Road Bike Upgrades You DON’T Need

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Top 5 | Road Bike Upgrades You DON’T Need
Spending money on your bike can be great fun, but there are some upgrades that just aren’t worth it.
Here are the top five upgrades we think you should avoid. We’ve laid bare our reasons, but do you agree? Let us know in the comments.
#cycling #bike #roadbike #upgrade
Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:20 A Flagship Carbon Frame or Groupset
01:15 Tubeless
02:41 Carbon Handlebars
03:50 Expensive Parts
05:04 Power Meter
06:17 Outro
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Liam's Super-Light Custom Specialized Aethos! Hill Climb Diaries
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Опубликовано:

13 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 284

@bikeradar 6 месяцев назад

We’ve laid bare our reasons, but do you agree? Let us know in the comments 👇👇👇

@verynaughty6563 6 месяцев назад

I've got some mavic ksyrium ust wheels, with yksion tyres tubeless, both running excellently from day one with no flats or issues. Same story with mtb tubeless! Better reliability + no innertubes, so less oil and plastic/rubber used = better for everyone

@larryt.atcycleitalia5786 6 месяцев назад

Never seen any valid reason to use any of this stuff, but I don't make any money selling it either so I'll leave it to the suckers and shills to list in the comments how I'm missing out on so much fun. I'd rather be riding than shopping or working on my bicycle.

@jakobilse5533 6 месяцев назад

Getting a power meter was the biggest upgrade of my cycling life. It is so much fun to see the progress and much better to train to power. And with the bunch of extra training I did, climbs that took 40 mins now take only around 25 mins. Total game changer!

@Terrorworld 6 месяцев назад

Same here!!

@tfanning10 6 месяцев назад

Combine it with a good training plan and I'd argue it is the MOST economical upgrade you can make. RPE is fine, but varies too drastically depending on outside factors when compared to a power meter. The rider has far more influence on the bike than the bike has on the rider.

@marcdaniels9079 5 месяцев назад

Yup

@lifesaver3499 5 месяцев назад

it was your extra training

@danielt91 5 месяцев назад

And inevitably at some point you get the fun of watching your form regressing (or staying the same at best), because you can't improve endlessly. And seeing you cannot do better is super pleasant and uplifting. Almost as much as seeing you outright got weaker. My point is: it's totally useless if you're not a pro and cycling for money. And only fun at the beginning, after that it becomes frustrating.

@massimoserafini8115 6 месяцев назад

Any upgrade that makes your bike look better makes you faster. That is a scientifically proven fact.

@daydreaming_aristocrat 6 месяцев назад

This 💯

@littlevo9 6 месяцев назад

Aimer son vélo donne envie de rouler,vous roulez donc plus souvent -> vous devenez plus performant donc bon vélo=plus performant

@mortiftw6378 6 месяцев назад

this is probably realy true - nice bike makes you wanting to ride and volume makes you faster ...

@tiagoschroder 6 месяцев назад

Same for the rider: any upgrades that makes de biker looks better ...

@leonardo3399 5 месяцев назад

😂😂😂

@jochem1986 6 месяцев назад

On the other hand, if you have the money, you work hard, you only live once.

@allenjay896 6 месяцев назад

I mean yeah if youre rich af. Sure

@markotrieste 6 месяцев назад

If you work hard you have no time for cycling.

@Ivan-oh6ug 6 месяцев назад

You still don't need them even if yiu can afford them. I just don't get the fuss about power meters - I'd say for the vast majority of riders it's just a bit of pointless extra data you can do without. A heart rate monitor is far more useful.

@akcalder92 6 месяцев назад

I’ll never own a Porsche, but I can own a really awesome bike.

@531c 6 месяцев назад

Forget Dura Ace and Ultegra, 105 di2 12 speed wont hold back 99% of riders.

@M3GRSD 6 месяцев назад

Hard Disagree on Tubeless. I no longer get pinch flats, which has removed So Much Stress from my life. I no longer need to use Cinturato Velo or Gatorskin Hardshell tires for my glass and pothole-infused roads; Gatorskin's are straight-up dangerous in the wet. And using regular tires, like the 5000GP All-Season TLR, actually has made me faster due to the lower weight and rolling resistance. All the maintenance required and cost associated is moot because it has literally paid for itself, no question.

@DarrenMansell 6 месяцев назад

Yeah I don't care about rolling resistance and feel was never an issue but tubeless relegates flats into the extremely unlikely territory along with other catastrophic ride ending failures. The maintenance is a non issue. I find seating the tyres easier and topping up or replacing sealant once a year takes a few mins.

