The best thing about cycling is that as long as you have two wheels to ride on, you can have fun and train on the lowest budget. Although over time, the day will come when you need more, your riding addiction will demand better components and equipment. More speed, more comfort, more personality. And when this time comes, there is no going back. So where to start? what are the first improvements in which you should invest?

If you already own a beginner or mid-range bike, and want to take your experience to the next level (maybe even compete in some races), here are some of the first things you can upgrade in your riding gear, without breaking the bank.

| Tires | Wires | Pills | Bottle holder | Ribbon | Rims |

| cassette | Saddle | Handlebar | wheels | Potentiometer | Bicycle |

The first improvements are the cheapest you can do, but at the same time, they are the ones that you will have to change more often.

tires.

You can usually find two types of tires, and believe it or not, they make a difference depending on what you prefer to ride. Commercial tires can be made of butyl or latex rubber, the latter have better performance on the road because they are lighter and more comfortable to ride. This reduced weight takes away some rotational mass and being softer reduces their drag against the ground. In other words, you feel every pedal stroke and it counts for more. The disadvantage of Latex tires is their price, apart from that they need a little more care to keep them well inflated. Being a natural material, air filters through its pores faster than with butyl ones. They may be more delicate than synthetic ones, but good latex tires, combined with good rims, are well worth it for their weight savings, and for the unparalleled feeling they will give you.

If you have good quality tires on your Road bike, you will not regret making this upgrade to take a few grams off your shoulders. Especially if you plan on racing, the tiniest differences give you the advantage in races, all for speed.

They will normally cost you between COP $13,000 and COP $50,000.

Cables for your Brakes.

This is by far the cheapest and most underrated upgrade you could give your bike. No one thinks about how important it is to have top-quality cables until your derailleurs start to fail (or worse, your brakes). Don't wait until the strain is too much to stop, replace your cables often and you'll never have to worry about their performance.

Depending on how often you ride, and how hard you push yourself. A good rule of thumb for changing cables is seasonally (about every 9 months). Although if you are one of those who ride in the rain every day, it is better that you do it twice a year. Smooth shifting is crucial when racing, and you don't want to miss out on an opportunity to attack down the stretch for something so easily prevented. Imagine the headache that would be not being able to change speed in the middle of climbing.

We recommend you get the best quality cables, stainless steel or with coatings. "Anti-compression" cable housings, which come with Kevlar reinforcements, are the latest trend in the component world. They allow you to brake and shift more smoothly and with less worry.

You can get the best cables on the market for as little as COP $15,000 or up to COP $120,000.

Finally on this topic, we recommend you buy them in packages, to always have them on hand.

Pills for your Brakes.

Here is the key to a cheap and effective upgrade on your bike. Getting pads from top brands like SRAM is the fastest way to feel the difference in a mid-range bike. You can't put a price on the confidence to brake confidently in all conditions you ride. Pills you can count on always give you the psychological benefit to push yourself to new limits. You'd be less willing to take risks and push yourself if you're worrying about your brakes failing you when you least expect it.

For those who use carbon fiber wheels, this point is essential. Poor quality pads will literally make your wheels screech. Nothing worse than poor performance (and even wear) on your wheels when you need them most. Fiber compound is much softer than composite wheels (If you don't know the difference between carbon and composite wheels, we invite you to read our ultimate guide to road wheels), so keeping your wheels in top condition exemplary is essential to extend the life of your wheels. Look for pads made specifically for the specific type of wheels on your frame, like Zipp's Evo Tangente Platinum Pro if you use this brand, or ENVE brakes that perfectly match the SES (Smart ENVE System) surface of your wheels .

Many basic road bikes come with generic calipers included. This is good for riding right out of the box, but not so good if you want to perform at your best. Check the equipment you have well, if your brake calipers are not of the best quality, there will be no pads to save them. In these cases, it is better to invest your money in a good brake kit, the Shimano 105 is a good place to start.

You can find good improvements to your brakes for COP $90,000 up to COP $300,000.

Canister carrier.

Yes, of course, nobody thinks about accessories, everyone wants the best components to feel the improvement. But nobody realizes that the best thing you can do to enjoy cycling more is to indulge in comfort and convenience. Something as simple as not getting dehydrated while riding is going to make a world of difference, more than any electronic groupset or fiber component. Cage Carriers are a good starting point: having something that saves weight, keeps things in place, and maybe even helps with aerodynamics is the perfect balance if you want the most impact from the simple stuff.

A lightweight set saves you about 50 - 100 grams of weight, although its real benefit is in safely holding your caramañola. Riding without things bouncing around gives you a bit of peace of mind, so you can fully focus on enjoying yourself. Choose one made of aluminum, plastic or carbon fiber (depending on your budget), and with rubber grips, or some other security measure to keep your caramañola in place. You can even find some made to fit your bike and bottles. Some of our favorites include the Specialized Rib Cage II or the Elite Custom Race for the thrifty, if you're okay with bumping the price up a bit the Arundel Mandible is the gold standard.

