We recommend deciding if you want to have composite (plastic) or an alloy (metal) pedals. You can also spend as much or as little as you want to on pedals.
#New paths on an old road upgrade
If you have the original plastic pedals that came with your bike an upgrade is a must. The pedals are where your power and control stem from. Other than grips, these are the main things that connect you to your bike. The shorter stem is necessary to keep your body in the correct position with those wider bars, and it also keeps your weight well balanced between the wheels. Why? The wide bars have become popular because they increase stability and control while riding. As an example, the stock width of our Range Handlebar is 780mm and our Range Stem comes in both 40mm and 50mm. By wide bars, we mean over 720mm and for the shorter stem well under 70mm (we suggest 40mm or 50mm). The industry has been heading in this direction for a while and it’s not just because it looks rad. The trick here is to go wide with the bars and short with the stem. The right grip can decrease arm fatigue and blisters that an old grip will inevitably create. A modern pair of grips, like our Loam Grips, can also make your riding much more enjoyable. The rubber or silicon on old grips does have a shelf life and the dirt and grime can build up over time. Kind of like a chain, these are a given when upgrading your bike. A lot of brands (Stan’s No Tubes for one) have kits that allow you to convert regular rims on standard mountain bike wheels to a tubeless setup. Tubeless allows you to ride with lower pressure tires that increase traction and have far fewer punctures to deal with on your ride.Ĭonverting to tubeless does not require a new set of wheels.
Getting a fresh tubeless setup can also drop weight and create ease of riding. Or are you jumping back into the world of mountain biking with this old whip? Weight, durability, and tread will be your friend here. Is this a bike you’ll mostly use for commuting or riding around the neighborhood with the kiddos? Then you’ll want something thinner, but durable with a bit less tread. What tires are right for you depends on the kind of riding you’ll be doing. Tires:Īlthough wheels aren’t always a necessary upgrade, new tires definitely can help bring that old bike back to life. Save yourself the headache of cleaning off the rust only to have it break on you after a ride or two and replace it with a new one. If a bike has been sitting in the back of your shed for a few years, it’s likely that the chain is rusted, dirty, and worn. New Chain: This is a no brainer, especially if you’re replacing the drivetrain. This upgrade is one of the pricier options, but by just adding a 1x and a dropper post you have already modernized your bike to be hitting up local trails with any crew. Basically, 1x drivetrains simplify your setup while improving the quality of your ride and it’s a pretty easy transition to make. It also eliminates one element of shifting and drops weight in your cockpit as well. Then there is just the simplicity of only dealing with one set of gears to index and maintain. First off, dropping down to 1x seriously cuts weight off your bike. There are a ton of perks to this upgrade. Changing from a more traditional 2x drivetrain to a 1x is an easy way to maximize the quality of your riding. Drivetrain:Īnother great way to modernize an old bike, drop weight, and smooth out the ride is to upgrade your drivetrain.
#New paths on an old road how to
You can also take a look at our other article, How to Choose a Dropper Post, for more info on what post is right for your bike. To find the right dropper you’ll need to know the diameter of your seat post. And, for under $200 you can change the entire riding experience.įor a lot of older hardtails, you’ll need to get an externally routed dropper post because those bikes were designed before droppers swept the cycling world. The ability to drop your seat for riding steeps and modern trails makes a huge amount of difference. We believe, and a lot of the industry agrees, that a dropper post can take an old bike and bring it into the modern bike world. Follow along with the advice of Seth from Berm Peak and then check out our recommendations below.Ĭall us biased, but there’s a reason we started our component company by designing dropper posts. With a few new parts, and maybe a bit of help from a local shop, you can get that ‘mature’ bike ready for some new trails. We are big proponents of upgrading here, and DIY doesn’t just need to be for redoing your backyard into the perfect Covid sanctuary. You finally pulled that old hardtail out of the shed, dusted off the cobwebs, pumped up the tires, and went for a spin.
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