2006-07-23 17:11:02 · 5 answers · asked by Mayburypark 1 in Sports ➔ Cycling
First...
Does it have a suspension fork?
if YES; Look at a better quality newer fork designed for the type of riding you do (1.5-3 inch travel for trails with a few jumps and ruts, 2-4 inch travel for "freeriding" or big jumps, etc...)
if NO; your bike is likely rather old and you might be better suited buying a new bike.
Second...
What is your frame made of?
if STEEL; buy an Aluminum frame/frameset in the same size as the model you currently ride (should be able to get a good aluminum frameset from a good shop for $3-400)
if ALUMINUM; Look at replacing your wheelset instead (MAVIC ALL THE WAY!!!)
if ANY OTHER MATERIAL (carbon fiber, metal matrix, etc..) you might have a large invisible friend riding on your handlebars.
If you don't know what your frame is made of, you can pretty well assume it is Steel. Is it a brand name bike you would find at a bike shop? If so, it might be worth upgrading various parts, but if it is a Roadmaster, Huffy, Diamond Back, Schwinn, Motiv, Next, or any other brand that is primarily/only sold in Wal-Mart or other mass market stores, take a trip to your local bike shop with your current bike, tell them what type of riding you like to/want to do, and what price point you are willing to work with, and any reputable shop will jump to get you taken care of!
When you are talking about light weight, don't be shocked by what the prices can be. Granted, a good value might be something like a Trek 6500 (about $770) which is a GREAT bike for the money, but you could just as easily pick up something like a Gary Fisher Ziggurat ($3300) and those are just hard tails (don't have rear suspension) and you can expect full suspension rides to pop up a few grand from there!
Honestly, buy the best FRAME you can afford (if you are in the $1000 + range, look for inexpensive Carbon Fiber/Expensive Aluminum framed bikes, and upgrade the components as money allows.
That is how I ended up with a Steel framed Trek 990 (back in the day!) that if priced out at retail would have been about $4500 but because I bought the best steel bike Trek had at the time, and bought new parts when I could afford it, I made a bike MUCH greater than the sum of its parts!!
Hope this helps!!
2006-07-23 18:38:53 · answer #1 · answered by Jawa 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You'll feel weight loss if you buy lighter rotating parts. The wheels and tires are the most bang/buck that you can get. They say that 1ounce of weight lost at the wheels feels like 4oz of weight loss at the frame.
2006-07-24 00:59:06 · answer #2 · answered by Ben P 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
With the price of upgrading various parts, it may be worth it to just buy another bike...
2006-07-24 02:47:29 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The frame and the tires/wheels
2006-07-23 17:14:30 · answer #4 · answered by Flower Girl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How old is the bike?. It may be cheaper to buy a new one.
2006-07-23 17:27:21 · answer #5 · answered by El Griton 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