I purchased a 2012 specialized tarmac elite, all stock components.
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/tarma ... ct/p/35180
SRAM Rival and a bunch of specialized brand components.
It’s in good condition etc.
I’m ok spending some money, kinda inherited the bike so I have some $$ to spend on upgrading.
What should I prioritize for upgrading?
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SimonWatts
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Thu Sep 26, 2024 3:53 pm
maintenance first, then tires, bartape, bikefit, wheels maybe if you have some money left over.
Specialized components are generally fine, not the lightest.
Ride the bike and find out what you like/don´t like, you should get a feeling for the bike pretty fast.
Specialized components are generally fine, not the lightest.
Ride the bike and find out what you like/don´t like, you should get a feeling for the bike pretty fast.
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Don't buy anything until you have a bike fit, the fitter will tell you what to get to make it fit and feel better, and if you still have money left over, you can ask him what he would upgrade past the fit stuff.
Usually, wheels are the single best improvement you can make; cheaper costs though is tubes and tires being the single most important upgrade on a budget.
If you can afford very nice tires like Vittoria Corsa line with latex tubes, man, those can transform your ride. Vitts have about 6 different types of Corsa tires, and you can sometimes find them on sale after Thanksgiving, if those are too pricey then go with the Rubino Pro. The Rubino tire is more durable, more flat resistant, and will last longer than the Corsa tires, but the ride is nicer with the Corsa's. The Corsa is a racing tire, so they will only last between 1,000 to 2,000 miles depending on the model (the most expensive one won't last as long as the least expensive Corsa model), while the Rubino's will last at least 3,000 miles. For practical purposes the Rubino is the best buy. I do ride on high end Corsa tires, but I got them on a closeout for $20 each when they were selling for $90 each, so I bought 2 pairs.
Also go with Vittoria Latex tubes. They are a bit fragile installing them, you have to be careful not to rip the tube, but if done tube replacements before then you should be ok. Also, Latex tubes will lose about 20 psi a day, so you will have to put air in for every ride, but even with butyl tubes you need to put in about 5 psi every day. But latex tubes ride more comfortably, they feel like you're riding 20 psi less on a butyl tube.
But components of any nature (besides what I mentioned above) are not a wise upgrade, you gain very little, so little it will not be noticeable upgrading components. Only upgrade components as they wear out, live with what came on the bike till then, or until the fitter says something.
Look at getting the fit done first, that is the single most important upgrade you can do. Find a qualified fitter, not some college kid that was trained fast and the store calls him a pro fitter. Get some recommendations/referrals from other cyclists. And some places offer discounts on fittings starting in December through January due to winter pricing...unless you live in California where there is no winter.
Usually, wheels are the single best improvement you can make; cheaper costs though is tubes and tires being the single most important upgrade on a budget.
If you can afford very nice tires like Vittoria Corsa line with latex tubes, man, those can transform your ride. Vitts have about 6 different types of Corsa tires, and you can sometimes find them on sale after Thanksgiving, if those are too pricey then go with the Rubino Pro. The Rubino tire is more durable, more flat resistant, and will last longer than the Corsa tires, but the ride is nicer with the Corsa's. The Corsa is a racing tire, so they will only last between 1,000 to 2,000 miles depending on the model (the most expensive one won't last as long as the least expensive Corsa model), while the Rubino's will last at least 3,000 miles. For practical purposes the Rubino is the best buy. I do ride on high end Corsa tires, but I got them on a closeout for $20 each when they were selling for $90 each, so I bought 2 pairs.
Also go with Vittoria Latex tubes. They are a bit fragile installing them, you have to be careful not to rip the tube, but if done tube replacements before then you should be ok. Also, Latex tubes will lose about 20 psi a day, so you will have to put air in for every ride, but even with butyl tubes you need to put in about 5 psi every day. But latex tubes ride more comfortably, they feel like you're riding 20 psi less on a butyl tube.
But components of any nature (besides what I mentioned above) are not a wise upgrade, you gain very little, so little it will not be noticeable upgrading components. Only upgrade components as they wear out, live with what came on the bike till then, or until the fitter says something.
Look at getting the fit done first, that is the single most important upgrade you can do. Find a qualified fitter, not some college kid that was trained fast and the store calls him a pro fitter. Get some recommendations/referrals from other cyclists. And some places offer discounts on fittings starting in December through January due to winter pricing...unless you live in California where there is no winter.
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TakahashiOkabe
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Tue Nov 05, 2024 4:35 pm
Hey! First, I’d recommend investing in new wheels – it’s the best way to boost performance and reduce weight. Go for something lighter, like carbon wheels, they’ll work great. After that, consider swapping out the handlebar and seatpost – small weight savings and better comfort.
PS. I upgraded my wheels, and the difference was really noticeable!
PS. I upgraded my wheels, and the difference was really noticeable!
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catcompote
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Sat Oct 05, 2024 10:09 pm
probably the saddle and handlebars and also bikefit would be a good addition.