You can get caramañolas for COP $30,000 up to COP $300,000.

Now comes the upgrades that will last you longer, and they're still relatively inexpensive.

Tape for your Handlebar.

We've said it a thousand times and we'll say it a thousand more, the most important points on your bike are the ones that come into contact with you (the saddle, the pedals and the handlebar). So optimizing your control over these spots is key, and it doesn't necessarily mean spending it all on the best handlebars and pedals (although they sure do help a lot), with something as simple as good quality tape on your bars, you're half way there. of the traveled distance. Improving the grip surface on the bars gives you more comfort and control for less investment, and along the way adds a touch of personality to your kit, don't discount the importance of riding with style and confidence.

Handlebar tape varies in thickness and material, some even have a gel coating to dampen vibrations. It all depends on your tastes. If you prefer to feel everything that happens around you, the thinner tapes transmit every bump to your hands, it can be a little uncomfortable, but it helps you respond to the terrain more effectively. You can also get grip tapes if you prefer to ride without gloves or when it rains. Reigning champion Peter Sagan uses Supacaz's "Sticky Kush" tapes, this high performance option comes in colorful alternatives, and all sorts of variations to suit all tastes. Another type of gummed tape is the Lizard Skins DSP.

You can get tape of all kinds for COP $90,000 up to COP $240,000.

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Tires.

Few components affect your riding experience as much as rims. By taking the time to choose the right set, you can save weight, reduce resistance to pedaling, increase grip with the terrain, prevent punctures and improve your comfort when wearing them. A good set of tires can give you the same speed benefits as an aero kit. Simply put, tires are one of the first upgrades you should make to your bike.

Choosing thicker tires can save you up to 25% of the energy you spend pedaling on thinner tires. As we tell you in our guide on Road tires, choosing the best tires can drastically affect your comfort with lower pressures and greater absorption of vibrations on the road. Much of the peloton runs on 25mm rims. Although, if the frame of their bikes allows it, they sometimes go for 28mm rims on the classics.

The key information here is that if you want to get the most out of your rims, get 25mm (and double check that your frame has the clearance). hopefully they weigh approximately 200g, have puncture prevention and a smooth or semi-smooth surface. Continental rims are the most popular among professionals. If you are interested, we recommend the GP 4000S option because they meet everything we have just mentioned. The new Graphene Corsa Clincher from Vittoria are another good alternative if you prefer an older school style.

A good set of tires will cost you between COP $120,000 and COP $510,000.

A Cassette.

Upgrading your entire entry group can be costly for many. So going one piece at a time is the most effective way to do it for less and still feel like the change is worth it. The cassette is the part where you will most notice the improvement, you will surely appreciate the greater speed range and the weight reduction.

Until recently, most bikes came from the factory with an 11-25 cassette. It is true that it is a versatile ratio for all types of terrain, but you can get much more out of an 11-28 or even 11-32 in the most epic adventures and the steepest climbs. These ratios allow you to let the bike roll if your legs get tired, and not end up with your cranks on the most challenging slopes. Keep in mind that if you want a cassette as huge as the 11-32's, you're going to need a larger dropper and derailleur along the way. On the other hand, an 11-28 will fit a standard kit more securely.

If you decide to upgrade your cassette, double check your chain, if it's too worn or the length doesn't fit, you should get a new one. Many brands equip their bikes with regular cassettes to cut costs, with the most basic upgrades you can save a lot of weight compared to those bits of steel that come from the factory. For Shimano fans, the best value for money investment is to get yourself an Ultegra cassette.

If you want to learn more about the groups for Ruta, we recommend you read our definitive guide explaining them.

A good group can cost you between COP $180,000 and up to COP $900,000.

A comfortable saddle.

This is without a doubt the most significant point of contact you have with your bike. Think of how many people you've seen complain about an uncomfortable seat, bruising after riding, or simply using the saddle that came from the factory with their bike. Choosing the right seat for your needs is a whole other world, one of comfort and a more fun cycling experience. The problem is that few know what works for their tastes, and there are hundreds of options to choose from.

Saddles come in all kinds of shapes and sizes for different types of riders, weights, and flexibilities. Each brand has its image of what makes a comfortable seat, a lot of superstition and a bit of luck. Something they agree on to measure an optimal saddle is its width. With shorter tips, wider bases, with or without grooves, and an endless number of options. It is very curious to see how each brand tries to find something that works, without cutting off your circulation or putting pressure on you where it bothers you the most.

The seats are unique for each rider, what works for one person will probably not work for another, so don't sit idly by, get a saddle adjusted to your tastes and enjoy the comfort that comes when things are made to order. measure.

Many bike shops offer demo saddles for you to try out different settings and configurations before you build your kit. So do your homework and find what works best for you. One last thing to remember is: As comfortable as the saddle is in theory, if it doesn't fit your bike correctly, it's going to be uncomfortable.

You can get them for COP $150,000 up to COP $1,350,000, a whole world of possibilities!

These are the upgrades you can use for years to come

A New Handlebar.