@Hokum48 6 месяцев назад

Agreed! Recently in a two week period I would have had to change 4 tubes! A little sealant on my calf and bike all good!

@hughjanus7354 6 месяцев назад

@@DarrenMansell you're getting fewer flats because a) tyre tech has progressed over the last few years and b) disc brake bikes allow for wider tyres, not because you're riding tubeless. And the moment you get that one flat which will shower you and the bike in sealant will be your last road tubeless ride. Ask me how many times per year I need to get my hands dirty to top up or replace my tubes because they expire.

@DarrenMansell 6 месяцев назад

@@hughjanus7354 I've been tubeless for 8 years on my road, MTB and gravel bikes. I've never had that happen. The only times I've had flats in that time was when I had new bikes delivered with tubes.

@p.g.torrez673 6 месяцев назад

@@DarrenMansell My knowledgeable bike tech recommends applying sealant about every 3 mos. Just a heads-up!

@whizler 6 месяцев назад

Agreed that if improving cycling performance isn't a goal of yours, then the power meter is a waste. But for me, improving performance and seeing gains is a wonderful part of my cycling journey, and the power meter has been an integral part of that. As a result, I'll probably dabble in racing this year.

@cyclingmd 6 месяцев назад

Lots of things can be tools, or they can be toys. There is nothing wrong with having a power meter simply because you like to look at the numbers and it makes you want to ride your bike more.

@davidwilliams3397 6 месяцев назад

I have garmin pedal power meter for health reasons as I have an autoimmune disease so it allows me to check progress and when I need a IVIG infusion. I also use wireless shifting as due to my ailment my right hand is significantly weaker than my left and changing gear in the cold is a troublesome So for me the technology allows me to ride I have also found that now I have a power meter I can better manage my ride in terms of not blowing up on steep climbs in the same way that I found that a monitoring my runs with a garmin watch has led to me running faster & smoother. so it really does depend on what you want to do. For me a power meter is essential but for others it is a nice to have. On the tubeless thing. As a mountain biker I would say it is just so much better especially since you can couple it with inserts, for road it depends on the sort of roads in London the roads vary from super smooth to third world potholes and so whilst I haven't gone tubeless yet the punctures I have had does make me think about it

@kalijasin 4 месяца назад

@@davidwilliams3397 using a cycling tool to monitor health that does not monitor health? Yeah, that makes sense. LOL

@davidwilliams3397 4 месяца назад

@@kalijasin My autoimmune diseases affects the strength in my legs having a power meter allows my neurologist to monitor the power out to check for the deterioration & then proscribe medication to counteract it....... But as you are an expert in the field a bow to your rank stupidity

@ToddRussell-kd6ji 6 месяцев назад

Invest in the rider. I spent nearly $300k on a quadruple bypass and cut 40 minutes off my century time. Performance enhancing surgery!

@bikeradar 6 месяцев назад

I'm not going to crunch the numbers. But I'd bet this is still a better time saved to money spent ratio than some top-end bikes

@mjharrisleeds 21 день назад

Thanks for posting one of the best comments I've ever read

@philipflipflopg4065 6 месяцев назад

Tubeless is the best upgrade! No more flat tyre anxiety. Just be ready to plug if needed

@JohnDoe-yh9gi 6 месяцев назад

Tubeless is a great upgrade. The feeling of not getting a flat every time you go out is extra motivation to go out and ride. I'm happy to maintain it at home rather than getting a flat on the road.

@prenticebenton4475 6 месяцев назад

The fact tubeless is on this list is a crime. Can actually be cost effective in the long run.

@tomrace3057 6 месяцев назад

Agreed. One flat in 2 years after going tubeless = more fun on the bike.

@brendanlewisisme 6 месяцев назад

Yup, not repairing goat head /Thorn punctures, priceless

@philipallen4230 5 месяцев назад

I disagree, tubeless are a faff and when they do fail, they fail spectacularly. I run latex tubes in my road bike and for CX racing and nothing would make change to tubeless.

@sparkeyjones6261 5 месяцев назад

What kind of roads do you have in your area where you get flats every time you go out?

@diegoeleazar9154 6 месяцев назад

Power meter is 50/50. It's good on climbs to manage power and not to blow up.

@user-jn6uw2to1w Месяц назад

Tubeless had saved me from tube replacements since 2 years on Enduro MTB, Gravel & Road. This has made such a difference to former frequent tube replacements that I am more than happy to.

