No more upgraditis

Wheels of Happiness

No such disease happen when:

1.  You are older,

2.  The bike you had has all the features needed in the ultimate bike.

I and Markku agreed in the conversation last Saturday in a celeb lunch at Malate

Upgraditis not necessarily a bad thing

Wheels of Happiness

Perhaps we converse about upgraditis as tongue  in cheek, as joke.  It is not necessarily bad.   It becomes part of our nature  as a biker to keep on improving our biking:   our skills and equipment.   Upgrading equipment  our bike costs money and our spouses (wives) frown and quarrel with us regarding these purchases which they consider atrocious to family budget - education food, housing, and the like

But upgraditis is a sign that you are alive and you are very much interested and you love what you are doing ie   biking

They say that having more money or possession is key to happiness.   Doing what you love is

You tube - bike upgraditis

Stalling or deferring upgrades (or having more bikes)- a reflection

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines

4.21.2021

Upgraditis from Rappler

                                                         Nanukso pa

                                                  

Like the real virus, the upgraditis virus I submit is on the rise.  With nothing to do at homes,) being kept at bay by IATF enforcers with crooked understanding of the virus spread) one spends a lot of time looking at new products at 1.  ecommerce platform and thus becomes convinced by the marketing blitz by bike/bike parts. Mind you,  once you view their page, they follow you and flash the product ads that you browsed. thus increasing your desire and interest (the ads now being personalized and targeted)

UPGRADES ACCOMPLISHED

All ready I ordered and its in the Philippines now, a 25K net (being ordered on the platforms 10 th birthday)  a carbon fiber MTB 27.5 with all shimano parts. I also ordered bigger diameter 180 mm disc rotor for more stopping power.   I was tantalized into buying a four piston hydraulic brakeset however literature on the net and my interviews with mechanic and other younger riders say:

       1   It is more expensive

       2.  The 1 cm longer brake pad runs into thousands    A certain brand costs P2,500 each

       3    Expensive to maintain because there are 4 pistons to maintain (for each side)

       4.  Difficult to bleed

       5.  Gains in braking power is marginal

           More braking power can be achieved through bigger rotors (say 180 and 203 mm) 

But I have all ready upgrades in mind

1.   A 42 or 46 t cogs for my present bike

2.   Or upgrade to a Shimano or SRAM 11 or 12 speed   And they look temptingly affordable

3.   Another option is to buy a narrow wide Deckas or Snail chain ring 32, 34, or 36

4.   Fork upgrade with Bolany, Fox or Suntour.

But really at my age, do I need all of these:  //QUESTIONS BEFORE UPGRADING

1.   Will the upgrade make me go faster?

2.   Will teh upgrade make me stronger?

3.   Will the upgrade make me look younger or better?

4.   Will the wifey approve the purchase.

Most of the time the answer will be no. Especially no 4.  (He2 tell me you have been honest with the wifey on this)

3 years ago I assembled 2 high end road bike and did not engage in upgrade there after.  But the purchase did not make me go faster, stronger (as a matter of fact my heart rate shoots up whenever I do hill climbs) and my average speed declines.   My only Yes answer  is number 3.  

      Let us analyze

      1.  Go one by, and lighten your bike  by 1 kg -  the shifter, the FD and two chain ring.   Really  did 

           the upgrade make you go faster.  My cousin who is on one by says stay put with 3 by.   The range

           of gears is higher with a 24 or 22 teeth.   I say numerous elderly MTB riders who have two by 

           They installed a 34 or 36 as the upgrade anad retained the granny front chain ring of 24.  I have

           seen numerous rider bringing one by walking up their bikes at Teresa  (tulak)

     2.  Go 12 speed, 1 by with 11 - 52 gears.    Again that will set you back by P15 to P20K.  If you

           have extra money, then there is no problem.  But it is an issue if you are hard uup during the 

           pandemic.  Both S companies are pouring it on to sell their 11 or 12 speed 1 by set up.   Mostly

           below P20K  (see also the second hand market with a deluge of ads)   The local bike shops are

           competing with E commerce platforms  They have become cheaper (look at shrinking market

           locally and world wide.  Anyway they had their heyday)    With the cancellation of many local

           and international races, diminished income, many can ill afford to upgrade.

These two last reflection  made me wane my interest on the one by.  (Most probably I buy a Deckas 34 or 36, convert my 3 chain rings) probably buy a 11-46 cogs   

Really why do we upgrade?

WHY DO WE UPGRADE?

     I think this is both a function of marketing efforts of the bike and bike parts manufacturer and the motivation of men.    Bertrand Russel succintly says that men are motivated only by three things:

     1.  Pride

     2.  Competitiveness

     3.  Greed

     We upgrade because we want to be well known and praised because we have such pricey bikes

and new parts;  we want to look better and "lamang"to other bikers.   And we want to have more.  It is not just fmr FL who wants to have more shoes.  Every rider wants to have more bikes.    How many bikes do you have.   Most tour riders have 10 bikes.   I think most local 3 riders have 3 bikes.   

