New Frame or Upgrade Wheels?

[cezinho]

Hello folks,

I am a proud owner of a Tarmac 2009 SL2 S Works - my first road bike!

The bike is currently assembled like this:

Frame & Fork Spacy Tarmac SL2 S-Works Quickstep Size 54
Stem: Bontrager 105mm but Rotor 110mm arriving
Bar: FSA Alu 42cm (>320gr) but currently looking for a ZIPP or FSA or Easton.
Sram Red Group
CNC Ultralight brakes
Seatpost: 27.2 carbon specialized
Ultegra Cassete 12-25
ESSAX Adrenaline
Pedals: Look Keo
Wheels: DT Swiss R1700 clincher (1700gr)

total Weight 7.0kg

My rider profile:

100K-150K a week, I don't race.
In my rides (avg 60l - 80k) I do around 700m climbing in average.


I am now wondering the following: is it better to get some nice carbon tubular (50mm) of around 800€ or change this frame for a SL3 or even SL4 (bb30, lighter and much probably more expensive the the difference of 800€).

what do you think? Opinions welcome.

Thank you

[cezinho]

edit: wrong message!

[Kastrup]

Wheelset anyday

[btompkins0112]

+1 Fine frame.....do the wheelset upgrade.

[cezinho]

thank you for your advice.maybe a pic can help

[bm0p700f]

Wheels as well although there is nothing wrong with your wheels. Another 200g can be easily saved and still have something reliable. More could be saved as well and still have reliability but the costs start to mount. Also weight saved at the rim will create a more noticeable difference than money saved at the hub. So spend the money there if you can.

[notsoswift]

Absolutely the wheels for this rig, you should save a good amount without any compromises well within your price.
You are addressing the other big weaknesses, being the bars and stem.

What do you weigh?

[Lou3000]

Just to play devil's advocate, you have a nice build. Great training wheelset, good group, decent part selection. If racing is not your goal, then maybe you go for an SL4. You will save a little weight, maybe get a slightly more compliant ride and a new bike is always more satisfying.

And if you just wanted to shave weight with a wheelset, there are very cheap (BHS) options to fill this need. You could easily build a 1400-1500g wheelset for $300.

Though honestly, that is a great bike, and my first response would be wheelset.

[cezinho]

Absolutely the wheels for this rig, you should save a good amount without any compromises well within your price.
You are addressing the other big weaknesses, being the bars and stem.

What do you weigh?

thank you for your opinion.
stem is not that heavy, this is already the today arrived rotor 110mm (112gr -> it actually should have been 106gr but probably my scale is not working well).
bar: i am looking for a good opportunity at any time.Zipp contour is the dream but, again, out of budget. maybe FSA, Easton SLX3 or 3T.


I am actually plan to change the setapost for the new s works seatpost, not to save weight but because is so much nicer.
my weight is 77kg

[Murphs]

Since you aren't racing, I would go for an SL4 upgrade before wheels, since the wheels you have are quite decent anyway

[notsoswift]

Hi cezinho, I meant to old stem , not the new rotor

Lou, as you say the wheels are not bad, but I would still look at those because they are going to make the biggest difference to the bike short of a very significant investment (ie Frame)

[cezinho]

I am now finally consideringmnew wheels.
Some options on the table: ffwd f4r and veltec wheels
Both carbon, both tubular, both sub1300gr.

My question is, ffwd are 38mm and on the veltec incan make a combo of38 and 50 or just 50/50 or 38/38 if i want.
Taking in consideration that the area where i ride is sometime windy, would u advice for me to go38/38 or try 38/50?

Thank u


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Phill P]

Are you sure those wheels are *only* 1700 grams?

I'd say a new set of wheels could save you 300grams and still have Al rims (more than a frame upgrade) and you can pick good hubs, rims and spokes to your own taste for that price.

I wouldn't go BHS hubs -get some local manf'd hubs- but the BHS wide rim is pretty good and should be stiff enough to allow you to use less spokes.

[CharlesM]

There are virtually no good frames for that 800 mark and frankly not a whole lot of wheels either... That said, you're more likely to hit that number on wheels and when the frame is pretty good to start with, wheels can make a more notable difference...

[53x12]

^ 800 mark? I'd take a CAAD10 at that point. If willing to buy a used wheelset, you could find a set of used Zipp 303s or 404s for that price.