@jgauth2 6 месяцев назад

What a weird argument against tubeless-debris ridden roads are exactly why you would want tubeless! If you're losing sealant and having to top off because of punctures then you are literally avoiding roadside repairs

@bobbyhaag7863 6 месяцев назад

Old school tubes… if I gotta be the last than the last I will be.

@WesternUranus 6 месяцев назад

As someone with a poor threshold and a decent sprint, my power meter allows me to see when I'm getting carried away on a climb or in the casual acceleration. It allows me to work on endurance with low fatigue sessions as I would otherwise perpetually traini too hard and burnout eventually. I bought it last summer and have been making good gains since then with less fatigue overall.

@veganpotterthevegan 6 месяцев назад

Tubeless was life changing. 3-4 goathead flats a week, down to using 1-3 plugs throughout the life of a tire. If tubeless tires miraculously got banned, I'd honestly probably quit cycling after experiencing how much better life is with them

@hughjanus7354 6 месяцев назад

LOL, what tyres do you use and where do you ride to get this many "potential" flats? Get yourself a set of wider GP5000s or Cinturatos and move ouf ot the ghetto, would be my advice.

@brianskies 6 месяцев назад

Do both wheels and tires need to be tubeless compatible? About to buy a new road bike and was really trying to go tubeless. What do I look for? wheels?

@veganpotterthevegan 6 месяцев назад

@@brianskies yes, but most bikes come with tubeless compatible rims these days, even if they have tubed clinchers mounted.

@EmmanuelNataf 6 месяцев назад

@@hughjanus7354 before tubeless I was going through several pairs of GP5000s around London each year.

@M3GRSD 6 месяцев назад

I love your attitude. I don't think my addiction to road riding would allow me to quit, but fuck.. I shit you not, that inner tubes fail anxiety would literally cause me to experience an early death.

@ulrimi30 6 месяцев назад

Funny, for me tubeless & a power meter are essential.

@SamuelBlackMetalRider 6 месяцев назад

I have used Chinese Aero Carbon handlebars for years, totaling something like 50,000km with them on all my different bikes. They usually cost less than Aluminum bars from big brands. Very good ones for like 50€

@jvcdasucian8801 5 месяцев назад

May I know what brand is it.

@QuickQuips 6 месяцев назад

Though latex is so finicky and more maintenance that it is worse than tubeless. Also you can probably go two tiers down from top level groupsets honestly. 105 is amazing.

@gaza4543 6 месяцев назад

Not my experience with latex at all and certainly not up there with maintenance needed on monthly bases for tubeless. For most for the cost even if you have tubeless ready rims I’d say on the day today tubeless is a hard sell especially when you can get gp5000 clinchers for as little 30 quid.

@sjurk81 6 месяцев назад

@@gaza4543 Latex maintenance: few squirts with the pump a week and they're fine.

@michaelmappin4425 6 месяцев назад

I hated latex. Flats all the time. TPU is great.

@MrRichBenn 6 месяцев назад

Good info for the young performance rider. I’m a bit the opposite, at over 70. My priorities are comfort and training feedback. For comfort, wider and/or tubeless tires are a priority. I was able to slightly increase the width of my tires and use a high thread count tire to increase comfort. A more comfotable saddle, at the expense of weight, is next. I bought a carbon handlebar and seatpost many years ago, and it did help a bit in damping. And last year, I downgraded to a 105 level derailleur so I could get a somewhat larger cassette to help spin faster in the local mountain passes. My knees are happy. As far as training, a heart rate monitor IS the ticket. VERY inexpensive and tells me when I’m working too hard or too little for a long ride. No need for a power meter. I’ll eventually have to spring for an electric assist bike to make it up the hills, so why waste money now on a slick endurance bike?

@robertoe.germanjr.2631 6 месяцев назад

I agree, best up grade is our body❤❤❤ not the high end bike accessories.... Go to the gym, go jogging, loss weight 💪....

@27lacuna27 6 месяцев назад

Tubeless is significantly less maintenance than having to fix punctures and repair tubes. Obviously wheels are the best upgrade for any new bike so you might as well go tubeless at the same time. Carbon bars are worth their weight in gold for the additional comfort.

@connorparadis4804 6 месяцев назад

I was thinking the same. I'd go further to argue that adding sealant or pumping up tires between rides is not the same 'work' as fixing a flat mid-ride.

@EmmanuelNataf 6 месяцев назад

Agreed with everything you wrote. Tubeless is amazing (personally not had to insert a tube in for over 15,000km, half being gravel). Suggesting TPU tubes that keep failing at the valve instead is a joke.

