Upgrading a Trek 1.5
10-13-11, 12:22 PM
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Upgrading a Trek 1.5
Hi all,
I have a 2011 Trek 15 and am interested in making some upgrades. However I am not sure really where to start.
The bike is completely stock except a Fizik Arione saddle. I also have a set of Continental GP 4000's to go on it when the stock tires finally die.
At some point in the future, maybe a year or two down the road I will upgrade to a better bike. I'm thinking around a $3,000-$4,000 bike. I don't want to pour a ton of money into this bike on parts that are only good enough for it, If i upgrade it I want to do it with parts that are worthy of being transferred to a better bike down the road (get double the use from them).
I'm not going to shy away from expensive parts, it just means I will have to save up a long time to do the upgrade.
Any help would be appreciated,
Thanks
This is what I have
https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/2011/archive/15
I have a 2011 Trek 15 and am interested in making some upgrades. However I am not sure really where to start.
The bike is completely stock except a Fizik Arione saddle. I also have a set of Continental GP 4000's to go on it when the stock tires finally die.
At some point in the future, maybe a year or two down the road I will upgrade to a better bike. I'm thinking around a $3,000-$4,000 bike. I don't want to pour a ton of money into this bike on parts that are only good enough for it, If i upgrade it I want to do it with parts that are worthy of being transferred to a better bike down the road (get double the use from them).
I'm not going to shy away from expensive parts, it just means I will have to save up a long time to do the upgrade.
Any help would be appreciated,
Thanks
This is what I have
https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/2011/archive/15
Last edited by pcb09; 10-13-11 at 12:28 PM. Reason: Added additional information
10-13-11, 12:28 PM
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Wheels
10-13-11, 12:42 PM
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Depends on your budget. Boyd, November, Reynolds, Soul, Psimet wheels all come to mind. There is nothing like hand built wheels to your spec.
10-13-11, 12:55 PM
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Psimet. For about $400 you'll get a custom wheelset that will never go out of true, will be light as a feather and will look sharp. You'll be proud to swap those wheels to any new bike. Me, I've bought two Psimet wheelsets.
10-13-11, 01:12 PM
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thats a solid bike for tooling around on. if it were mine, id swap out tires, brakes and wheelset. id buy conti gatorskins, 105 calipers and mavic aksiums or something comparable. maybe something nicer if its in the budget. however id swap out those tires asap with the gp 4000s you already bought.
Last edited by pdxtex; 10-13-11 at 01:16 PM.
10-13-11, 01:26 PM
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Psimet or Soul wheels, i think. a good way to get the bike lighter/more aero and still be able to transfer it to another bike.
I can recommend the Souls. check out the S2.0 for a light, inexpensive set or the C5.0 for a light aero set. the hubs spin very well, and the prices are nice.
I would hold off on brakes. if you get a better bike or group, it will come with brakes, and brakes have such a steep price-to-weight ratio that i think that's one of the last things i'd upgrade.
if you get the wheels, maybe for your next bike just buy a frameset and group. a new group can shave a pound or so off the bike.
I can recommend the Souls. check out the S2.0 for a light, inexpensive set or the C5.0 for a light aero set. the hubs spin very well, and the prices are nice.
I would hold off on brakes. if you get a better bike or group, it will come with brakes, and brakes have such a steep price-to-weight ratio that i think that's one of the last things i'd upgrade.
if you get the wheels, maybe for your next bike just buy a frameset and group. a new group can shave a pound or so off the bike.
10-13-11, 08:24 PM
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I'd leave the bike alone and ride it as many miles as it can stand.
10-14-11, 10:45 PM
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10-14-11, 11:03 PM
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Yup, just traded in my 08 1.5 for the "next" step as well. Don't spend any appreciable amount of money on it if upgrading to another bike is your goal. It is nice that they went back to the Tiagra brifters instead of the Sora they were using. Tiagra is a fine groupset.
The wheels on mine were heavy as could be, but very solid and true wheels. I wouldn't really bother to upgrade the wheels unless you might consider moving them to the next bike. I say that as you can save a pretty fair amount on a better bike by saving on the wheels. If you get a set you like now, keep the bonty's for the sale of the bike later. If you decide to buy a better bike with the wheels, I wouldn't even change them.
I am not really familiar with the cranks on that one, but the bonty sports that were on mine were pure flexy trash. I went with outboard bearings on some Tiagra cranks and it made an immense difference in the feel of the BB.
Overall, I thought the 1.5 was a really nice bike for it's price and performance. It was overall very comfortable and it performed well for the price. If I had been able I would have kept it as a backup.
I did notice that they have reduced the frame quality down to the "white" rather than the "black" at that level. I think the Alpha Black was moved up to the 2.3, so the frame you are riding will be a bit different than the older one I owned. It was a tradeoff for the better brifters I suppose.
The wheels on mine were heavy as could be, but very solid and true wheels. I wouldn't really bother to upgrade the wheels unless you might consider moving them to the next bike. I say that as you can save a pretty fair amount on a better bike by saving on the wheels. If you get a set you like now, keep the bonty's for the sale of the bike later. If you decide to buy a better bike with the wheels, I wouldn't even change them.
I am not really familiar with the cranks on that one, but the bonty sports that were on mine were pure flexy trash. I went with outboard bearings on some Tiagra cranks and it made an immense difference in the feel of the BB.
Overall, I thought the 1.5 was a really nice bike for it's price and performance. It was overall very comfortable and it performed well for the price. If I had been able I would have kept it as a backup.
I did notice that they have reduced the frame quality down to the "white" rather than the "black" at that level. I think the Alpha Black was moved up to the 2.3, so the frame you are riding will be a bit different than the older one I owned. It was a tradeoff for the better brifters I suppose.
