Buying the wabi wheels and a used carbon fiber fork off ebay can be done for under $300. Selling old wheels and fork will get you about $150. I think it will be a $150 worth of noticeable upgrade, especially climbing hills

If your goal is to make a big difference in the way it rides, I'd suggest focusing on weight on the wheels and tires first. Just pack lighter for school instead of trying to loose weight in other places.

this is a very good suggestion. just don't bring your textbooks or computer to class.
you don't need them anyway except for classroom (nerd) cred. which as we all know is far less important than street cred.

Agreed. The first time I rode to class, I was hating myself for bringing 3 textbooks and laptop along with me.

Thanks a lot guys, I think I am just going to go with new wabi wheels and a used carbon fork. I will just sell what im replacing. Yeah I will definitely be packing light for school, the ride there is a ***** but the ride back is amazing (now that its cooling off).

How is this carbon fork? Will any road fork fit? http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...7_10000_202441

It will probably fit into the headtube just fine however it may not have the correct rake.

hmmm.... and how would I be able to tell if it has the correct rake?

Here's the geometry charts: http://www.masibikes.com/manual/2012-Masi-geo.pdf


You're looking for fork offset which is the same as rake. That's a fact that I've always known and would never say otherwise. Ever.

For offset is the same thing as rake.

Is it ?

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N4HikgjgOO...214601_std.jpg

get stronger

OK so i am thinking about switching to this http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...0052_515806_-1 . It has the same rake as my current fork. But its heavier .

You can get a full carbon fork for less than that. The 43 or 45mm rake (depending on what size you have) is not that hard to find.

Reynolds Ouzo Pro full carbon fork w/ 43mm rake for $100:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ls-Clothes-etc.

buy a wabi lighting frameset and swap parts. Sell the Masi

get an easier gearing ratio for the hills, even one or two teeth on the back cog can make a huge difference regardless of those few pounds

OK so I am rethinking putting money into this bike. I think I am going to sell it and get a WABI lightning. Would the stock bike be better than building up the frame? Would building it up be significant enough to save me like $100.00 while still being the same weight?

harden

Buy an aluminium Langster. That'll be under 20lbs.

Its you're first bike, you've had it for 3 days, and you're already going to sell it (almost assuredly at a loss) and replace it with a more expensive bike?

How about instead of stressing about one or two pounds on a hill that you could probably just htfu for you start riding and see if you're going to stick with cycling enough to warrant the investments you're planning.