@jamesmckenzie3532 6 месяцев назад

I agree. Since going tubeless in 2018, I've experienced two catastrophic failures that required tubes. Other than that, the use of a pump is all I needed. Given I was going through tubes like a six-year-old goes through candy, that's a massive difference. Yes, going tubeless can be a faff, but once you are there it's a massive change from having to carry multiple tubes on every ride.

@tonywilson5468 6 месяцев назад

3 years so far riding tubeless on my summer and winter road bikes with zero issues! Apart from adding a small amout of air after the ride following a "puncture", I've had to do nothing except enjoy the ride 😊 uninterrupted rides

@herculesrockefeller8969 6 месяцев назад

Tubeless is a typuical industry marketing gimmick which is unnecessary. save your money and your effort for riding.

@robertdavenport6705 6 месяцев назад

Between the ages 69 to 71 I have lost 20 lbs. body weight. Same 8 year old bike and an average 2kph speed increase . I eat more cheaply also .

@benjamescycling 5 месяцев назад

As someone who invested in a power meter this year, it’s been the best performance upgrade. It’s allowed me to measure my training effort and my FTP has gone up 10% in 4 months. However, if you are not like me and ride ‘casually’, you probably don’t ‘need’ one

@einundsiebenziger5488 Месяц назад

How much price money has that higher FTP won you?

@peadhill 6 месяцев назад

I'm 65, bike commuter and recreational rider. A power meter "gamifies" my riding and provides me feedback on my performance. Do I need it? Nope. Does it get me out on a drizzly weekend morning to do an endurance ride? Yup. It has an odd ability to motivate.

@sjurk81 6 месяцев назад

Nice vid, I agree with you guys on almost everything, especially tubeless. I ride with butyl (gravel bike)), TPU (roadbike) and latex (TT bike) and a flat every 5.000kms I just can't be bothered. While I agree on your point about powermeters, there's a 'but': with a focus on speed some rides may feel bad, while they weren't. A powermeter helps by showing how much work you did, which may be a lot more than that fast ride a few days ago.

@lionelbass1505 5 месяцев назад

Great to hear an honest view. Also well spoken and presented!

@swazi5 6 месяцев назад

I love tubeless, di2, integrated cables, and disk brakes. I'd still ride without but I'd way rather have. It is what it is.

@jaycahow4667 2 месяца назад

I have over a dozen bikes and none of them have any of these features yet I still ride over 6500 miles a year.

@gerardlavigne9019 6 месяцев назад

Switched to TPU tubes cause I use my bike to commute and very rarely get punctures. Paired with GP5000s, I've gained in speed and repsonsivness (useful for urban riding with loads of stops), but also lost a little in comfort. I'd definitely opt for tubeless with larger section tires on a future gravel or mountain bike but I'm sticking to TPUs for now on my commuter bike

@michaelmappin4425 6 месяцев назад

Me too. Every time someone running tubeless in the group does get a flat, they seem like they need an Uber.

@verynaughty6563 6 месяцев назад

I got some garmin vector dual side pedals a couple of years ago. Found out that I already had excellent pedal technique, and was chucking out decent average power in a racing/ tt situation, so I sort of didn't really need them, but it was nice to get the feedback Might ebay them soon as they've only been used a handful of times.

@Ryan.T89 6 месяцев назад

Have to disagree with tubeless. Roads where I live are not great and the ride quality improvements are worth the hassle. I also puncture a lot less than I used to riding the same tyres. I think tubeless very much depends where you live, as if you have nice smooth roads I can’t see it being worth it.

@mrrodriguezHLP 6 месяцев назад

I set up and maintain my own tubeless tires. I bought sealant in bulk, and have an air cannister to seat tires. I patch my tires when the sealant isn't enough, and I imagine I will see the full life of my tires down to the wear indicators. It is an upfront hit in cost, but I am probably well set up for years to come.

@littlevo9 6 месяцев назад

Votre problème c’est l’argent,les vélos hauts de gamme sont géniaux et ne se traduisent pas que par un gain de vitesse moyenne !! Le gain de plaisir est bien là ,je n’ai pas un gros niveau et vraiment mon sl7 s-works m’a beaucoup apporté et c’est toujours énormément de plaisir à son guidon. Si vous pouvez prenez le top de la gamme c’est une vraie expérience ! Vous critiquez les éléments uniquement sur le rapport prix /performance hors on sait que dans la technologie ce n’est pas linéaire,un vélo deux fois plus cher ne sera pas 2x mieux mais ce qui est sûr c’est qu’un vélo 2x moins cher ne sera jamais aussi bon . Alors faites vous plaisir si vous le pouvez et vous verrez que c’est génial !

