Upgrades You Shouldn’t Get | GCN Tech Show 320

Lots of hot tech out this week, turbans, tyres, wheels, pedals banned by the UCI, and the SRAM recall. We also talk about ways to stop wasting money with the upgrades you shouldn’t get! We've also got Hot & Spicy tech, comment of the week, and of course the Bike Vault!

Welcome 0:00
Upgrades you don't need 0:23
Hot & Spicy Tech 11:28
Comment of the week 23:40
Bike vault 27:49

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[gcntech]

Do you think it's worth upgrading your bike? 👇

[bumbykitty]

Instead of bike upgrades, you should bike up grades.

[awhite]

The traditional “Dura Ace chainset that you had lying around” jibe at Alex always makes me laugh 😂

[pinoyeh]

I agree, before you upgrade your drivetrain, maximize the use of it before you upgrade. I know that there are some bike vloggers in the philippines purchased a high end 2023 TDF Trek on-road bike just merely to VLOG/BRAGG to her a waste of vlogger have not even won a single internationally sanctioned bike

[Cabomccabe]

"I was wondering if a turbin offers protection while riding a bike, " said no one, ever.

[tedmurphy]

I completely agree with the GCN team about unnecessary upgrades, but I also have to wonder if I am taking things too far.

I bought a late 1990s Colnago Elegant Decor with a combination of Campy Chorus and Record components when it was new, and I have only made a handful of meaningful upgrades since then.

I replaced the rear cog set to add a bit more range than the stock set, and I replaced the seat, seat post, and handlebars when the lifespan of those stock parts expired.

I tend to do training rides around NYC, and about 10-15 century rides in various places throughout the year.

I can just about always keep up with my riding buddies (18-20mph typical pace), but I have to admit that thoughts of a carbon fiber aero bike with a power meter and the ability to handle today's wider tires are creeping into my head. Would this sort of upgrade be a paradigm shift in performance for me, or is the improvement likely to feel pretty minor?

As an aside, the century rides wouldn't be threatened by a new bike purchase.

Any thoughts are appreciated!

[gustavnissen]

Saddle upgrade: get rid of it. Van Aert showed us all how it is done!

[kaidean]

Would you upgrade parts (regardless of whether they are worn out) ahead of an event? For example, I am doing Chase the Sun in June (East coast to West coast in a day). Should I consider upgrading my tyres to something that will be more comfortable and faster (although this is not a race), or should I stick with the stock tyres that my bike came with? This is the longest I will have ever been on the bike in one go and I want to make sure I am as comfortable as possible. Having said all that, I have not had any issues with the tyres my bike came with, will I really notice the difference with new tyres?

[chrischmura]

@gcntech Does anyone else think that bike manufacturers' including a saddle that fits "no one" comfortably is stupider than not including pedals? i.e. Does anyone else wish they had narrower ischial tuberosities so a 145mm saddle was tolerable?

[jasonparrish]

I enjoy smoking carbon riders with a 40 year old track bike.

[hockysa]

Best bike upgrade ever for me was moving from south east London to Barcelona.

[WilhelmGutentag]

The best upgrade is the one that makes you ride more often.

I've got myself a new Grail 2.0 SLX as a gravel bike with DT Swiss GRC 1400 wheels, and then a set of road wheels (ERC 1400 with 30mm tires) ready to hot swap. This has become my 'does-it-all' bike, and it's ready to go whenever I feel like it. It never has any issues and is such a joy to ride. I now ride twice as much because it's much easier to just 'go'.

So, to me, upgrades that improve:
1. Comfort
2. Reliability
3. Versatility
4. Security (like adding lights, etc.)
5. And most importantly, make it more FUN, are worth it!

(Yes, I recently added a 54t ratchet - total nonsense, but I just love its impact on how the bike sounds.)

[johnstrac]

The best way to save weight on a bike is to take a good look at the lump of lard on the saddle.

[HolloGravelClassic]

Recently downgraded from a carbon super six evo with sram red to a 80’s Bianchi in celeste with 9speed dura ace. I’m not racing anymore and decided aesthetics are more important than tech/weight. I cannot tell you how much more excited I am to head out for a ride now than I was before!

Now when I’m dropped in the hills I’ll be looking good!

[lwiful]

As a 62 year old person cycling for fun and health, I've found it cheaper and more healthy to try losing 100g on body weight then losing the same weight on an upgraded group set. 105 sort of hits the sweet spot for me 😉

[SamRobinson-rv]

A clean, well maintained cheaper bike is far faster than a dirty, squeaky expensive one creaking up a hill

[Local.hero.]

Being slower on a tt bike for a start is perfectly normal and common, you need more practice than most people realise.

[rowdml]

Eddy said it best: "Don't buy upgrades. Ride up grades."

[jasondart]

I try to stick by the mantra of, "If I wear something out through normal wear and tear, then it's something I use enough that's worth upgrading when it needs replacing".

[peterslater]

the answer of "upgrading yourself" in terms of ability, fitness, etc. - is like in the car world, where forum-posters come on and say "what should i upgrade?!" and the answer always is... "tighten the nut behind the wheel." ;)