Dilemma: Groupset vs Wheel upgrade

[DanielJhb]

So I recently purchased a Giant Toughroad Slr 2 as a road/pavement/fitness bike (riding up long tar climbs on my enduro rig was starting to become tedious). I'm really enjoying it and and am keen to upgrade it and drop some weight where possible to get it in shape for a few road races. The out the box specs: (https://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/toughroad.slr.2/22192/84013/) - decent frame and fork, not sure about the wheelset, crappy groupset. I had a pair of xt pedals, carbon bar and stem in my garage which I have put on it so far. I wouldn't like to spend more than about R7k on upgrades so at that price I'm basically looking at either upgrading wheels (ztr arch/crest on hope 4's) or groupset (full xt, including brakes, cranks etc). 

 

Question: At basically the same price, what would you do, wheelset or groupset?  

[Rocket-Boy]

Tough one to call, I would probably go with groupset, last time I rode acera/alivio was about 15 years ago and it was horrible.

[FCH]

I would say groupset over wheels on road bikes and wheels over groupset on mtb

[26er]

Wheels,SLX shifters,cassette,chain and Rear derailer..and you will be set;)

Otherwise Groupset if you have to choose..

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

I'd agree with the wheels. The current alivio stuff is bomb proof. At most I'd upgrade to 9sp xt shifters which will provide a noticeable upgrade to the aceras.

 

Wheels though. If you have 7k you may be able to get some rims from xmcarbonspeed.com or light bicycle. Those will be a hooooooge upgrade over the heavy and soft sxc rims on there at the moment... Afaik they're $160 per rim, and if you use aramex global shopper you should be able to get them here pretty cheap. And they're STRONG. PM v12 for his opinion on them.

 

Otherwise... The crank is heavy, but a new crank takes a large portion of the funds. TBH I don't think spending 7k on a gruppo will yield as much of an increase in riding pleasure as better rims.

 

That's what I'd do at least.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Suppose the marginal gruppo upgrades depend on whether you can source good 9sp stuff. Look on CRC and bike discount.de and bike components.de

[DanielJhb]

Amazing thanks bro

[BrandonF_]

'Life' - Time on Bike

 

To make 'life' easier - Wheels

 

To make 'life' last longer - Group set

[eddy]

second hand wheels on the Hub.

 

Keep eyes peeled and you will find great value in the classifieds.

[J∆kk∆ls]

Wheels, group sets can be done in pieces.

[Hairy]

I would ride the bike tool the group set or wheels due, and whichever dies first will get replaced first.

 

But seeing as you are doing mostly road work I would say wheels before group set, then just replace the group set once the cassette chain and chairing need to be replaced. ...... our if you get the urge to just replace them at anY stage and

[DJR]

Short answer? Wheels before groupset.

[GSG]

If you intend to keep riding on the road and on pavements then I would say what you have is adequate and rather invest in wheels.

Talking from experience I to had more or less the same groupset, however I quickly changed the groupset then a couple of months later wheels, but then again I was riding more XC.