$500 to improve my bike

On 24 May, 04:10, " wrote:
On May 22, 3:59*pm, winikoff wrote:

I'm getting conflicting advice. My Cannondale aluminium framed bike is
feeling neither quick or responsive but the frame is just the right
size. I'd like to upgrade.

Two options: *1.) better, lighter wheels
* * * * * * * * * * *2.) upgrade from Shimano 105 to Ultegra.

Suggestions, advice, opinions wanted.

Ribbing, hogwash, etc. etc. along with some actual responses.
Aren't you glad you... asked?

You didn't say what kind of wheels you have, or how heavy you are.

Nor the main use for the bike.

Old, beat up wheels or fairly new, serviceable?

(following advice given here by experts) Stock hubs, 105 or Ultegra
according to budget, Velocity Aero rim front, Aero OC on the rear.
Butted spokes (maybe thinner on the front), with actual gauge and
spoke count (and cross pattern)

(Crossed spokes are good.)

chosen with regard for rider weight.

Doesn't make a lot of difference with aero rims. 15g suits most.
anyway.

Brass nipples, a nice new cassette of your choice, with new chain too.
Local handbuilt; I think you can do that with careful shopping for
around $500. Then the wheels are covered unless you're racing and
like, want to win and stuff (hello Carl).
--D-y

On May 24, 4:36*am, thirty-six wrote:
On 24 May, 04:10, " wrote:

On May 22, 3:59*pm, winikoff wrote:

I'm getting conflicting advice. My Cannondale aluminium framed bike is
feeling neither quick or responsive but the frame is just the right
size. I'd like to upgrade.

Two options: *1.) better, lighter wheels
* * * * * * * * * * *2.) upgrade from Shimano 105 to Ultegra.

Suggestions, advice, opinions wanted.

Ribbing, hogwash, etc. etc. along with some actual responses.
Aren't you glad you... asked?

You didn't say what kind of wheels you have, or how heavy you are.

Nor the main use for the bike.

Old, beat up wheels or fairly new, serviceable?

(following advice given here by experts) Stock hubs, 105 or Ultegra
according to budget, Velocity Aero rim front, Aero OC on the rear.
Butted spokes (maybe thinner on the front), with actual gauge and
spoke count (and cross pattern)

(Crossed spokes are good.)

I'm more comfortable with crossed patterns, too, but there are
proprietary radial front wheels and cross/radial rears out there that
are giving excellent service. One Campy set in particular; model
escapes me at the moment due at least partly to dis-interest in
spending that much money on a set of wheels when I can have
handbuilts.

chosen with regard for rider weight.

Doesn't make a lot of difference with aero rims. 15g suits most.
anyway.

We're doing custom here g. Part of the feeling of light &
responsive, don't you know.
I'm not light so I like 14g butted in back, 15g butted in front even
though I know 15's would be just fine, probably.
--D-y

On 24 May, 13:05, " wrote:
On May 24, 4:36*am, thirty-six wrote:



On 24 May, 04:10, " wrote:

On May 22, 3:59*pm, winikoff wrote:

I'm getting conflicting advice. My Cannondale aluminium framed bike is
feeling neither quick or responsive but the frame is just the right
size. I'd like to upgrade.

Two options: *1.) better, lighter wheels
* * * * * * * * * * *2.) upgrade from Shimano 105 to Ultegra.

Suggestions, advice, opinions wanted.

Ribbing, hogwash, etc. etc. along with some actual responses.
Aren't you glad you... asked?

You didn't say what kind of wheels you have, or how heavy you are.

Nor the main use for the bike.

Old, beat up wheels or fairly new, serviceable?

(following advice given here by experts) Stock hubs, 105 or Ultegra
according to budget, Velocity Aero rim front, Aero OC on the rear.
Butted spokes (maybe thinner on the front), with actual gauge and
spoke count (and cross pattern)

(Crossed spokes are good.)

I'm more comfortable with crossed patterns, too, but there are
proprietary radial front wheels and cross/radial rears out there that
are giving excellent service.

