Road Bike Upgrades You DON’T Need

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Күн бұрын

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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Пікірлер: 272

@bikeradar 4 ай бұрын

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

@verynaughty6563 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

Same here!!

@tfanning10 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

Yup

@lifesaver3499 4 ай бұрын

it was your extra training

@danielt91 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

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

@daydreaming_aristocrat 4 ай бұрын

This 💯

@littlevo9 4 ай бұрын

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

@mortiftw6378 4 ай бұрын

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

@tiagoschroder 4 ай бұрын

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

@leonardo3399 4 ай бұрын

😂😂😂

@ToddRussell-kd6ji 4 ай бұрын

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

@bikeradar 4 ай бұрын

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

@jochem1986 4 ай бұрын

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

@allenjay896 4 ай бұрын

I mean yeah if youre rich af. Sure

@markotrieste 4 ай бұрын

If you work hard you have no time for cycling.

@Ivan-oh6ug 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

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

@531c 4 ай бұрын

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

@whizler 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

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 3 ай бұрын

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

@davidwilliams3397 3 ай бұрын

@@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

@M3GRSD 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

@@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 4 ай бұрын

@@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 4 ай бұрын

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

@diegoeleazar9154 4 ай бұрын

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

@WesternUranus 4 ай бұрын

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.

@philipflipflopg4065 4 ай бұрын

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

@JohnDoe-yh9gi 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

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

@tomrace3057 4 ай бұрын

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

@brendanlewisisme 4 ай бұрын

Yup, not repairing goat head /Thorn punctures, priceless

@philipallen4230 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

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

@ulrimi30 4 ай бұрын

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

@jgauth2 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

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

@SamuelBlackMetalRider 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

May I know what brand is it.

@QuickQuips 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

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

@michaelmappin4425 4 ай бұрын

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

@veganpotterthevegan 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

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

@EmmanuelNataf 4 ай бұрын

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

@M3GRSD 4 ай бұрын

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.

@MrRichBenn 4 ай бұрын

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?

@user-jn6uw2to1w 11 күн бұрын

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.

@robertoe.germanjr.2631 4 ай бұрын

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

@lionelbass1505 4 ай бұрын

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

@peadhill 4 ай бұрын

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.

@robertdavenport6705 4 ай бұрын

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 .

@sjurk81 4 ай бұрын

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.

@27lacuna27 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

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

@benjamescycling 4 ай бұрын

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 5 күн бұрын

How much price money has that higher FTP won you?

@mrrodriguezHLP 4 ай бұрын

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.

@verynaughty6563 4 ай бұрын

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.

@gerardlavigne9019 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

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

@Ryan.T89 4 ай бұрын

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.

@calmprn7165 4 ай бұрын

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

@swazi5 4 ай бұрын

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 Ай бұрын

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

@aluminati9918 4 ай бұрын

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.

@perryvath7617 16 күн бұрын

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 3 ай бұрын

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. :)

@ninozebec5740 2 ай бұрын

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 2 ай бұрын

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! 👋👍😂

@Mas421 4 ай бұрын

Nice to see that KZfaq is telling me always what I need (or not)

@Jacob99174 4 ай бұрын

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

@teunluijbregts2533 4 ай бұрын

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 😅😅🤣

@littlevo9 4 ай бұрын

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 !

@DarrenMansell 4 ай бұрын

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

@jesuscruz836 4 ай бұрын

You've missed Oversized Pulley Wheel

@gerrymcbride6429 4 ай бұрын

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

@tinnie1835 4 ай бұрын

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

@GeirEivindMork 3 ай бұрын

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.

@n22pdf 4 ай бұрын

Great vid guys 😊 Pete 🚴🏻👍😃

@dwaynerandolph3565 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

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

@marcdaniels9079 4 ай бұрын

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.

@hockysa 4 ай бұрын

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.

@user-nt8dy4xw9r 4 ай бұрын

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

@davidcawthorne7115 4 ай бұрын

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

@ProfeTa6 4 ай бұрын

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.