@anaussieinvietnam 5 месяцев назад

I built a bike and got tubeless... Never had a single decent trouble free ride in 6 months.... Now I have 2 tubes in them and life is much better. Never going to tubeless again - too much work and stress.

@ninozebec5740 3 месяца назад

Im not quite sure what you are doing to get flats, but i've only had a few in 15 years. And even those were mostly from running over a piece of glass or something like that. I rode a 23 mm skinny slick on a Trek 2.1. for over 10 years on the road with minimal punctures. For the past year i've been riding Scott Adddict on 35 mm cyclocross tires with tubes on mixed terrains, road and hard packed gravel with occasional rougher paths but i don't particularly enjoy those. Long story short, no defects yet, neither on bike, nor tire.

@herbalnedtv 3 месяца назад

Omagosh, I think you're me!!! I rode a Trek 4.5 for ten years and now I have an Addict running 32s! Nice to meet you, @ninozebec5740, lol! 👋👍😂

@calmprn7165 6 месяцев назад

Thanks for this, it's nice to see the other side of the argument presented so well .

@aluminati9918 6 месяцев назад

Can agree on most of this, but will make a case for watt pedals. Even for an amateur it’s a game changer for training more disciplined and using energy in a more rational way. Also, contrary to other upgrades, you can use them on multiple bikes.

@DarrenMansell 6 месяцев назад

I bought a 105 4iiii left crank arm for £150. Thats a great upgrade for some nice to have dats.

@Jacob99174 6 месяцев назад

Carbon bars, worth it for the feel. The feel is real 🎉

@frantzs1077 Месяц назад

I have tubeless on my 600 euro Triban bike. I have time to maintain them when at home. If it saves me from one flat tire on my ride 20km from home it is worth it. When I go on a bike I just want to ride and some extra security is worth it for me.

@JohnBatty 27 дней назад

Tubeless is ALL about not having to stop for punctures. A bit of faff in the comfort of your garage beats the crap out of changing a tube by the side of the road, in the rain (it's always raining when you get a puncture).

@wasinphutthon 5 месяцев назад

I love watching “bike upgrades you don’t need” kindna stuff and then buy it. LOL

@perryvath7617 Месяц назад

At 66 yo., I value my power meters (on 3 bikes). Tubeless on my gravel & mountain bikes, but tubes on road bike because they’re easier to repair in remote locations. Most people I know with tubeless have had to call for a ride at least once, several have gone back to tubes, especially if it’s a training ride.

@serdarjorayev 5 месяцев назад

Thank you for this video. I am shocked to know that an upgrade that makes a bike only 300 grams lighter costs $1,500. Happy to know this too. :)

@dwaynerandolph3565 6 месяцев назад

I think a power meter & a heart rate monitor are almost the same. And I've used a heart rate monitor while racing/ Cycling for 23byrs and it has done me well ❤

@Hokum48 6 месяцев назад

I use both, the great thing about power is it is instantaneous where the heart rate takes a little time to catch up!

@marcdaniels9079 5 месяцев назад

Take a look at the science and you will see that power is so much more useful. Example I live in Brazil and when it’s 34 degrees and humid I can be +10 to 15 bpm higher than in winter at day 25. Ok so for Uk not so important but another example if I ride a session directly after breakfast with a strong coffee versus pm then same power and I am up a similar bpm. This means if you want to train at specific zones your HR meter is not a good guide at all. Lastly your recovery and fatigue level will impact your HR too.

@galenkehler 22 дня назад

Tubeless tires are by far the biggest improvement in speed you can do, because of all the time saved not being stuck beside the road with flat tires. And it ends up being a lot cheaper in saved tubes.

@McHayes76 4 месяца назад

Nobody goes tubeless because of the speed. That's a really strange argument. Comfort (lower pressure) and not having to replace inner tubes in the rain, cold or dark is heavenly. Yes the tyres are sometimes hard to get on the rim, but since I switched to tubeless I haven't had any puncture that made me stop for over 25.000 km, and that's two years of riding.

@Mas421 5 месяцев назад

Nice to see that RU-vid is telling me always what I need (or not)

@teunluijbregts2533 5 месяцев назад

Good advice 👍 A lot more realistic than the stories from upto half a year ago when a power meter was indispensable, tyres had to be tubeless and wheels had to be aero and carbon 😅😅🤣

@n22pdf 6 месяцев назад

Great vid guys 😊 Pete 🚴🏻👍😃

@victorrodriguez2806 5 месяцев назад

Finally someone comes forward with some truth about Tubeless. I've known all along Latex tubes in any clincher is better than Tubeless any day of the year. Tubeless tires and all the junk needed are overpriced and heavy!! Thank you for your honesty.