The handlebar is the control center on your bike, it is worth having one of the best quality to master any challenge that is put in front of you. You can get them in all kinds of sizes, widths, shapes and materials; so making the final decision can be challenging.

Let's start with the materials: the most common are made of aluminum (or an alloy) or carbon fiber. The latter will be stiffer and lighter, but much more expensive than an aluminum one. Regardless of what material you prefer, the most important thing when it comes to the truth is the width, thickness and shape. This varies depending on your riding style.

The width depends a lot on the dimensions of your shoulders, and how aggressive your running position is. A good measure to choose the correct handlebar is to know the distance between your AC joints (Acromioclavicular, those bones that stick out at the top of your shoulders). With this information in mind, you will know the most comfortable and stable type of handlebar for you. However, riders who prefer to ride in more aggressive positions prefer narrower ones, and those looking for more stability, wider ones.

The shape of your bar is another world of possibilities, with options for all kinds of reach (how far the bars come out of the fork), drop (how far down they go) and camber (whether they look like horns or whether they're flat). Shapes can be ergonomic, compact or traditional. All of this affects your riding position, your grip type, and your overall comfort as you prefer. Compact handlebars like the Zipp SL70 and 3T ErgoNova are the most popular choice for those who want comfort. Its reach is shorter and allows you better access to the brakes and gears.

You can find good quality handlebars for COP $180,000 up to COP $1,500,000.

Wheels.

Higher-end investments to improve your bike start here, but with the price also increases the effect they have on the quality of your rides. Here's the best investment you can make to kick-start your bike's performance. Our Ultimate Guide to Buying Road Wheels gives you a detailed explanation of what to consider when getting a good kit; taking the time to find the right wheels will give you more speed, better control, aerodynamics, less weight, and they will last longer in better condition.

The light wheels feel more fluid on the worst climbs, while the aero wheels weigh a little more, but reduce wind currents, taking your speed to the maximum. Whichever type you prefer, a set of wheels is going to take your performance to new levels more than any other upgrade. The rule of thumb is: Light wheels have shallow profiles (less than 30mm) to save weight, typically weighing in at 1,400 grams per set. While the Aero sets can have 40mm profiles and wider outer rims. If you measure the outer rim, anything less than 19mm is considered narrow, and anything over 22mm is wide (Lightweight vs. Aerodynamic).

A set of wheels can cost you between COP $2,250,000 and up to COP $12,000,000.

A Potentiometer.

With all the debate about banning them in competitions. Power meters aren't for everyone, but their advantage (besides the fact that you can swap them between different bikes) is that they measure your performance and challenge you to give more every day. With one of these you can be a better cyclist and not just improve your bike. Riding with a power meter allows you to record and analyze each of your rides, set goals and take pride in beating your own (and your friends') records.

They can even suggest how much you should rest after a particularly challenging stretch. The data they save is absolutely objective, it is not affected by rain or terrain conditions, if you ride for 100Kms, it will tell you that you rode 100Kms. Knowing exactly what you are giving allows you to compare your progress without a doubt of how legitimate the information is.

You can get power meters of all kinds, based on the cranks, the pedals or the axle. There are options for all budgets. So when you decide to get one, the first thing to consider is the battery and its weight. Stages is a good option to start with, its crank-based system takes exact measurements and connects to your cell phone via Bluetooth. They are an economical option, with easy to replace batteries and their system is among the lightest on the market.

You can start measuring your performance for COP $210,000 up to COP $9,000,000.

A new bike.

Sure, the biggest upgrade you can make if you want to level up is to get a better bike. And as obvious as it sounds, it's not such a far-fetched idea. Before you spend on all the accessories and components on the market, see if it might be cheaper to just get a high-end bike. A frame with better integrations, weight and stiffness could be what you need.

With what it would have cost you to buy wheels, handlebars, all the transmission parts, and who knows what else; you could have bought a carbon fiber bike with all the best from the factory and the latest technological advances. So unless you're happy with the bike you have, the best investment you could make is a new one. After you have the perfect one, reread this list over and over again.

The price of your bike depends on you and how much you want to invest in it

Obviously, unless you want to compete in a Grand Tour, or a high caliber race, the perfect bike is the one you like best.

Remember this, you don't need the machines of the professionals to have fun and ride, the improvements you want to make to your bike depend on how much you want to push yourself. For now, what you have is the best. You don't need to buy everything that's hot, your first goal with cycling should be to have fun and push yourself to new limits over time. Don't try to force progress that will come naturally. At least that's what we tell others when we spend our fortnight on new parts.

We hope this guide has been useful to you, now all you need to do is hit the road and enjoy your new and improved treadmill. Explore BikeExchange to find the perfect upgrades for your bike or visit your local store for further guidance.

Choosing the best bike from the start will give you an advantage from the moment you put your feet on the pedals, if your components are the best from the factory, you won't have to replace them as often, or worry about their performance. So it's well worth reading our ultimate guide to road bikes before you start upgrading!

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