Upgrade Conundrum - Cheap MTB and Road Bike or Carbon MTB

[Andrew_Smith]

A MTB HT with bigger gearing [2x11] and a set of maxxis crossmark tyres pumped to 3 bar for the road days and 1,8 for the gravel days .Then patiently sit and wait until a perfect used road bike appears in the classifieds 

 

I am sure a pair of Ikons can also do the trick. Lighter and a faster rolling tyre too.

[ajnkzn]

A MTB HT with bigger gearing [2x11] and a set of maxxis crossmark tyres pumped to 3 bar for the road days and 1,8 for the gravel days .Then patiently sit and wait until a perfect used road bike appears in the classifieds 

 

To upgrade my bike to 2x11 will cost R 3 k min so it's back to the "is it worth it for a 12,5kg bike with basic fork and floppy wheels"?

[WIPEOUT 1000]

A couple of things I can add to the equation:

 

Compared to a mountain bike, a road bike requires virtually no maintenance. E.g. keep your chain clean and lubricated and you can virtually go forever. My mountain bikes often feel like money "black holes". 

 

A road bike is far more efficient and fun on a road than a MTB.

 

The law of diminishing returns really apply to road bikes, i.e. a good cheap one will give most if not virtually all of the advantages of a really expensive one.

 

Finally, it is far easier to do early morning training rides on the road than off-road.  

[porqui]

Like a road bike will never be a mtb so NO mtb will ever be a road bike.

 

 

(those gravel bikes are GOOD but they are gravel bikes more than just fun)

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

I'm gonna throw you a curveball, but one that in my opinion would be a better solution. 

 

1 - get some GOOD wheels for the cannondale

2 - upgrade your fork

3 - upgrade other bits on Cannondale

4 - buy a decent second hand roadie

 

Why? Those cannondale frames are great, and the return from splurging 40k on a hardtail MTB will be marginal at best. The returns from upgrading your wheels and fork, though, will be massive. And you'll have spent far less than you are planning to, just to get a carbon bike. Not worth it, IMO. 

 

That'll also give you enough to shop around for a decent second hand roadie, with good spec, without having to save any further. 

[ajnkzn]

I'm gonna throw you a curveball, but one that in my opinion would be a better solution. 

 

1 - get some GOOD wheels for the cannondale

2 - upgrade your fork

3 - upgrade other bits on Cannondale

4 - buy a decent second hand roadie

 

Why? Those cannondale frames are great, and the return from splurging 40k on a hardtail MTB will be marginal at best. The returns from upgrading your wheels and fork, though, will be massive. And you'll have spent far less than you are planning to, just to get a carbon bike. Not worth it, IMO. 

 

That'll also give you enough to shop around for a decent second hand roadie, with good spec, without having to save any further. 

 

Thanks for the advice - need to keep trawling here on the Hub and look for some wheels and then a 1x11 upgrade then fork.

 

How much weight is one likely to drop with a high quality set of all rims vs the cheap Alex Dc 3.0 items on my bike now? Weight advantage going to SLX 1x11 from cheap non clutch derailleur on there now? Fork weight loss?

 

That Epic HT is so pretty but...

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Thanks for the advice - need to keep trawling here on the Hub and look for some wheels and then a 1x11 upgrade then fork.

 

How much weight is one likely to drop with a high quality set of all rims vs the cheap Alex Dc 3.0 items on my bike now? Weight advantage going to SLX 1x11 from cheap non clutch derailleur on there now? Fork weight loss?

 

That Epic HT is so pretty but...

The weight loss won't be drastic, but those POS Alex's are pretty heavy to begin with so maybe ~500g or so. What you'll notice from a better wheelset is improved acceleration and handling, if it's built properly. 

 

In terms of the fork, depending on what you have now, the savings could be about the same. Also depending on what fork you get. Those lower echelon forks are really heavy, comparatively. 

