{"id":68714,"date":"2024-08-27T18:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-27T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/080c7c73-a63c-4b92-9724-c9aca3389f3d"},"modified":"2024-08-27T18:25:32","modified_gmt":"2024-08-27T16:25:32","slug":"12-road-bike-upgrades-you-dont-need-and-why","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/12-road-bike-upgrades-you-dont-need-and-why\/","title":{"rendered":"12 road bike upgrades you don\u2019t need (and why)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"rssexcerpt\">We discuss some of the costly upgrades you can probably go with out <\/p><p class=\"rssauthor\">By <\/p><p class=\"rssbyline\">Published: Tuesday, 27 August 2024 at 16:00 PM<\/p><hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\" standalone=\"yes\"?>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><p>There\u2019s a near-endless list of upgrades you can make to your road bike, with many promising performance gains, better riding characteristics or just to inject some personality into your build.<\/p><p>Of course, upgrades can help you get more out of your riding, but you don\u2019t need all of them to enjoy riding your bike.<\/p><p>With that in mind, we\u2019ve rounded up 12 less-than-essential upgrades you can live without.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Road bike upgrades you don&amp;apos;t need (and why)\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/episode\/2ODWFZ7Nz1AkGvaIel8C6U?si=h1-o9cesSC2Ro80Pecsfsg&amp;utm_source=oembed\"\/><\/div><\/figure><p\/><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-flagship-components\">1. Flagship components<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Flagship components may offer only marginal gains. &#8211; Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>The latest halo products seen on professional bikes represent the pinnacle of bike tech.<\/p><p>Yes, there may be weight savings and increased caf\u00e9 stop clout for splashing out on top-of-the-range components, but there\u2019s often little beyond marginal performance gains for most riders.<\/p><p>The pro-level tech often trickles down to cheaper components, too. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/reviews\/components\/groupsets\/groupset-road\/shimano-ultegra-r8170-di2-review\">Shimano\u2019s Ultegra groupset<\/a> has always been a good example of this, featuring the same technology as range-topping Dura-Ace but weighing a bit more.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-ceramic-bearings\">2. Ceramic bearings<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2023\/03\/DSC00082-b232a91.jpg\" alt=\"CeramicSpeed ProTech bearing kit with Long Life grease on a workshop rag\" class=\"wp-image-719169\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ceramic bearings only provide a small performance increase. &#8211; Oscar Huckle \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/features\/ceramic-bearings\">Ceramic bearings<\/a> are often seen on the most expensive <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/advice\/buyers-guides\/buyers-guide-to-road-bike-wheels\">road bike wheels<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p><p>They offer less rolling resistance than their steel counterparts, but the gains are so small you&#8217;ll hardly notice them.<\/p><p>Cheap ceramic bearings can be worse than steel bearings, and because they tend to use a lighter, \u2018racier\u2019 grease, you\u2019ll need to spend more time maintaining them.<\/p><p>In short, these bearings could mean more work for little reward.\u00a0<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-skinsuits-and-speedsuits\">3. Skinsuits and speedsuits<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2023\/12\/Liams-Gear-of-the-Year-2023-Nopinz-skinsuit.jpg\" alt=\"Nopinz Pro-1 All Season Skinsuit\" class=\"wp-image-809279\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Skinsuits are overkill on training and club rides. &#8211; Scott Windsor \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>If you\u2019re racing or competing in time trials, wearing a skinsuit can offer a huge advantage.<\/p><p>These once-piece suits enable the air to flow around you with less drag, reducing the force required to cut through the air.<\/p><p>However, skinsuits are optimised to reduce drag at the high speeds of racing, so more relaxed riders may not feel the same benefit.\u00a0<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-aero-socks\">4. Aero socks<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3000\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2023\/03\/Best-value-aero-upgrades021-3e464e8.jpg\" alt=\"Liam Cahill putting on a Rule 28 aero sock\" class=\"wp-image-718218\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Aero socks only offer very marginal gains. &#8211; Joseph Branston \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Like skinsuits, aero socks can make you more slippery through the air.<\/p><p>Unfortunately, the gains are usually minimal and the socks often fall down after losing their grip around the cuff \u2013\u00a0which is not very aero at all.