I currently have a Apollo Panther that I got a few of years ago for a birthday. http://www.apollobikes.com/bikes12/mtb/panther
Which i rode quite consistantly until I shattered my elbow at Eagle MTB Park keeping me off the bike for 24 months.
I have recently got back into riding and currently I ride almost everywhere I need to go often 15 km trips and have begun to realize the constraints of my bike.
I ride mainly road but I feel safer on a MTB as I ride in the wet often and also ride on dirt roads.
I ride quite often with a friend of mine who has a Specialized S-Works Epic 2007 which is obviously incomparable to my bike.
Understandably whoever is riding the Epic seems to be able to ride a lot faster then the one on the Apollo (on road), whether it is uphill or downhill.
My question is, how can I keep up with the Epic, will I have to buy a new bike or could i just upgrade a certain part (gears? wheels?) which will allow me to
at least partly keep up with the Specialized. I have a VERY limited budget sub $500 could stretch to $1000 if I wait until Christmas.
I am happy to buy used. (Thought about a Specialized Hard tail used, but this isn't much of an upgrade)
So what would you recommend?
Thanks
Should I buy a new bike or upgrade parts?
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Re: Should I buy a new bike or upgrade parts?
Postby mitzikatzi » Sun Aug 26, 2012 10:12 am
For road use. "Slick" tyres 1.25 or 1.5 wide. Better lighter tyres are an improvement. Service your wheel hubs. New grease and adjust the cones.
It is always more "bang for your dollar" when you buy a new bike on sale than a heap of parts.
It is always more "bang for your dollar" when you buy a new bike on sale than a heap of parts.
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Re: Should I buy a new bike or upgrade parts?
Postby bychosis » Sun Aug 26, 2012 10:22 am
Looks like an entry level bike, you are probably better off saving and starting with a new bike with better specs than upgrading your current ride too much. To drop some rotating weight you could try getting some lighter tyres with a lower rolling resistance, and then running them with ghetto tubeless or lightweight tubes (but more chance of punctures)
Other than that as above a good grease, service, adjust may help. Repack the hubs and ensure they are adjusted right, clean and lube the drivetrain, make sure your brakes aren't rubbing etc.
Other than that as above a good grease, service, adjust may help. Repack the hubs and ensure they are adjusted right, clean and lube the drivetrain, make sure your brakes aren't rubbing etc.
bychosis (bahy-koh-sis): A mental disorder of delusions indicating impaired contact with a reality of no bicycles.
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Re: Should I buy a new bike or upgrade parts?
Postby clackers » Mon Aug 27, 2012 1:26 pm
+1 on the tyres, PK, but all things being equal you couldn't expect these two to stay together all the time.pk_infuriato wrote:
My question is, how can I keep up with the Epic
They were designed for different purposes.
The wheels are smaller on the MTB, it's heavier when climbing, and the aero position is worse along the flats and descents.
You'll just have to up your effort a bit, buy an additional bike (the N+1 phenomenon) or get revenge on your mate by taking him down some really gnarly singletrack.
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Re: Should I buy a new bike or upgrade parts?
Postby uglybob » Mon Aug 27, 2012 3:28 pm
i think you'll find the Epic will go slightly better on the single-track than it does the road!clackers wrote:+1 on the tyres, PK, but all things being equal you couldn't expect these two to stay together all the time.pk_infuriato wrote:
My question is, how can I keep up with the Epic
They were designed for different purposes.
The wheels are smaller on the MTB, it's heavier when climbing, and the aero position is worse along the flats and descents.
You'll just have to up your effort a bit, buy an additional bike (the N+1 phenomenon) or get revenge on your mate by taking him down some really gnarly singletrack.
- clackers
- Posts: 2065
- Joined: Mon May 16, 2011 10:48 am
- Location: Melbourne
Re: Should I buy a new bike or upgrade parts?
Postby clackers » Mon Aug 27, 2012 5:16 pm
Er, thanks, Bob! I'll leave my post as it is, a monument to stupidity and Failure To Note The Key Detail.uglybob wrote:
i think you'll find the Epic will go slightly better on the single-track than it does the road!
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