Upgrade or new bike?
 

I am fairly pleased with the frame, fit, and ride of my current bike. I would like the next step up (at least) of brifter's, brakes, better (lighter) wheelset and hubs, and stem/bars. I will have about $6-700 to spend on either upgrades, or selling my bike and putting with to be about a grand on another bike with the better components already on it.

Given that my bike cost me less than I am thinking about spending on other parts, and was only barely over a grand as a new bike, I feel like I might be putting too much into an entry level bike. It isn't that I am looking to sell it, just looking for it to roll a little better and to stiffen up the handlebars. The brifters are simply a quality item that I would rather have had right from the start. I have already changed the cranks and noticed what an improvement that was. With the other parts, it will certainly be a better ride, but perhaps overkill? There again, will I really find that much of a difference in that price range? What do y'all think?

I'm in the same boat as you... My defy 2 (09) started with a tiagra/sora setup. I'm slowly building the bike up. I have been scouring ebay to keep the prices low which is working well. But since my cash flow isn't where I'd like it so this is my current option.

Yeah, mine started with the Sora/Tiagra with the only good component being the RD. The brifters suck air bigtime in the respect that as I get more fit I will be unable to shift from the drops. Not so much a problem now, but it will be. The wheelset has been bulletproof, I have over a thousand miles on the bike and haven't had to even have a spoke touched, they are straight as an arrow, but the SSR is VERY heavy as the price, and the hubs leave a lot to be desired. I just am unsure that I am going to find anything enough better to make it worthwhile at that price point.

It depends... Upgrading your current bike will allow you to just buy a nice frame later on when you get the upgrade itch again.

Are you without thumbs?

Look for a good quality used bike based on your budget. Nice stuff is nice stuff if you can afford it. For many years, i could not. I am fortunate in my life that now I can. But up until then, I bought the best frame that I could at the best deal (not always new and often used high end stuff that some one NEEDED to sell) and then I would surf for closeouts on wheels, pieces of component groups, etc. The same with stems and handle bars. Sure, new Thompson or 3T is great but Control Tech, for example, is a good durable alternative. It is not as easy to mix and match as it was in the days of 6 or 7 speed non index shifting, but you can keep your eyes open for what we use to call "take offs" where some one bought a bike with, say Ultegra and decided that the had to have Dura Ace so the Ultegra went for cheap and it was in good condition.

http://www.reverseshot.com/files/ima...21/evencow.jpg
Or maybe thumbs too large?

If your bike is equipped with Sora brifters, then you know exactly what I am talking about. The thumb switch is nearly impossible, and very uncomfortable to reach while in the drops. Likely why every other brifter is designed different than that and similarly with a long switch behind the brake lever, easy to access from either position.

I have a 09 Trek 2.1, very similar bike except it has Tiagra driveline vs Sora. Yes the SSR are very heavy, but strong. I like the bike and it fits me well, so I upgraded the wheels and switched the triple for a regular double. I have put ~5K miles on my 2.1 so the bike was used. I was thinking back in Jan to upgrade the driveline to SRAM, but it would cost more than I paid for the bike. The Trek 1.x and 2.x are great bikes, but they are still entry level frame models. For a bike step up would be the Madone 4.x series. Going from 9 to 10 speed is not worth the upgrade cost. The only upgrade you could do that is some what cost effective is Tiagra shifters. Anything else will require a lot more money. Good Luck.

I've never used the Sora. It's no problem for me to shift from the drops with Campy but that's really not the issue.

You state you're happy with the fit of the bike, right?

You have, I know from previous posts, other physical concerns.

What I would do if I were you is rebuild the bike with a better group. Then if you want to later use this new, better group as your basis for a build up of a new bike.

I agree. I initially bought a Sora/Tiagra bike when I was first getting into rec riding. I actually never had any problems with how the Soras shifted, but as I started racing and riding in my drops, quickly realized couldn't shift effectively when in them. Maybe some people with bigger hands can, but I certainly couldn't, and that was all that mattered to me. Ended up getting a new bike with SRAM Force and am very, very happy. ymmandpriorities may value, as always, but that is my 0.02.

With $6-7K, you can pretty much get whatever you want. You might as well just figure out what frame and parts you want and buy a whole new bike. Sell what you currently have - it will be an easier sell as a whole bike.

I am one that will upgrade way beyond the value of the bike. I still have an 89 Epic that rocks a full Ultegra group and set of Helium wheels. The wheels cost more than the bike did new. So I say upgrade.
I would save a little a more cash and look at the Sram Rival group. This is selling in the $800 range. Once you get the new group then you can move it to a new frame.

Dude, I read the OP as 6 to 7 Hundred. K in my language means Thousand.