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-expensive-cycling-shoes-with-stiff-soles\">5. Expensive cycling shoes with stiff soles<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/06\/Specialized-Torch-3.0-road-cycling-shoes-02.jpg\" alt=\"Specialized Torch 3.0 road cycling shoes\" class=\"wp-image-866881\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Stiff soles don&#8217;t mean more efficiency. &#8211; Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Studies have shown that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/features\/does-cycling-shoe-stiffness-actually-matter\">stiff cycling shoes don\u2019t increase power transfer<\/a>, but the theory still seems very much baked into the cycling consciousness.<\/p><p>It\u2019s better to look instead for comfortable shoes with good support because these will help avoid <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/advice\/sizing-and-fit\/cycling-foot-pain\">foot pain<\/a> on longer rides.<\/p><p>You might find the most comfortable cycling shoes for you have stiff soles, but don\u2019t assume they\u2019re making you faster.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-6-ultra-lightweight-parts\">6. Ultra-lightweight parts<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/05\/Vision-5D-ACR-EVO-handlebar-2.jpeg\" alt=\"Vision 5D ACR EVO handlebar\" class=\"wp-image-863870\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lightweight components can make your bike feel faster. &#8211; Warren Rossiter \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>While having a bike under or near the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/features\/tech\/should-the-uci-bike-weight-limit-be-changed\">UCI weight limit<\/a> can make you feel like a rocket in the hills, ultra-light parts are probably not making the difference you think.<\/p><p>Reducing the weight of your bike by swapping out your standard aluminium handlebar for a carbon fibre one will likely only shave seconds off the summit of a climb, which is important when leading the peloton at a grand tour, but less so on a weekend club ride.<\/p><p>These kinds of components often require more maintenance than more robust alternatives and can sometimes fail earlier in their lives.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-7-cycling-specific-nutrition\">7. Cycling-specific nutrition<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"9118\" height=\"6079\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/07\/Bikeradar_221123_dc_loc_studio1468.jpg\" alt=\"SiS GO Electrolyte drink\" class=\"wp-image-875155\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Specialist nutrition isn&#8217;t required for recreational riders. &#8211; Dave Caudery \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Powders, gels, gummies and tablets line the pantry of many cyclists, but this kind of specialist nutrition isn\u2019t always necessary for delivering good performance when out on the bike.<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/advice\/nutrition\/the-best-carbs-for-cycling-what-to-eat-and-when\">High-carb foods <\/a>can be just as effective, as well as easy to carry with you on a ride.<\/p><p>Cereal bars, jam sandwiches, bananas and malt loaf are a few examples of substitutes you can make.<\/p><p>You can even make your own <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/advice\/nutrition\/make-your-own-energy-bars\">energy bars<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/advice\/nutrition\/how-to-make-your-own-energy-drinks\">energy drinks<\/a> at home.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-8-3d-printed-saddles\">8. 3D-printed saddles<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/04\/Fizik-Vento-Argo-R1-Adaptive-Saddle-01.jpg\" alt=\"Fizik Vento Argo R1 Adaptive 3D printed saddle\" class=\"wp-image-827553\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">3D-printed saddles are becoming more popular. &#8211; Andy Lloyd \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/advice\/buyers-guides\/3d-printed-saddles\">3D-printed saddles<\/a> promise increased comfort over all the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/advice\/buyers-guides\/best-bike-saddles\">road bike saddles<\/a> that have gone before them, but our experience suggests they don\u2019t make the difference you\u2019d expect.<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/advice\/buyers-guides\/how-to-choose-the-best-saddle\">Shape is the most important part of saddle choice<\/a>, and finding one that\u2019s right for you will improve your cycling comfort, regardless of whether it\u2019s 3D printed or not.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-9-electronic-shifting\">9. Electronic shifting<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/05\/SRAM-Red-AXS-09.jpeg\" alt=\"SRAM Red AXS groupset\" class=\"wp-image-862799\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Electronic shifting hasn&#8217;t made mechanical redundant. &#8211; Russell Burton \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>There isn\u2019t a single gear cable in sight on the WorldTour, but that doesn\u2019t mean mechanical shifting has been completely overshadowed.