pkulak

I just bought a new Torker U-District and I love it so far. Nice and fast, reasonably light (though heavier than my Trek 1000 that got stolen), and the steel makes for a nice, smooth ride. I'd actually say that it's faster than my Trek, which is nice because that was a fast bike.

Anyway, my question is about upgrading. Judging by the fact that this bike was $350 I'd assume that all the components are bottom of the line, and some people have suggested that I buy this bike and upgrade as I get more money, but I'm just wondering what good that could even do. For example, buying a new crank. Would I just be spending money to shave a couple ounces? Because I'm not too concerned about that. Same with the fork, wheels, etc.

I could see getting a nicer seat though. On longer rides the stock one can be a bit rough, so any advice there would be appreciated.

carleton

Aside from replacing broken parts, upgrading the cranks, wheels, fork, handlebars, seatpost, or stem won't make your riding experience much better. Better parts in these areas are generally lighter and/or more reliable. That's what you are paying for.

The best bang for the buck upgrades that will actually immediately affect your riding experience are:
- Clipless pedals
- Nice griptape
- Saddle that your butt likes (take suggestions on saddles, but each butt is different. Some go for $20 cheapo saddles, others must have $150 saddles)
- The right gear ratio for your type of riding. (another personal choice)

pkulak

Ooo, is it relatively simple to get a few less teeth on the front crank? Because, in a perfect world I think I'd like to be peddling a bit faster than I am now.

xkillemallx16

I rode this once, never got the feel of it. 42/16 right? Thats pretty low already, that is unless you life in SF.

pkulak

Hmm... Okay. I'll leave it for now. This is my first single-speed, so I may just need to give this gearing more of a chance.

xkillemallx16

Try riding it around. I live in a flat city so 42/16 didn't work out. 46/18 is what I use (Oakland/Alameda)

acidjazz

i have one first thing that went out on a trip to the beach was the cranks only took about a month and a half for them to get wobbly.

mihlbach

Understanding how to choose the best gear ratio is an important ss/fg skill. No one can tell you what is going to work best for you. Cogs are relatively cheap. Buy a few, learn how to change them and experiment. The optimal gear ratio is a moving target, depending on your fitness, time of year, riding conditions, riding style, etc. You'll eventually figure out which ratio works best most of the time.

Brian

That was operator error.