 

The weight saving on the derailleur and shifter won't be that much. It's in the tens of grams. What you WILL notice is the effect of a better cassette and drivetrain. 100-200g saving there when all is said and done. If you've got an FD then the weight saving from ditching that and the shifter is ~300-400g.

 

Also - the stock handlebar & stem will probably be heavy as heck. Look there for weight savings and upgrades, as well as the seat post. 

 

Going tubeless (if you haven't already) will shed another 200-400g per wheel, depending on the tubes you're using. 

 

So lots of places, and all of them far cheaper than splurging 40k on the new HT. Also a lot more beneficial for you ito spec!

[ajnkzn]

The weight loss won't be drastic, but those POS Alex's are pretty heavy to begin with so maybe ~500g or so. What you'll notice from a better wheelset is improved acceleration and handling, if it's built properly.

 

In terms of the fork, depending on what you have now, the savings could be about the same. Also depending on what fork you get. Those lower echelon forks are really heavy, comparatively.

 

The weight saving on the derailleur and shifter won't be that much. It's in the tens of grams. What you WILL notice is the effect of a better cassette and drivetrain. 100-200g saving there when all is said and done. If you've got an FD then the weight saving from ditching that and the shifter is ~300-400g.

 

Also - the stock handlebar & stem will probably be heavy as heck. Look there for weight savings and upgrades, as well as the seat post.

 

Going tubeless (if you haven't already) will shed another 200-400g per wheel, depending on the tubes you're using.

 

So lots of places, and all of them far cheaper than splurging 40k on the new HT. Also a lot more beneficial for you ito spec!

1 x conversion done.

Tubeless done.

Replaced bars and stem with Ritchey ones.

Grips replaced with lighter Lizard Skins foam ones.

Fabric Scoop saddle.

 

Still 12.5kg. So 11.5kg likely with new wheels and upgraded drivetrain at a cost of R 8 k ish.

 

Also want to get a lighter KCNC Alu seatpost (27.2) but that’s more for a bit more compliance - the stock Cannondale one has a wall thickness like you can’t believe.

 

And I’ll be unlikely to get more than R 12 k if / when I sell having spent about R 10 k originally.

 

Tough call!

[Vetplant]

1 x conversion done.

Tubeless done.

Replaced bars and stem with Ritchey ones.

Grips replaced with lighter Lizard Skins foam ones.

Fabric Scoop saddle.

 

Still 12.5kg. So 11.5kg likely with new wheels and upgraded drivetrain at a cost of R 8 k ish.

 

Also want to get a lighter KCNC Alu seatpost (27.2) but that’s more for a bit more compliance - the stock Cannondale one has a wall thickness like you can’t believe.

 

And I’ll be unlikely to get more than R 12 k if / when I sell having spent about R 10 k originally.

 

Tough call!

Give us a pickcha, wontja? Maybe someone is in the market...?

[Stevief]

Surely you can buy a great 2nd hand carbon HT on the hub plenty of them around for R25k or so then drop R15k on a great 2nd hand road bike.  There u go R40k well spent

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

1 x conversion done.

Tubeless done.

Replaced bars and stem with Ritchey ones.

Grips replaced with lighter Lizard Skins foam ones.

Fabric Scoop saddle.

 

Still 12.5kg. So 11.5kg likely with new wheels and upgraded drivetrain at a cost of R 8 k ish.

 

Also want to get a lighter KCNC Alu seatpost (27.2) but that’s more for a bit more compliance - the stock Cannondale one has a wall thickness like you can’t believe.

 

And I’ll be unlikely to get more than R 12 k if / when I sell having spent about R 10 k originally.

 

Tough call!

Same can be said for the new bike. Drop 40k on it, it's instantly worth 25% less. 

[ajnkzn]

Thanks for all the help guys - think for now gonna trawl around for some wheels (great specials on CWC / Bike Addict / Bike Mob at the moment), do seatpost and then thrash the old girl for another season or two.

 

Some crazy road bike deals to be had for under R 10 k so find one to take the brunt of training mileage in the week and then best of both (budget) worlds!