@paulwinkfield6560 5 месяцев назад

Spot on! BUT...my 1970s 531/ Campy racer was great, then in mid 2010 got a CF aero racer, difference nite&day i took over 2lbs off by switching to CF wheels, stem & Hbar that allowed me to do century rides with little pain. I grew up on sewups, do all my own maintenance used to build wheelsets too, have tubeless wheelsets, but i don't want the mess now, though my clubmates sware by them, but LBS do their maintenance! TPU tubes are awesome! If I could get a CF frame that had cool lugs like my steelbikes had, I'd open wallet! It's only money, I'll make more!🥂

@jesuscruz836 6 месяцев назад

You've missed Oversized Pulley Wheel

@gerrymcbride6429 6 месяцев назад

@jesuscruz836 I'm not sure he did, check 4'11"

@TroubleshootGamingMeds 6 месяцев назад

I agree. But if youve got tons of dough, why not. I dont, so i always look to improve in cheap or free ways.

@rbejar7230 5 месяцев назад

Totalmente cierto y de acuerdo, felicidades, saludos desde Ecuador

@buckroger6456 Месяц назад

I got a power meter, but only because it was the only way I could get a bigger chainring on my bike. I honestly don't get the whole power meter stuff and would have never bought one, but when I switch from a 2x drive train to a 1x, the biggest chainring sram makes is a 46t. Now, for tubeless! I have all my bikes set up tubless. I would never switch back to tubes.

@hockysa 5 месяцев назад

My power meter was one of my best purchases for pacing myself. The first time I did 100 miles versus the next time I had a power meter was night and day. Besides completing it faster I felt fresh as a daisy.

@vothry 6 месяцев назад

I would whole heartedly disagree on the tubeless opinion. Living in Southern California, my sealant lasts longer than the tire tread, and after 3 seasons and near 20k miles, I've had only one flat that didn't seal on its own and that was a slash for a glass bottle requiring a car pickup. It has helped me immensely with my riding anxiety and experiencing constant flats, at speed, with the result being two crashes from the front going flat immediately.

@davidcawthorne7115 5 месяцев назад

Best investment. Correct tyre pressure. Free too. 😊❤

@ProfeTa6 6 месяцев назад

I switched a carbon handlebar that came with my bike to an aluminum one because the shape didn't suit me and it's actually quite stiffer from the drops and feels nice when attacking or putting on the power. But then again I race and couldn't care about comfort.

@JanBanJoovi-ol1qv 16 дней назад

Im an average leisure rider that pretends to be a professional cyclist once in a while. So I don’t need any of these upgrades at all. I’m not an athlete so having unnecessary gadgets is a waste of money indeed. Regarding tubeless tyres, I don’t want additional stress of maintenance. I have many other problems to deal with already. Never had a flat tyre with the tubes tyres as I casually ride on mtb trails most of the times.

@KenSmith-bv4si 6 месяцев назад

I never knew how much I wanted a power-meter, then in 2022 I bought a new bike with the group set Sram Force and a power-meter. side note I did get a Sram Red rear cassette 10/33 because it's lighter and no black sprocket.

@gerrymcbride6429 6 месяцев назад

@KenSmith-bv4si LOL I kinda like the black sprocket.

@tinnie1835 5 месяцев назад

Is electronic shifting worth it? I am looking at mechanical ultegra on a bike in want. Either 105di or ultegra mechanical

@GeirEivindMork 4 месяца назад

I got a di2 bike, and when I started to build a gravel bike / commuter bike there was one requirement I had. electronic shifting. Was a sale on the old gen sram force etap, so I went with that. afraid I'm never going back to mechanical. it is just zero maintance if you don't count charging battery every few months. But on my di2 bike that means plugging it somewhere in the week after the computer say it has low battery.

@user-nt8dy4xw9r 6 месяцев назад

Good to see a practical approach in cycling channel. Clipless pedals, wheels, tyre and bartape are the dramatic upgrades I’d recommend for newcomers.

@christoffelbotha2087 6 месяцев назад

Love it, great advice to protect your hard earned money from profit driven industries.

@rbejar7230 5 месяцев назад

Totalmente cierto, y de acuerdo, felicidades desde ecuador

@ptonewood 5 месяцев назад

Quality wheels from stock can be a huge upgrade, but I agree if you’re just running 25-28mm clinchers, I wouldn’t bother…just get some good tires. I’d also agree with the PM, seems that most people I know who have them don’t really understand the data and use Zwift training without a coach or knowledge of how to actually train.

