one of the last things.

If your saddle and pedals already work fine, I would do something like a power meter before replacing them (assuming that you have a decent GPS head unit).

If your pedals and saddle are fine, don't spend money for a lateral move. A power meter is always great if you're interested in focused training (or a GPS if you lack one somehow), tires and tubes if you're not using the best of those, and after that does any of it really make any difference?

Assuming mechanical then I'd upgrade brake calipers. Current gen Dura Ace have amazing modulation and stopping power.

After that it would be to get the best saddle I can find.


-Tim-

Tyres & tubes.

If everything works nice, after making the wheels lighter from the outside in, make the bike lighter from the top down. Seat, bars, stem, tape, segmented cable housing.

Powermeter ....

To go with the new wheels, how can you not be thinking these?
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2ee4ff6471.jpg

Fill your inner tubes with helium.

Hard to say without knowing where you're starting with everything, and somehow I get the impression you don't have anything that particularly needs upgrading. Fresh bar tape and new cleats are always nice, though. How about a nice shiny carbon saddle?

You are correct. Brand new bike with mechanical Ultegra and Bontrager Aeolus 5 carbon clinchers.

do you already have a saddle that you are happy with?

I suppose if you have the extra cash, it doesn't hurt to give some new pedals or new saddle a try. But in general , my experience has been that unless there is something about your old pedals or saddle that is bothering you, it might just be an expensive lateral move, or worse.

Frame.

I have a saddle that I'm happy with (I'm not unhappy with) but I have been considering a new saddle for no other reason than to save weight. I'm not unhappy with anything about the bike, but I'm wondering if there is anything I can do to make me significantly happier with it.

Ride it more.

Sometimes miles will help identify problems, or things you might want to change.

Weight savings changing saddles has got to be the worst value for your money. Not sure the weight savings, but my guess is, it is tiny. My question for you is, would you save 40 or 50 gms of weight at the expense of comfort? Would you switch to a saddle that was 50, or 100 gms heavier if it were more comfortable. I would wager, most cyclists would say yes.

The difference between a aluminum railed saddle and carbon railed saddle can easily be 80-100g, but probably not worth the price if you buy it new. Carbon railed saddles can easily be $300 or more, so definitely not your best value trying to save weight.

That being said, a lighter saddle can be more comfortable than a heavier saddle! I switched from a Specialized Romin Evo Expert with alloy rails weighing 235g to the Romin Evo Pro with Carbon rails weighing 160g (got an amazing deal at $60 for a used one in pristine condition). The new lighter saddle actually has less padding than the old one, and it feels much better on long rides than the old one with more padding (which gave me sore seatbones after 4 hours). The saddles have almost identical geometry, so it really is just less padding..

Sounds like you already have an amazing bike, I wouldnt "upgrade" anything. Perhaps a nice GPS head unit or power meter if you are serious about your training? Or a nicer helmet (a good quality helmet fits nicer than a bargain basement $10 one usually). Good quality tires are a good investment as others have said.

If I had more money than sense, I would get:
- Carbon aero handlebars (can be up to 100g lighter than entry level handlebars)
- Ultralight cassette Dura Ace or SRAM Red (Can easily be 100 g lighter)
- Very light saddle (again 100g can easily be saved)
- Ultralight climbing wheels on top of aero wheelset (1300g or less)
- Light carbon crankset,
- Upgrade to DI2 ....
- ....

There is no shortage of options if you really have money burning a hole in your pocket... The bike industry will gladly take it off your hands. Whether or not these are worthwhile upgrades: No, probably not. It just gets lighter and more expensive.

OK, having a little clearer picture, I'll say you were on the rigjt track and new pedals are definitely in order. After that, maybe a new helmet. But IT'S A BRAND NEW BIKE so there is no reason anything (other than saddle - presumably it didn't come with pedals) should need to be upgraded - otherwise, it was the wrong bike to begin with. ;)

Ride it more. Sign up for some events with your upgrade fund.

I swapped out my Look Keo's for the Carbon Blade Chromo's in 12nm. I have been very happy with them, my old Keo's unclipped so easy that I usually didn't know for sure they detached. I believe they clip in easier ie; catching the pedal in the proper position to make the clip-in pretty seem-less. They actually snap into place more solidly than the old Keo's.