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03-03-2005, 06:39 AM

Thanks. I appreciate the comments. My old frame came with the Ultegra
shifters which was a huge step up for me from the friction shifters that
were on my old bike. I am still learning about the various components,
when it is advisable to change and when it is not.

frkrygow@yahoo.com wrote:
> catzz66 wrote:
>
>> Question for the rest of you: Would you upgrade your components
>>if you were Mary?
>
------
>
> I see no point in trading, say, a crankset for a similar shinier
> crankset. I see no point in taking off, say, Tiagra shifters to
> install Ultegra. And there's no practical benefit - and some safety
> detriment, I fear - to installing a lighter handlebar, or whatever.
> And I don't need to slice my existing gear range into tinier steps,
> thanks.
>
> I changed cranksets when I got one on a terrific sale that allowed me
> to replace my double with a triple, allowing a super low for touring.
> I switched from exposed cable brake levers to "aero" ones when I
> installed a clip-on aero handlebar. I traded long arm caliper brakes
> for cantis because the calipers had lousy mechanical advantage - i.e.
> the bike stopped poorly. IOW, I change components only to solve
> specific problems. (And to be honest, some of the replacements were
> "downgrades," if you go by catalog rankings.)
>
> If the existing bike is serving Mary well - and it certainly sounds
> like it is, based on her mileage - I think she needn't spend money to
> "upgrade." Better to save the money and use it for a nicer vacation.
> With the bike, of course!
>

03-03-2005, 06:39 AM	#88 (permalink)
catzz66 Posts: n/a	Re: you have to be kidding Thanks. I appreciate the comments. My old frame came with the Ultegra shifters which was a huge step up for me from the friction shifters that were on my old bike. I am still learning about the various components, when it is advisable to change and when it is not. frkrygow@yahoo.com wrote: > catzz66 wrote: > >> Question for the rest of you: Would you upgrade your components >>if you were Mary? > ------ > > I see no point in trading, say, a crankset for a similar shinier > crankset. I see no point in taking off, say, Tiagra shifters to > install Ultegra. And there's no practical benefit - and some safety > detriment, I fear - to installing a lighter handlebar, or whatever. > And I don't need to slice my existing gear range into tinier steps, > thanks. > > I changed cranksets when I got one on a terrific sale that allowed me > to replace my double with a triple, allowing a super low for touring. > I switched from exposed cable brake levers to "aero" ones when I > installed a clip-on aero handlebar. I traded long arm caliper brakes > for cantis because the calipers had lousy mechanical advantage - i.e. > the bike stopped poorly. IOW, I change components only to solve > specific problems. (And to be honest, some of the replacements were > "downgrades," if you go by catalog rankings.) > > If the existing bike is serving Mary well - and it certainly sounds > like it is, based on her mileage - I think she needn't spend money to > "upgrade." Better to save the money and use it for a nicer vacation. > With the bike, of course! >