@geucamole 5 месяцев назад

Power meter is I think one of the essentials and wouldn't have a bike without one, just for the basic fact that it helps me directly see my fitness level.

@Xhadp 6 месяцев назад

I don't think it should be don't buy upgrades but do your research before buying stuff and to be aware of the price point offerings. Buying dura ace groupsets and oversized pulley wheels sure are going to set your bank back and aren't going to be worth the upgrade. But doing research and finding out the best 1by groupset to buy or power meter pricing points before committing are going to be worth it once you do take that plunge.

@TeacherNickoy 5 месяцев назад

As a 100kg biker, tubeless setup saved me a lot of money and time. I bust atleast 1 inner tube every week.

@hillogical 5 месяцев назад

Tubeless is awesome. Granted: I had tubeless ready rims, an air compressor, and worked on tractor tires in college so I have the tools needed. My rides are SO MUCH BETTER knowing I'm good. IFF you have the stuff, it's something that should be done by default.

@richardhorn2476 5 месяцев назад

My summer bike has a carbon handlebar (comfort), tubeless tyres (virtually no flats) and a power meter. It also has mechanical gears and rim brakes...

@leightondavies8884 6 месяцев назад

I was toying with getting a power meter crank or pedal , but had doubts about the tangible benefits - it’s built in on my kickr - you’ve reaffirmed my decision not to bother - going skiing instead … winner winner

@DarrenMansell 6 месяцев назад

Look into refurb 4iiii cranks. They're really cheap and work well.

@Hokum48 6 месяцев назад

Power meter was a game changer for me! No I don't race......

@jonathanzappala 6 месяцев назад

If you do all your training on the trainer you could get away with that. But if you have shimano a 4iiii left crank was $235 on black friday.

@MrGrusome 5 месяцев назад

Current power output is the most important value for getting your ride with the right pace. And yes, most wheels are tubeless ready and in the end having less punctures is a timesaver.

@creative907 3 месяца назад

How about the arbitary performance gians "bike bling" aka OSPWs, aero cranksets and graphene disc pads to name a few.

@tfsnousa 6 месяцев назад

Carbon handlebars saved my wrists. Could care less about the aero or weight savings but the comfort aspect has been great

@brentcollins9727 6 месяцев назад

I tried tubeless and after waking up to a flat tire a couple of times I went back to tubes and Mr Tuffy tire inserts.

@EmmanuelNataf 6 месяцев назад

There can be several reasons but most common is the rim tape not done properly. Can go for months with hardly any loss of pressure if everything is well sealed.

@johnsfulton 5 месяцев назад

You’re out there and you get a puncture, it’s cold and wet! Take the wheel off, take the tyre off the rim, find the puncture etc. etc.etc. Or plug it in seconds a bit of air and away you go.

@kevin-joelcoupland5106 6 месяцев назад

Well balanced opinion I do think many purchases are based on emotions and not on ROI

@allenjay896 6 месяцев назад

How much aerodynamic are angled hoods? Compared to 0 degrees hoods?..

@buster.keaton 6 месяцев назад

Total agree about the power meter statement... i.e., if you don't use the data, you don't need one. With my 50 birthday just around the corner, I only predict my power numbers will only trend one direction as time goes on. 🙃

@marcdaniels9079 5 месяцев назад

Agree in principle but I bought one at 55 and improved massively with a decent programme so don’t give up ! I am 63 now and still trying to hold steady 😮

@tonynolan4498 5 месяцев назад

Totally agree with all the above, but for me the Power meter was the best investment ever as I get bang for buck on every training session, I would happily downgrade my bike and keep my PM :)

@terryg652 6 месяцев назад

You don't need gears either. They use to do the Tour de France on single speed bikes. Everything since is just a luxury.

@huwsalway4099 6 месяцев назад

😂 yes but in those days few people made 60 years of age, life was so hard they were dead by then

@davemoss6976 2 месяца назад

I find my bike with carbon bars more comfortable on our rough roads. Admittedly reducing my 110 psi tyre pressure might ro rhe same.

@gerrysecure5874 5 месяцев назад

The only upgrade I made to my 13yr old bike was adding a powermeter, 13yrs ago.

@kalijasin 4 месяца назад

Wheels with TPU tubes and Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene spokes actually weigh less and perform better than the tubeless.

@rod2998 6 месяцев назад

WOW! Someone with common sense. Finally!

@pablor1768 23 дня назад

Also who is really taking off the whole old sealant when refilling so after some time you have for sure additional old crusted sealant weight... and therefore also additonal rolling resistence I can imagine

@lexington476 6 месяцев назад

4:15 one thing I can say with a straight face is that I have never bought aero socks 🙂... Not saying I never will, I just haven't, and I don't plan to 😎.