<\/p><p>While <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/advice\/buyers-guides\/electronic-groupsets\">electronic groupsets<\/a> offer more precise and self-trimming shifting, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/features\/opinion\/future-of-mechanical-groupsets\">mechanical groupsets<\/a> will still change gears incredibly quickly.\u00a0<\/p><p>With no complicated motors, mechanical groupsets can also be lighter than their electronic counterparts. There\u2019s the convenience of never having to charge a battery too.\u00a0<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-10-expensive-pedals\">10. Expensive pedals<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/01\/Look-Keo-Blade-Ceramic-Pedal-07.jpg\" alt=\"Look Keo Blade Ceramic Pedals for road bikes\" class=\"wp-image-813485\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pricier pedals will often feature a more minimalist design. &#8211; Ashley Quinlan \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Expensive pedals are often lighter and feature high-quality bearings than cheaper options, but it\u2019s unlikely you\u2019ll notice such differences over cheaper alternatives.<\/p><p>After all, you\u2019ll still be getting the same retention mechanism, which is the most important thing.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-11-electric-mini-pumps\">11. Electric mini-pumps<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2400\" height=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/07\/Eurobike-day-2-2024-MTB-tech-round-up-2.jpg\" alt=\"Topeak E-Booster Digital electronic pump\" class=\"wp-image-871037\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">While not essential, electric mini-pumps offer a good substitute for traditional mini-pumps. &#8211; Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Electric mini-pumps act as miniature compressors at the roadside to inflate your tyres after a puncture.<\/p><p>While they take some of the strain out of the process, they often take a similar amount of time as a regular <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/advice\/buyers-guides\/best-bike-pump\">mini-pump<\/a> and require you to keep them charged.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-12-buying-an-aero-bike\">12. Buying an aero bike<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2400\" height=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2023\/10\/Robbie-Disneys-Cannondale-SystemSix-1-of-11-c3e9dd5.jpg\" alt=\"Robbie Disney's Cannondale SystemSix\" class=\"wp-image-748737\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Aero bikes aren&#8217;t needed for recreational rideing. &#8211; Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Unless you&#8217;re racing or have ambitions of shaving time off your course record, an aero bike might be overkill.<\/p><p>While these bikes enable you to reach blistering speeds on flat roads, they are incredibly specialised and with that come some drawbacks for everyday riding.<\/p><p>Large, aero tubing makes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/advice\/buyers-guides\/best-aero-road-bike\">aero bikes<\/a> heavier and they can feel slightly sluggish in the hills compared to an all-rounder <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/advice\/buyers-guides\/best-road-bikes\">road bike<\/a>.<\/p><p>These tube shapes often lead to a less damped ride feel. This can make tarmac feel like a washboard and potholes like craters.<\/p><p>Their geometry is also very race-orientated, which is no problem if you are used to it, but it can cause more relaxed riders to develop <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/advice\/fitness-and-training\/how-to-fix-5-of-the-most-common-causes-of-bike-pain\">aches and pains<\/a> as they practise contorting into a race position.<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We discuss some of the costly upgrades you can probably go with out <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":68715,"template":"","categories":[1,36],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"6"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/08\/12-road-bike-upgrades-you-dont-need-and-why.jpg",9504,6336,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/08\/12-road-bike-upgrades-you-dont-need-and-why.jpg",150,100,false],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/08\/12-road-bike-upgrades-you-dont-need-and-why-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/08\/12-road-bike-upgrades-you-dont-need-and-why-768x512.jpg",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/08\/12-road-bike-upgrades-you-dont-need-and-why-1024x683.jpg",800,534,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/08\/12-road-bike-upgrades-you-dont-need-and-why.jpg",1536,1024,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/08\/12-road-bike-upgrades-you-dont-need-and-why.jpg",2048,1365,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"We discuss some of the costly upgrades you can probably go with out","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/68714"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/68715"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=68714"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=68714"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}