bwilson

I have been road cycling for a bit over three months the first six weeks I was only riding 14miles a trip because of training for a local triathlon I entered, I have now been going for distance and not speed over a set distance.



I just picked up a 2012 Trek 1.5 compact. I have the Bontrager composite waterbottle cages with the Bontrager pump and co2 combo, Trek Insite 9i computer, Polar Bottles, a small seat bag with a spare tube and tire lever in it and I am using some Crank Bros egg beater pedals with mountian shoes that I had. I am going on country roads anywhere from 14 - 41 miles so far, some weekends I go out one day and others all three days, over Labor Day I went out all four days and did 25,25,25,41 for a total of 116 on the weekend but usually I am in the 50 - 60 mile range for the weekend. I am in no way looking to race with this bike unless I choose to do our local Tri again but that would be it. My main goal is to have fun and would like to do a 100+ mile ride some day.



What would be good to add to my setup? take away? change?

I have been looking a the Garmin Edge 500, also looking at road shoes and pedals, would a carbon seatpost be a good investment?



$500 budget and I know if I went with the Edge that would take up half of the budget and I don't really know if I would get that much bang for the buck with that choice. Would going from mountian shoes and pedals to road make a huge impact? My shoes and pedals are practicly new got them with my new mountian bike I had for a year and then parted with. Does a carbon seatpost really do anything for you? Is it worth the money?

Or would I be better off spending the money on apparel as I have a pair of shorts (actually tri shorts) and two jerseys?

Taking into account my current setup and relative newness to road cycling where could I get the most bang for my buck, what would I benefit from the most?



I would appreciate any and all input. I would like to thank you in advance for reading all of this and for responding,



Thank You

Brian

Commodus

As with all threads like this, I'm left wondering...what don't you like about your current pedal setup? Are you having problems with your feet that you are trying to solve?

If you're not having any problems, why do you want to spend money to solve them?

On the carbon seatpost though, the answer is no. The computer - I prefer no computer on my 'just ride around' bikes. I don't find the information useful and it's just one more thing to buy, mount, adjust, and buy/charge batteries for. If I'm doing brevets or training, well yea then I need the info.

topflightpro

Buy bibs, shoes and pedals.

Everything else isn't really necessary. And no, a carbon post won't help.