deburn

Hi everyone, I’ve been riding a lot lately and have been thinking of upgrading my bike. I know the biggest upgrade is the engine, but this is more like a reward/incentive for riding and a fun thing to do (also, it’s easier to slip an upgrade past my SO than a new bike - not that I "need" a new bike!)

I have a 2005 LeMond Buenos Aires, that I bought NOS in 2008. I rode it regularly for two years, then switched to mountain biking for two years and didn’t do much riding for 2 years till this year.

My riding consists of rides on my own and with groups. Current maximum distance I’ve done is 40 miles. I’m planning on a 62 mile ride in August. Current speed is 14mph. Want to improve my speed (and ability to climb hills) but not sure what my goal should be.

Here’s a link to the specs - only difference is that my bike has a Centaur RD (not Veloce) and a triple (52/39/30).

I’m looking for what might give me the maximum bang for the buck: wheels, drive train, replace the triple with a compact double, anything else?

Thanks!

rms13

The only thing I would consider upgrading on that bike is the crankset to a compact double like you said and the rear cassette to go along with it....and then you might need to change the chain as well. Wheels are always a good upgrade but those wheels are decent and light so unless you want to spend $1000 or more on carbon zipp or something it probably won't be worth changing wheels. Upgrade to a better groupset but at that point it's almost worth upgrading the bike.

Bottom line: very nice bike. Don't need to change anything

bikemig 

Wheels are usually your biggest bang for the buck esp. if you have upgraditis. I wouldn't be too quick to replace that triple since you're lucky enough to live near mountains. Sounds like you need to work more on the engine than the bike but that's not a good reason not to buy something fun for the bike like new wheels.

chaadster

Wheels and tires, I think.

You can lighter and more aero than the Bontrager Race set, so noticeable change.

Lazyass

I wouldn't do anything to it. Work on your fitness, the bike is fine.

dtrain

I don't think I'd bother changing out the triple. But (+2 on wheels) I've seen some lightly used Campy wheels go pretty cheap because of the relatively small market demand.
Ksyrium SL Super Light Wheels Campagnolo 11 SP and Carbon Hubs Used | eBay
Fulcrum Racing 5 Wheel Set 700c Clincher Campagnolo Cassett 10 by 12 25 4TIRES | eBay
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Reynolds-Sol...item4181f9f78d

rms13

I grew up in boston and I don't remember mountains. white mountains, green mountains, berkshires but compared to where I live now those are called hills. I ride mountains where I live now with a compact double and do just fine

chaadster

The problem is that a compact double doesn't do anything to increase his speed, nor does it do anything to help climbing beyond what the triple offers, I don't think. We don't have enough info to speculate on how to optimize gearing, so the wide range of a triple is a more sensible choice for that reason.

bikemig 

Sorry but this one of the sillier posts I've seen on BF. I lived many years in Boston as well. Just because you don't need a compact out west doesn't mean much. Some folks do fine with a compact, some need a triple. There are some seriously steep climbs in N.H. and elsewhere. The grades matter a lot in how hard a climb is and some of the toughest riding I've done has been in hilly areas like the Gunks in NY.

dtrain

+1. The compact would a touch lighter and likely easier to dail-in the shifting. But those are very modest differences and hardly worth the cost (especially if it's shifting well enough). The benefits of a wheelset might not be worth the cost either - but they'd be more beneficial and are a much more flexible upgrade. Sell 'em if you don't notice a difference, sell the old if you do, keep an extra set around (flats or spoke issues), have the nicer set ready to transfer to that 'next' bike, etc.

roccobike

+1 this!

rms13

The stock wheels on that bike are about 1500 grams unless I'm missing something. It would probably cost $2000 to get a wheel set with significant weight savings. Maybe he gets more aero with a cheaper set that weigh the same or more than his current wheels.

But I think the consensus is their is no glaring reason to upgrade anything on this bike. Answer is n +1

rms13

You pick up on my sarcasm about as well as my wife i.e. not at all.

mercator

That's a nice bike. If you feel the need to spend money on it, you would probably be happy with these.

chaadster

If the OP is correct those are Race, and not Race Lite or Race X Lite, there's no way those are 1.5kg; probably north of 1700gm.

Speaking as someone who has had Bontrager Race wheels-- also on a Lemond BA-- I'd say that upgrading them could not only shave weight and gain aero, but improve the ride quality and feel. In my experience the BRAs were very dull and vague feeling, and replacing them with a Velocity Aerohead wheelset really let my BA come alive.

The majority of posters thus far agree wheels are a good upgrade, which I think is a pretty accurate way to define consensus.

rms13

Semantics

dtrain

No way those are 1,500.

deburn

Wow, thanks everyone for the helpful replies. It's nice to know that you guys like my bike! I mean, I like it a lot, but I bought it 6 years ago - with a lot of help from this forum - but I didn't know that much about what I wanted out of a road bike. I was upgrading from a Raleigh hybrid, so it was a huge step up!

I'm going to try and reply as best as I can:

So the main advantage to a compact double is that it does more or less what a triple does but with some savings in weight? A $1,000.00 on wheels would be a bit much right now, unless I can find used versions that are in good condition and priced accordingly

deburn

I definitely need to work on the engine - I am riding 3 times a week, 4 if I'm lucky - but I still suck on hills, leave alone mountains! Any programs, websites, reading to improve my climbing capability and average speed would be appreciated

chaadster

Semantics: diu mianzi or diu lian?

deburn

Thanks for the eBay links. Looks like going used would be a nice way to satisfy my upgraditis at a modest cost. My bike is 10 speed, and a couple of those wheels are 11 speed. Is that a concern?

Also, why wouldn't you bother replacing the triple?

deburn

What information do you need to speculate on how to optimize gearing? I need to figure out the whole gearing issue - I'm confused about the pros and cons of a 11-23 vs 12-26 (making up numbers here to make a point)

deburn

Thanks! I like the way you phrased it: "if you feel the need to spend money on it"!!! Those wheels look nice, but before I rush into spending $700.00, could you or someone else either point me to somewhere I can read up on wheels or give me a short primer, so I can figure out what I'm getting?

Also, do I need to get Campy-specific wheels? Someone I ride with was offering to sell me a wheelset that he uses with his Shimano equipped bikes

deburn

My rims are Race Lite, not Race

rms13

I missed an obvious question. Do you have clipless pedals and shoes?