How many bikes do you have?

Controlling impulse buying of parts - upgraditis

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines

4.05,2021

                                                              Aspiration

Sometimes we get the sudden urge to buy a part because we read that this is good, this will up the performance of the bike by that much.   

And so uncontrolled, this urge makes have a stable of bikes that we can we dont use daily or that is beyond the level of our own physical fitness.   We have Pinarellos, Specialized Bianchi bike, and we can hardly pedal 20kph on them

Lately I had the urge to buy a 4 piston MTB brake.  It is cheap albeit from an unknown brand.  However reviews suggest that this does not work well;  there are complaints that the  brake power is lost (due to a failed piston O ring) to one that totally does not work -  ie failing to stop forcefully and on time.   So I changed my mind, although I told the vendor of this defect, he did not come back with a  good answer. 

There are literature that says that a quad piston brakes gain is very marginal -  only 10 to 15%

I will settle with my XT which has worked well for several years.

It is better to upgrade the brake disc to to 180 to 203 mm size (7 to 8 inches)  However, ,there no adapters available.   But the gains from this upgrade is awesome up to 30 - 40%...!!!

However conversing with some MTB riders, I got the idea that unless you do hard downhill or FR, (free ride) there is no reason to spend more on brakes.  If you just ride on the road;   think more on how you can ride faster higher.   Those who brake often, a bike champ said, never win races.  

However there is the other side that says, with a stronger brake, you dont have to bike often.  You can brake later or not all knowing fully well that you are equipped with a strong brake.   

Suggestions on how to manage your upgraditis the sensible effective way (upgraditis weight winnies and costing)

                                               

A lot of inventory sales are going on and many companies are unloading their excess inventories.  The marketing hype  is driving bikers crazy and many may be making unwise investments

The bottom line, the objective  in upgrading is to make you ride faster and better with less efforts and
body ache

Here are some suggestions based on my readings and experience regarding upgrading.

Efficiency  is the key.  You must exert less effort in your ride.  Your equipment must be efficient.  Less friction, less drag in your aerodynamics (the wind resisting your forward motion)

And here LIGHT IS MIGHT.

1.  Thus with regards to the bike and your equipment

          1.  Concentrate on your drive/power train and this includes:

               1.  Shoes.  The only light shoes are carbon fiber soled shoes.  If your shoes are heavy. say by
                     100 grams each vs the carbon fiber soled models, 200 grams x  say 10,000 revs in  a ride
                      translates into 2,000,000 grams additional efforts or  2,000 tons. Wow.  Thats the
                      amount of effort you will exert if you wear a modest carbon fiber soled shoes

                     I have two pairs:   a Shimano and Scott.  The Shimano cost me P3,500 and Scott 5k

                     According to Weigh Weenies, some of the light shoes are:

                     Mavic  Huez                                                      210 grams each

                     Pearl Izumi Tri Fly Carbon                                 521 grams a pair

                     Shimano M221                                                  710 grams

                     SIDI   Genius 3                                                 552 grams

                    Specialized Pro Geometry                                  542 grams

                     Vittoria Racer                                                   240 grams (each)

                     Thus even the lightest shoes are .0.5 kg each. Imagine if you were wearing a 1 kg shoe
           
                 2.  Pedals

                     Invest in high quality light pedals

                     Shimano pedals would be about 200 grams a pair now (a very good development0

                     Speedplay would be about 180 grams a pair;  but Exustar, and I have one carbon fiber                            tips the scale only 88 grams  (176 grams for the pair) with Ti axle (referred to me by
                      Engr. June....  Budget was P7,000+

             3.   Cranksets

                   The Shimano cranks are heavy.   But Red of SRAM is very light and so are FSA line of cranks
                    built from machined alum and carbon fiber. (Both SRAM and FSA are Taiwan producers)

                   Comparison of crankset from Bike Radar

                    SRAM   Red                        594 grams

                    Ultegra                                 699 grams

                    Shimano 105                        759 grams

                    FSA force                            567 grams

                    Durace                                 636 grams

                    Campagnolo Athena             650 grams

       4.   Cogs

             The manufacturers are very  competitive now with cogs weighing  200 grams on the average for
             Shmano SRAM and Campy

Total Cycling   - SRAM claims to have produced the first sub 2 kg group set  (Durace and Super Record
                         are just about even

       5  Wheelsets

                  The name brands are not necessarily the best and the lightest.  Carbon fiber wheelsets are not
                   not necessarily light.  There are plenty of materials needed for the aero design, hence to be bit
                   heavier in the long run. But the aero design is supposed to cut and  slice through the air and thats
                   what matters for speeds beyond 30 kph.

