Upgrade fever can happen to anybody. It starts with remarking about that cool carbon stem you saw at the shop, progresses to titanium bottle cages and ends with everything on your bike being made of either ceramic or carbon.
This weeks' GamJams Reviews focus on the next equipment upgrade. If you want to add your own review, do it in the comments or on your own blog, then put the link in the comments.
- Beth has her eyes on a set of new carbon bars, though upgrade inspiration can strike at any time: "I usually think about my next upgrade for about 5 minutes, and by the end of that time I have hit the "Order Now" button."
- Wheels are a common upgrade for pretty much everybody, and there's a quick guide with some smart options at The Robot Diary: "I think the best upgrade anyone can make is a wheel upgrade."
- The Flamenco Chuckwagon's bike isn't fancy. No, sir, it's a utilitarian beast that gets the job done. In this case, the next upgrades will come upstairs: "There are guys who race very well with more complex constraints than what I have in my life. Whatever allows them to do that is what I need to learn."
- It's going to be a massive TT upgrade at District Cycling, where there's a frame ready to be built: "My next big purchase will be to get the components to build it up properly."
- It's been a crashy season so far in Algomaha. Because of crash damage, there have been a lot of upgrades; so many, in fact, I'm not sure what's next: "So the only thing left, really, would be wheels. And I was set for wheels, actually."
- Sigberto is thinking outside the box this week. He needs no fancy bike bits. Dude wants a titanium spine, and he has it completely justified by the end of the post: " ... like everything else titanium, the spine will help dampen vibration throughout my body, reducing fatigue on long rides."
- Somehow, the only plans for a power meter are on District Velocity. But, as Martin says, there are lots of them out there already: "It's not hard to get into a conversation after a race in which wattage isn't mentioned."
- There are different levels of upgrade insanity, and there's a great breakdown at Bikerackheads:
" ... you're loaded, without a conscience, and your number one priority is blowing money on useless bike parts. Ask yourself, what kind of upgrader am I?" - We all could have saved ourselves some time and just linked to the Unholy Rouleur's tome on upgrading. It's long, but it's a must-read: "Nothing is ever good enough. No matter what you have, it's not a closer."
Next reviews: Miracle road rash cures (June 11), multi-tools (June 18)
About GamJams Reviews:
All cyclists are experts, at least when it comes to our equipment choices. We know why we chose what we chose, and what we think of the product after we've been using it. GamJams Reviews channels that collective expertise - category by category - into a tidy package of articles designed to help all of us make better equipment decisions. Buying what pros get paid to use is one way to go. But the candid testimonial of fellow racers who paid out of their own pocket - that's an endorsement that really counts.
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In addition to being GamJams Tech Editor, Bryan Redemske is a professional writer and Cat 3 racer. He drinks a lot of coffee.
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