@dumbhatt 6 месяцев назад

I still want a power meter. I just need to stop being poor.

@eto2352 6 месяцев назад

good content

@petersouthernboy6327 5 месяцев назад

Could have included ceramic bearings in your list as well.

@toshman696969 5 месяцев назад

Tubeless and power meter shouldn't be on your list...... While tubeless tires are relatively new to the world of cycling they have made a huge improvement, not because of performance but because of maintenance and comfort level. I can ride my tubeless setup at 60-70 psi depending on bike and wheel setup, gravel bike at 35 psi. its like riding on a couch vs my tt racing days at 115 psi. also in the 5 years i have been on tubless while sure it can be a pain at times its only happen one time that i had tire sliced and needed a ride back home. power meter, while maybe not everyone needs it sure it is one of the key upgrades to measure your fitness in a controlled way so you can improve. its not just oh look at the pretty numbers. follow a simple Garmin plan with power meter and after 10-12 weeks you will see gains because power meters measures your consistency and lets you train in way you can easily measure improvements.

@Tony.in.motion 5 месяцев назад

i just bought all those things thx

@MiddleAgedMike 5 месяцев назад

My brother had some “high end” carbon handlebars fail on him, resulting in accident that killed him. I’d stay away from carbon handlebars if I were you.

@deanwoolnough9761 6 месяцев назад

Add to that, carbon bottle cages!! ;-)

@martinashwell 6 месяцев назад

Does anyone ever go out simply for the joy of riding a bike anymore?

@martinashwell 6 месяцев назад

@@jeppeachtonnielsen6138 I hope you buy triangular rather than square sandwiches as these can save you up to 4 watts, and therefore be about 10 seconds quicker over 25km

@user-nt8dy4xw9r 6 месяцев назад

So do I. I just ride (solo) and feel the road, speed and nature. Never used power meter or speedometer, and probably never will.

@ilanpi 6 месяцев назад

Getting an aero body position is not free. You have to buy a bunch of stems to progressively adapt to the position and very likely another saddle as well as new handlebars if the current ones are very wide. I definitely agree that you don't need two power meters on your bike, like you showed with the Speedplay + Stages. However, most coaches agree that getting a power meter is the single best upgrade to get faster, if you use the data.

@hansschotterradler3772 6 месяцев назад

Yes, if you work with a coach, you'd want to have a power meter. But if you don't properly analyze the data from a power meter, it's waste of money. That was the point of that segment.

@toshman696969 5 месяцев назад

@@hansschotterradler3772 how is it a waste if you don't analyze the data? I didn't analyze my data still saw huge improvement in my ftp really curious how you see that as waste?

@CNMLGB2 5 месяцев назад

well say， totally agree

@davidranucci9375 6 месяцев назад

Do you *need* tubeless? I guess not, but that seems like an upgrade that's pretty worth it...

@magicknight8412 6 месяцев назад

The one thing on my bike that I i really didnt need was my power meter. I like seeing the watts i put out, but i don't make use of the data at all for any kind of training.

@RobBelanger 6 месяцев назад

But do you use it to pace yourself on long climbs or on rides in general? I’d argue that not using it for specific training sessions doesn’t mean it’s not useful if you make sure of the data to dose your efforts when riding. Training by power and riding by power are two different things.

@MrRichBenn 6 месяцев назад

Try a heart rate minitor. You don’t get the power comparisons with your buds, but it’s great for staying in the training zone you want to be@@RobBelanger

@magicknight8412 6 месяцев назад

What happens is i look at my power up a climb or ride at first, then quickly go on feel instead of checking again. I can never keep my power steady either ! even when set to something like 10s normalised. I can and should make use of it more! @@RobBelanger

@magicknight8412 6 месяцев назад

I use my heart rate monitor for climbs mainly, gets too high I back off or take a short rest.@@MrRichBenn

@RobBelanger 6 месяцев назад

@@MrRichBennHR is also a good indicator m. Can’t disagree. Aside from the time it takes for HR to adapt to a certain power output, feel like HR can vary significantly depending on sleep (or lack thereof), stress, altitude etc but watts remain watts.

@user-fk8rb8ue5h 6 месяцев назад

At my age 70, iI'm concentrating on, just getting the miles in. I've got a Wattbike and I doZwift and I wouldn't be without my heart rate monitor for my level two trips around the worlds. a supplement that with weight training and trips out when the Sun is shining and the wind is light especially in winter