@TeacherNickoy 4 ай бұрын

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

@rbejar7230 4 ай бұрын

Totalmente cierto y de acuerdo, felicidades, saludos desde Ecuador

@wasinphutthon 4 ай бұрын

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

@KenSmith-bv4si 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

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

@vothry 4 ай бұрын

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.

@paulwinkfield6560 4 ай бұрын

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!🥂

@TroubleshootGamingMeds 4 ай бұрын

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

@allenjay896 4 ай бұрын

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

@victorrodriguez2806 4 ай бұрын

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.

@christoffelbotha2087 4 ай бұрын

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

@geucamole 4 ай бұрын

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.

@rbejar7230 4 ай бұрын

Totalmente cierto, y de acuerdo, felicidades desde ecuador

@anaussieinvietnam 4 ай бұрын

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.

@ptonewood 4 ай бұрын

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.

@richardhorn2476 4 ай бұрын

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...

@johnsfulton 4 ай бұрын

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.

@brentcollins9727 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

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.

@leightondavies8884 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

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

@Hokum48 4 ай бұрын

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

@jonathanzappala 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

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.

@hillogical 4 ай бұрын

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.

@frantzs1077 3 күн бұрын

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.

@martinashwell 4 ай бұрын

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

@martinashwell 4 ай бұрын

@@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 4 ай бұрын

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

@Xhadp 4 ай бұрын

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.

@creative907 2 ай бұрын

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

@rod2998 4 ай бұрын

WOW! Someone with common sense. Finally!

@kevin-joelcoupland5106 4 ай бұрын

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

@deanwoolnough9761 4 ай бұрын

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

@davemoss6976 Ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

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

@andrewblakesley4202 4 ай бұрын

Or just buy a classic bike, bin Strava and enjoy the ride. You're not a Pro and never will be so why spend so much on the bike. Instead go somewhere nice to ride.

@terryg652 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

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

@McHayes76 3 ай бұрын

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.

@buster.keaton 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

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 😮

@eto2352 4 ай бұрын

good content

@kalijasin 3 ай бұрын

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

@tfsnousa 4 ай бұрын

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

@dumbhatt 4 ай бұрын

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

@petersouthernboy6327 4 ай бұрын

Could have included ceramic bearings in your list as well.

@tonynolan4498 4 ай бұрын

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 :)

@jwfriar 4 ай бұрын

I think you’re dead wrong on tubeless - 80% less puncture, better grip, much better comfort, better rolling resistance, stop faster, safer. If you ride more than 1,000 miles a year, it is well worth. Pretty disappointed you included this.

@jaycahow4667 Ай бұрын

I have ridden 75,000 miles on my road bikes in the last ten years alone and average a few flats a year some years even less. It takes minutes to change a tube out on the road and the rest of your reasons are subjective and not worth going tubeless.

@jwfriar Ай бұрын

@@jaycahow4667 rolling resistance isn’t subjective, buddy. You wanna get left behind, so be it. Tubeless is faster, safer and more comfortable. Enjoy the stone age

@CNMLGB2 4 ай бұрын

well say， totally agree

@Tony.in.motion 4 ай бұрын

i just bought all those things thx

@lexington476 4 ай бұрын

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 😎.

@MiddleAgedMike 4 ай бұрын

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.

@littlemrdrummer 4 ай бұрын

Top most useless upgrade is ceramic headset bearings. You really want that steering to be sooo smooth it swings back and hits your top tube? Prove me wrong.

@magicknight8412 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

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

@RobBelanger 4 ай бұрын

@@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.

@toshman696969 4 ай бұрын

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.

@christams8863 3 ай бұрын

Losing body weight is less expensive than buying expensive group sets! LOL!

@Bstar2024 Күн бұрын

Come to Dubai Habibi, you will find Dura ace and Sram red on every group coffee ride :D. oh and hey its not a bike if its over $8000USD got to get to that coffee stop quick as possible LOL