F4UX3/2

Abstract: I am debating the cost, as well as overall, effectiveness of doing an entire group upgrade on my ride as opposed to selling it and purchasing a bike equipped with a better group

Introduction: My bike https://www.bianchiusa.com/08-bicycle...ne-tiagra.html was an impulse buy last year. While I knew nothing about bikes I thought it looked really cool and wanted it. What started as riding maybe 10 miles a week for fun has turned into 125+ miles every week (and lots of BF reading). I got lucky because I bought the bike online without ever test riding it, or any other bike for that matter, it's slightly big for me at a 53cm, I should be on a 50-51cm, but after many adjustments it's comfortable and I don't feel like it's too much bike or that I'm having to stretch to reach the brifters. Other than the saddle it's stock and now that I'm doing more serious riding I would like some upgraded gear, as Rickey Bobby said "I wanna go fast"

Options

I've weened myself off the granny gear and want to ditch the tiagra triple for a compact double in the rival/ultegra/centaur range as well as replace the breaks, so a full group. It's looking like I'd be spending around 800-900 for the upgrade. If I were to sell the bike I imagine I could get around $750 for it which would put me in the $1500-1800 grey area between low-end carbon and high-end aluminum.

What I can't figure out

1. Is it possible that I have a properly fitting bike, due to the way I have it adjusted, even though conventional fit guides say it's a little too big.

2. Is my frame a worthy platform for upgrading?


Conclusion

I have no clue what to do, I keep looking at the BMC street fire as well as the new *gasp* motobecane le champion comming out next month... which despite being a BD bike seems like a stupidly good deal. On the other hand I know what I have with the Bianchi as far as ride quality goes. Other than the group, and the wheels, I'm pretty happy.

What would you guys do?

ImRael

If you are happy w/ your current bike, keep it. That's going to be your spare bike. Your new bike should be an overall upgrade to your Bianchi. Think better frame. And upgraded group will come on that bike.

FWIW, stupidly good deals aren't necessarily great rides.

n8tron

unless you're not entirely happy with the frame, i'd keep that bike. I have a streetfire which I love, but from the looks of it, swapping out that bike for a streetfire and still having to pay 800-900 doesn't seem cost effective... but you really are in kinda a grey area, cause for that same price of upgrading to say rival, well you could get the streetfire with rival. ...that is a tough one.

ultimately, you've got a nice bike with a lacking group. It also depends on how large an upgrade you want...maybe wait till you can make the bigger jump to a bike that's a definite all around large upgrade.

I'd say...

if your happy with that frame, and don't feel you will ever need a huge upgrade, get a new group
if your unhappy with the frame, but don't want a huge upgrade get that streetfire
if you are going to want the big upgrade eventually... hold out till you can get it

thirdin77

What do you mean by effectiveness?

You can go fast on your current bike.

If you've weened yourself from your small ring then you don't need a compact as the compact has nearly as low of a low gear as you get when you use your granny gear.

If you actually are climbing in your (39-tooth) middle ring then just get a standard double, in your case a Tiagra double, maybe a matching front derailleur and definitely a matching bottom bracket. And someone who can install it for you.

Or just leave your current crankset in place and don't use the granny ring.

Last, according to the site you linked to, you don't have a Tiagra triple crankset. You've got a Sugino crankset and it looks like it's a square taper crankset in which case, a contemporary Tiagra triple crank would actually be an upgrade from what you have now, even though it would have the same ring sizes.

Sure, if it fits, and while it may not be a high-end frame, it's not what I would call entry-level either, as it has hydroformed top and down tubes and composite chainstays. You don't see those features that often at that $1200 price point.

Your bike is one in which the gruppo was compromised because more of the expense went into the frameset whereas with other bikes at that price point, the opposite is the case. Your bike has it right, IMO, as you can always upgrade components but you can't alter the frameset. It is what it is.


All of the above aside, IMO you shouldn't buy anything right now given the questions you're asking. You don't seem to know what crankset you have, you say you don't use your granny gear but you want a compact which has nearly the same granny gear as your triple, and you don't know how (IMO) nice of a frameset you have.

Learn more and hold onto your bike and your wallet for now.

AngryScientist 

i'm in the same spot, with the same bike (only mine is Sora). i wound up getting a stupid good deal on a fuji roubaix with 105/ultegra which i was going to swap onto my bianchi. turns out the fuji fit me perfectly and i'm keeping it the way it is.

i'm going to upgrade the entire bianchi, because i love the frame and it fits me perfectly.

in your situation, i would say definitely sell the frame, since it is not the correct size for you. even if you think you have it adjusted well, the correct size frame is most likely going to do wonders for your fit. if you upgrade the grupo, your pretty much commited to a bike that doesnt necessarily fit you properly.

saratoga

2 or so years ago, I went back and forth between new group or new bike, decided to upgrade the group on my old Pinarello and literally a week later cracked the frame in a crash.

New bike was meant to be for some reason.

Retro Grouch 

Depends.

A stock bike is somebody else's idea of the "sweet spot" between cost, image, and some measure of performance. As you alter or replace components you convert the bike away from that person's concept and more towards your own idea of where the "sweet spot" lies.

Is it worth it? Frankly, most component upgrades don't make economic sense. If you think of your bicycle as a tool to get some job done, you're probably better off selling it for what you can get. You will always be able to find a new bike that meets your changed needs.

If you think of your bike as an expression of yourself in addition to it's functional value, modify what you have. It will morph through time to match your changing needs.

FWIW, my newest bike is 10 years old and none of them are stock. Some of them don't have any original parts remaining.

n00bL35

I don't know how you feel about Campagnolo, but Ribble Bikes has great deals on their components. You could probably spec out a new gruppo, w/wheels for about 700. And Campy just looks great on a Bianchi.

AndyK 

+1

You can get a great deal on an entire Campy groupset from Sinybikes.com, or Ribble. The lower end stuff is still great, reasonably priced, and the aluminum looks good on a Bianchi!

Youngin

Keep the frame, it's nice (though I ride it too). But I would probably upgrade the group if I didn't work at bike shop.

clausen

+1

Don't upgrade unless something breaks. Having a spare bike is great for bad weather or if you can not ride your good bike for any reason.

F4UX3/2

Thanks for all the input guys it's been very helpful, after writing the post and really looking at my motivations for upgrading as well as considering what you all had to say I think it comes down to does, or rather can, the bike fit me properly.

Keeping it as an extra is not really a viable option I have a fixed gear beater I use to go to school, the grocery store and ride on the hideous roads downtown and we don't get many "bad weather" days here in San Francisco.

I'll have to find a place that does some legit fitting's take it to em and see what the verdict is. I'm a student with pretty much no income so whatever I choose to do will be my ride for the next few years, which is why I was second guessing my frame. Now that I think about it the level of frame that it is suits me and my riding well and while the weight savings of carbon would be nice why miss an opportunity to HTFU, right?

Thanks again.

-Fauxer

thirdin77

With such a small frame, I'm guessing the weight savings would be.. small. And if you went to a composite bike in a size 50, it would indeed be lighter, perhaps because it would be a smaller frame than what you have now.

You have it right about getting fitted, though, as a means of judging if the bike is right for you. Hopefully you can get a basic fit for under $100.

StanSeven

+1 Plus it's nice to occasionally switch beteen bikes.

thehammerdog

dude just geta new bike....You need everything to make it a nice bike,,,,,If it is a money thing begin with Wheels, You can get an upgrade shift kit all Ultegra for $400 go to excel bikesnew shifters cassett and der.....the BB / Crank is crap but if it works.....I say spend a themoney on a whole new one...but if it about cash your frame is good enough..
have at it