With deep section hoops. A nice shallow section rim will maintain
track and be relatively forgiving over rough road when cross laced (in
the proper manner) and spoke tension adjusted for best response. A
much nicer ride over rough roads than stiff wheel of which may be
constructed without bracing the spokes. The lack of bracing is a
small economy in assembly. It is a retrograde step in wheelbuilding
sold on it's USP. Paint them pink if you want them different.

One Campy set in particular; model
escapes me at the moment due at least partly to dis-interest in
spending that much money on a set of wheels when I can have
handbuilts.



chosen with regard for rider weight.

Doesn't make a lot of difference with aero rims. 15g suits most.
anyway.

We're doing custom here g. Part of the feeling of light &
responsive, don't you know.
I'm not light so I like 14g butted in back, 15g butted in front even
though I know 15's would be just fine, probably.

I really CBA with it all. Price rules in my eyes. As long as the
gauge isn't too thin an acceptable wheel can be made into a fine and
robust wheel with a little spoke line modification and tailoring of
spoke adjustment to conditions. 15swg in 'poor' galvanised (when they
can be had) just seem to be the appropriate strength to resist spoke
rip out caused by interference of twigs yet will snap given forces
that would otherwise ditch the rider if they had been stronger. I had
36x 15/17 galvanised Berg's and these were perfectly acceptable while
they lasted for 30k miles+ (fatigue got the rear in the end). Today,
I would be happy with the same gauge (and strength) on the rear wheel
(with a 28 32 or 36 count) despite being a couple of stone heavier. I
would probably temper my off-road usage though.

On May 24, 7:52*am, thirty-six wrote:
On 24 May, 13:05, " wrote:





On May 24, 4:36*am, thirty-six wrote:

On 24 May, 04:10, " wrote:

On May 22, 3:59*pm, winikoff wrote:

I'm getting conflicting advice. My Cannondale aluminium framed bike is
feeling neither quick or responsive but the frame is just the right
size. I'd like to upgrade.

Two options: *1.) better, lighter wheels
* * * * * * * * * * *2.) upgrade from Shimano 105 to Ultegra.

Suggestions, advice, opinions wanted.

Ribbing, hogwash, etc. etc. along with some actual responses.
Aren't you glad you... asked?

You didn't say what kind of wheels you have, or how heavy you are.

Nor the main use for the bike.

Old, beat up wheels or fairly new, serviceable?

(following advice given here by experts) Stock hubs, 105 or Ultegra
according to budget, Velocity Aero rim front, Aero OC on the rear.
Butted spokes (maybe thinner on the front), with actual gauge and
spoke count (and cross pattern)

(Crossed spokes are good.)

I'm more comfortable with crossed patterns, too, but there are
proprietary radial front wheels and cross/radial rears out there that
are giving excellent service.

With deep section hoops. *A nice shallow section rim will maintain
track and be relatively forgiving over rough road when cross laced (in
the proper manner) and spoke tension adjusted for best response. *A
much nicer ride over rough roads than stiff wheel of which may be
constructed without bracing the spokes. *The lack of bracing is a
small economy in assembly. *It is a retrograde step in wheelbuilding
sold on it's USP. *Paint them pink if you want them different.





One Campy set in particular; model
escapes me at the moment due at least partly to dis-interest in
spending that much money on a set of wheels when I can have
handbuilts.

chosen with regard for rider weight.

Doesn't make a lot of difference with aero rims. 15g suits most.
anyway.

We're doing custom here g. Part of the feeling of light &
responsive, don't you know.
I'm not light so I like 14g butted in back, 15g butted in front even
though I know 15's would be just fine, probably.

I really CBA with it all. *Price rules in my eyes. * As long as the
gauge isn't too thin an acceptable wheel can be made into a fine and
robust wheel with a little spoke line modification and tailoring of
spoke adjustment to conditions. *15swg in 'poor' galvanised (when they
can be had) just seem to be the appropriate strength to resist spoke
rip out caused by interference of twigs yet will snap given forces
that would otherwise ditch the rider if they had been stronger. *I had
36x 15/17 galvanised Berg's and these were perfectly acceptable while
they lasted for 30k miles+ (fatigue got the rear in the end). *Today,
I would be happy with the same gauge (and strength) on the rear wheel
(with a 28 32 or 36 count) despite being a couple of stone heavier. *I
would probably temper my off-road usage though.