                  So I have an old model wheelset with 36 spokes and my its heavy.  It must weigh 2,000 grams
                   even with Alex 22 rims

                  So some comparison, and I was lured by marketers to buy:

                  Fulcrum   7                                    1,845 grams
         
                 Shimano RS 10 and 11                   1,845 grams

                 Fulcrum Quattro Alum                    1,700 grams

                 Light ones:

                 Am Cla 350                                  1,396 grams    @! P5,500

                 Novatec Jet Fly                             1,435 grams    @  12,500

                                                         Novatec Jetfly only 1,435 grams

Upgraditis is not an affliction nor addiction but a wellspring of hope and motivation

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
January 7, 2018

We often read mention of upgraditis at FB and the only cure is to buy something from a Bikeshop - "iyon ang reseta ng Doctor). If not cured, the Pres may send the team of PNP PDEA under Op Plan Galugad or Double barrel to stop this afflicition (joke only)

Upgraditis 2012

But I think that upgrading is normal, and the bike marketers are harping and banking on that to add up to their bank balances.

Why do we upgrade?

1  Our equipment, parts are old, and new tech are coming up and we are being left behind in rides;

2.  It is a motivation. When our bike, the parts, the eyewear the jersey are new, we are motivated, and inspired to ride better. That motivation is enough for 3 to 5 more kph.  It is a reminder that we want to live
healthier and stronger.

3.  It is an inspiration to continue riding.  Why do some guys quit riding? They are no longer motivated.
It happened to me.  I wanted to quit too. But when Vhen and others were buying on line  shirts at Lazada
for only P1,215, free delivery:  fit na fit and better than local stores inventory, I am thrillled (I just wore mine to Jalajala ride)

4.  It is a part of our desire, need for self actualization and recognition.  To have a new set up, a new uniform is goal setting and its fulfillment gives us a sense of achievement, and no amount of money can equal that.

It it an investment in a thing in an equipment that remains faithful to us, is silent, does not nag us nor answer back nor raise its voice but silently and faithfully brings us to the place where we want to be.  No gas bills to pay, no monthly just pure enjoyment and excitement everytime we ride on the saddle

So it is a normal thing. And we stop even jokingly to refer to upgraditis as an addiction.

I believe it is not. What do you think?

Upgrading the MTB so soon?

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
January 30, 2016

I saw Boyeth Flores, the star mechanic of Haooh bikeshop in Taytay.  He showed me an MTB for which the owner he said, spent over P120,000 and which is being sold for only P60,000 now.  It is loaded with a Fox roadshock, (he said worth P20,000 -  I looked up the prices in $ and was around $400.00) with Eaton aluminum wheelset worth P40,000.  (about 1.6 kg) with conti 2 " tires.  It had carbon fiber bar and seatpost. It comes with XT group set (equivalent of Ultegra - about P25,000?) with 11 to 36 cogs.     It could easily weigh 10 kg only.  It is mouth watering in terms of what high tech and expensive items are in the bike.  It could easily improve the road handling and ride ability of the bike being lighter.

However how do i finance the upgrade.  Boyeth suggested that I sell my Sava (only 12 kg for P25,000) and my Ultegra loaded road bike for another P25,000;   and I fork over P10,000  So I have two great bikes...

What do you think?

Is upgraditis good for me?

Upgraditis afflicting me on my newly acquired MTB

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
December 23, 2015

My newly acquired bike is barely a week old and the the "upgraditis"   sickness has inflected me. All ready, I want to lighten the bike to 10 kgs or less after:

1.  reading the 4 cheap ways to lighten the bike

2.  after talking and seeing the bike of Long Henson today

3.  After 3 long rides and experienncing how extra 3 to 5 kgs vs road bikes can affect your grade.

All ready my plan includes:

1.  Buying a lighter tire and replacing the CST now shod in the bike with say Maxxlite 310  I would be able to save about 600 gms x 2 =  1.2 kg x 2.2 =  2.62 lbs

2.  Buy  a a lighter wheel set.   May be  save  1 kg.  There you are.  That is all ready 2.2 kg.   I would be all ready in the 10 kg territory.  But I will do that after the bike is 1 year old.  Long Henson this would set you back by about P20t per wheel.  He prefers the tubeless ready because it can be really be lighter.



AmCla MTB wheel set at 1.582 grams and 500 UK pounds (about P40,000

How to choose MTB wheeset

Best and lightest MTB wheel set (lightest are AmCla and Mavic

                           Amcla  -  $425.00  1585 grams

                          Mavic Crossmax    $800  1595 grams

Mavic Cross Trail at 15t featured at OLX with Conti  Raceking tires and titanium skewers;

Mavic Cross ride without tires