If you had £300 (ish) would you upgrade...

[jay]

...your WH-R500 wheels or your Sora groupset first?

I'm undecided whether to buy some Easton EA50 wheels or a complete ultegra/veloce/rival groupset.

 

[gbb]

Two ways of looking at it jay...
Is the addition of a good groupset going to a bit OTT on a (what i assume is )a budget frame.
By the same token, you can transfer it to a better frame when, and if you wish.
Wheels...I'm not a great lover of the R500s, so i'd be inclined to upgrade them, but that's just my opinion

The EA50 will be a much better wheelset, and i'd like to think they would impact well on your ride.

 

[jay]

It isn't a budget frame really, it's just the base model (£800 with Sora!) of a range which tops out at about £2k using the same frame so it wouldn't be "over-upgraded" as such.

I got the bike not knowing what I'd end up doing riding-wise really or if I'd just sack it off once the novelty wore off. Now I'm doing quite a bit and enjoying it I figure I'll upgrade it now before the summer arrives (those 3 days in July!).

 

[palinurus]

Wheels first. You are more likely to notice the difference.

 

[jimboalee]

I've a Spesh SWorks that weighs just under 17lb.

I have got the cash and I'm very tempted to exchange the Bonty RaceXlites for Corima Carbon - if I see a pair of used, I'll chase them.

Lightening the wheels, especially the rims makes a hell of a difference. Reduced radius of momentum and all that stuff.

Wheels first.

 

[RedBike]

If you're seriously thinking of Veloce then you'll need new wheels as well. R500 wheels wont take a campagnolo cassette.

Don't forget to budget for a good set of tyres aswell. There's not much point spending that sort of money on wheels then fitting any old tyre.

 

[John the Monkey]

You'll notice the difference in the ride if you upgrade wheels more than oyu'll notice anything else(1).

(1) Caveat: Unless you REALLY hate Sora.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Wheels AND tyres, definately.
Replace drive-train bits when they wear out.

 

[jay]

I don't hate the sora kit in terms of function but the chainset looks god awful! If I'm changing it I want to do the entire groupset as a oner in order to notice a definite upgrade...


Wheels it is then.

 

[Arch]

Wooo! If I had £300 spare, I'd have a Chinese takeaway once a week for the next year!
(chicken and cashew nuts, fried rice, just under £6, and they give you prawn crackers free)

Sorry, I don't suppose that helps...

 

[Wigsie]

chicken and cashew nuts, fried rice, just under £6, and they give you prawn crackers free

Jesus! Chicken and Cashew Nuts are £5 on its own at my local chinky!

!

 

[Arch]

Jesus! Chicken and Cashew Nuts are £5 on its own at my local chinky!

Yes, it's amazing value. And in central York too - you'd expect it to be pricier!

Still a bit of a treat though, in my current financial situation. Also, I'm really very lazy and the idea of going down and back up the two flights of stairs to my flat has stopped me having takeaway in the past!

 

[Paulus]

I would upgrade the wheels and tyres first, and then if I had some left over I would buy beef in black bean sauce and singapore noodles.

 

[TheDoctor]

Get some handbuilt Mavic Open Pros, some good tyres and then move into the local Chinese for the weekend.

 

[MancRider78]

Not upgrading yet but looking at getting a hybrid for £300