I'll find out which of those Campy wheels are favored in my cohort
here. They're not deep section-- which some regard as a fatal flaw, of
course-- and although our rural roads have improved smoothness as
housing development goes further and further into the country, there's
still a fair amount of lumpy stuff around.
Yes, cost is always a factor and I've used galvanized with good
results but the stainless ones are much prettier and stay that way
easier.

You're CBA by claim only, it appears g. That's not a bad thing.
"Benefit of others' experience" around here, to the max.
--D-y

thirty-six wrote, On 5/22/2010 5:18 PM:
On 22 May, 22:09, Dan wrote:

On May 22, 1:59 pm, wrote:


I'm getting conflicting advice. My Cannondale aluminium framed bike is
feeling neither quick or responsive but the frame is just the right
size. I'd like to upgrade.


Two options: 1.) better, lighter wheels
2.) upgrade from Shimano 105 to Ultegra.


Suggestions, advice, opinions wanted.

Pump up the tires. Oil the chain and axles.

Yep, oiling the chain can transform the feel of a bike under power.

Don't oil he chain! You may go too fast and loose control of the bike.

--

Paul D Oosterhout
I work for SAIC (but I don't speak for SAIC)

wrote, On 5/22/2010 5:43 PM:
On Sat, 22 May 2010 13:59:13 -0700 (PDT), winikoff
wrote:


I'm getting conflicting advice. My Cannondale aluminium framed bike is
feeling neither quick or responsive but the frame is just the right
size. I'd like to upgrade.

Two options: 1.) better, lighter wheels
2.) upgrade from Shimano 105 to Ultegra.

Suggestions, advice, opinions wanted.

snip

But if $500 is burning a hole in your pocket that only new equipment
can put out, the usual advice on RBT is to throw it onto wheels to try
to smother the flames and enjoy the psychological benefits.

Cheers,

Carl Fogel

If Stan is willing to settle for psychological benefits, then his 500
bucks would be better spent on a a couple of bottles of Dos Lunas
Reposado tequila, a big bag of Yellow Cab marijuana, and a Specialized
TT2 Helmet.

http://www.doslunas.com/home.asp
http://www.gardenscure.com/420/attachments/potw-submission-threads/245732d1219227238-marijuana-picture-week-submissions-cab-129.1.jpg
http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...301&eid=49 52
http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=47082&menuItemId=9301&eid=49 52

--

Paul D Oosterhout
I work for SAIC (but I don't speak for SAIC)

On 22 May, 22:18, thirty-six wrote:
On 22 May, 22:09, Dan O wrote:

On May 22, 1:59 pm, winikoff wrote:

I'm getting conflicting advice. My Cannondale aluminium framed bike is
feeling neither quick or responsive but the frame is just the right
size. I'd like to upgrade.

Two options: *1.) better, lighter wheels
* * * * * * * * * * *2.) upgrade from Shimano 105 to Ultegra.

Suggestions, advice, opinions wanted.

Pump up the tires. *Oil the chain and axles.

Yep, oiling the chain can transform the feel of a bike under power.

and the pedals if you have a suitable oiling point.

On May 24, 11:59 am, thirty-six wrote:
On 22 May, 22:18, thirty-six wrote:



On 22 May, 22:09, Dan O wrote:

On May 22, 1:59 pm, winikoff wrote:

I'm getting conflicting advice. My Cannondale aluminium framed bike is
feeling neither quick or responsive but the frame is just the right
size. I'd like to upgrade.

Two options: 1.) better, lighter wheels
2.) upgrade from Shimano 105 to Ultegra.

Suggestions, advice, opinions wanted.

Pump up the tires. Oil the chain and axles.

Yep, oiling the chain can transform the feel of a bike under power.

and the pedals if you have a suitable oiling point.

Yes - especially the axles.