You have a road bike that has accompanied you for years, you take care of it with dedication and it is still your companion on rides. But over time and with experience, you start to feel that it falls short for the level you have reached. Although replacing it with another is not in your plans, you are considering upgrading it to get more out of it and renew your excitement for your rides.
In this article, we are going to see how you can improve your bike without spending too much, but achieving changes that really make a difference. From updating peripheral components, such as the handlebar or seatpost, to considering upgrades in wheels or drivetrain, there are many ways to give your bike new life without making a big investment.
👉 Related: Test: 15,000 kilometers with a Canyon Endurace
Handlebar, stem, and carbon seatpost
This is possibly the first thing any amateur cyclist upgrades on their road bike. Not only to save a few grams on the scale, but also for aesthetics. But let's go step by step.
Carbon cockpit
A set of handlebar and stem, whether integrated or not—what is called a cockpit—made of carbon with a slightly aero touch makes a difference. The bike changes its look and we see our love for it renewed (it’s true). From my experience, I wouldn't recommend flat handlebars, but rather something a bit flattened. Regarding the stem, you have to carefully consider your length needs, as you won't be able to adjust it if you buy a handlebar with an integrated stem. On the other hand, there's the issue of flat handlebars for installing the GPS mount, light, etc. It's not a big deal, since there are mounts that go directly to the underside of the handlebar, but it should be taken into account. Perhaps the smartest choice is a handlebar + stem set, but it's not the most aesthetic, at least in my opinion. Speaking of prices, there are integrated cockpits or separate handlebar and stem sets from 150 euros up to 600 euros.
Upgrade your bike with a carbon seatpost
One of the strengths of carbon is vibration absorption, and as with handlebars, with a carbon seatpost we achieve greater comfort. Remember that for installing carbon peripheral components, you need a special grease. The one for aluminum components will not work. Oh, and the tightening torque must be as recommended by the manufacturer—don’t do it by feel. The recommended torque is usually indicated on a small sticker on each component. A carbon seatpost could cost about €80, although prices can go up to €200 depending on the brand and type of carbon (stronger, lighter, etc).
Electronic drivetrain
It's a joy, and once you try it there's no going back. Also, nowadays, with the appearance of SRAM 2x12 groupsets for road bikes, and soon Shimano as well, I would say we could find a complete Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset quite economically. We're talking about less than €500 for a second-hand group, since new it goes for around €750. It's certainly not a bad investment.
Chainrings and cassette
If we can't afford the cost of a complete groupset, we can always improve the gear ratios. Moving from a compact group 50-34 / 11-28 to a 52-36 / 11-32 is a total win, not only because we will have a better valuation of the bike in the second-hand market if we sell it in the future, but also because we will enjoy a greater range of gears. We'll descend faster and climb with higher cadence. The cost can range from €150 to €400, always depending on whether we look for used or new material. In the transmission market, it's really interesting to dive into second-hand options, since many components are sold unused, coming from bike teardowns (the typical person who buys a bike just to keep the frame).
Carbon wheels with profile
This is possibly the best upgrade we can make to a bicycle, whether road or mountain. Wheels are a differentiating element. Good bearings, carbon, and a bit of profile will make our bike feel like new. For the Canyon Endurace I mentioned earlier, I would look for versatile carbon wheels, with a 45mm profile and hubs of proven quality, such as DT Swiss. Of course, we won't be able to find anything decent below €500 in the second-hand market, and €900 for new material, but it's definitely worth the investment.
👉 Related: Road bike wheel deals
Switching from rim brakes to discs
Have you thought about putting disc brakes on your road bike with conventional brakes? Well, that's a mistake. Although there are ways to attach disc brake calipers to practically any frame designed for rim brakes, it is not recommended. These are nothing more than bizarre inventions, and in no case is the frame's warranty preserved, since it has to be drilled. If you want to switch to disc brakes, sell your bike and buy another. That's it.
Other low-cost upgrades for your bike
Many times what we are looking for is simply to renew our love for our machine, as I mentioned at the beginning of this article, and that doesn't have to be an overly expensive adventure. If what you want is to improve the look and give your bike a facelift, beyond increasing its performance, you can make the following upgrades:
- Change the handlebar tape (about €20)
- Add new decals with the brand logo (about €15)
- Change the saddle (from €30 to €100 approx.)
- Install a rear light (between €20 and €150 approx.)
- Change the tires for others with a caramel-colored sidewall (about €40 each)
These are just a few examples of how we can tweak our bicycle, and thus rekindle the excitement we felt when we bought it. Seeing all the upgrades we can make to our bike, it reinforces the reason for that classic advice from our friend the Pro: buy a bike with a good frame at a good price, because everything else you can improve little by little.