100%. I've often wondered how a Pro Level bike say ridden by a World Tour level Pro from 1995 would compare to a £2000 bike of today. I reckon today's mid range bike would have it beaten.
Honestly, buying second hand and upgrading is a no-brainer if you have the time and skills. I've built bikes for the price of a mid range modern new bike which blow them out the water. Eg. Supersix hi mod with full SRAM red and carbon wheels for about £1500 all in.
@@douglashadams7705 I ride a 1999 Look steel frame with 9 speed Shimano Ultegra and the best of all parts from that time. It's far better and not even heavier that most of today's mid-rang bikes.
No matter how much enjoyment you get out of "customizing" a less than perfect fitting bike, someone on perhaps a cheaper well fitting bike will be faster. I couldn't help seeing the seat all the way forward on the rails.
Tom Gilfedder I'm with you in this. Why spend 1,200€+ on something anyone else can buy??? Personalized functionality is where it's ALWAYS been at. Overall FITNESS makes you faster once the bike weight is around 9kg and good groupsets are used.
GCN focuses on racers because they spend big money on new equipment and they’re the people GCN’s advertisers want to meet. This series is for the rest of us, the folks who prefer to pinch a penny and make something practically as good. Thanks Jon.
I think a missing element here would have been a basic tune up on the old bike before the first test. Getting the shifting right, brake setup and saddle height would be something you would do after buying any bike off e-bay. Ghost shifts tell me that the bike is 500 km overdue for a tune up.
yes, GCN lack in that part sometimes the scientifical accuracy. first proper maintence and setup from a mechanic. powermeter on. serveral tests with a powermeter @200, 250W or 300 Watt depending how strong the testers are and can hold that power. then upgrade and all tests again in the exact same conditions.
Try that with one-piece stem and handlebars, proprietary seatpost, and proprietary fork. You are are also waaay more likely to snap the derailler hanger in a way that renders the Orbea non-repairable. It is also non-recyclable.
One more video. This new bike vs the mid range bike. That is the real test. This bike build vs a mid range would be great for those of us with 10 year old bikes that we are considering upgrading and not replacing.
They already talked about the % difference on the mid range bike being better. But perhaps spend the difference of a mid range bike on this? Could certainly make gains on weight and more aero wheels with that cash.
@@MrBJPitt Question is whether or not that's actually true. It might 'feel' better, but we're talking 1,5 minutes difference from a super bike over 1 HOUR. That's nothing for a hobby cyclist in my opinion. Especially considering that the super bike is rocking Dura Ace, so we're probably up somewhere between 4000+. If you can overhaul a bike to perform like that bike for just 800 extra, then i'd say that's a pretty viable option. And that' assuming you have to replace every single part of it.
I've replaced everything (but the frame, of course) on my 2005 Lemond Zurich over the past 2 years. I did it on the cheap by using the next generation Ultegra components (6700 vs 6600 that came in the bike). It's all new components - and new to me - but inexpensive (ok, Cheap!). It rides like a dream! Best thing, I didn't need to get used to the geometry of a new bike, well fitted or not and it only cost me ~$900 and a couple hours of quality time working on my bike. Love these videos guys - keep it up!
Have a 20 year old Bianchi that I just upgraded. Runs really great with the Shimmano 105 group set. Plus I get a lot of compliments about it being an old school steel frame. Classic bike updated.
I have that very same Trek; I call it my drug cheats bike, it has mudgaurds and is an ideal wet weather hack, all for under £150 thanks to Short Rochford in Potters Bar.
Great stuff! My commute ride is a self-build and I love it. Not the fastest or lightest, but fast enough and strong enough for everyday use. If it's built with love, it really doesn't matter whether it's a world beater or not.
I'd be interested to see an "apples to apples" comparison as well - pitting the rebuilt old bike against a modern aluminum bike with a comparable level of components.
Lol... all of you spoiled guys on your super bikes!! I actually appreciated this video quite a bit as I'm of modest income. I started riding to help recover from a car crash injury. An old single speed Schwinn Caliente is where it all began.... a year later I was stripping road bikes and converting them into single speeds myself and replacing everything with bits of carbon. I got my 24lb Diamond Back down to 16.71lbs. Fast but uncomfortable. I learned of proper fitment (watching GCN of course) and that made a world of a difference. I was faster using less energy because my saddle was no longer beating my rear end to a pulp anymore. I upgraded my tires from 23mm to 25mm and could not believe the difference. I traded my bullhorn set up for dropbars and found that I could deliver more consistent power to my wheels for a much longer period of time. Needless to say, "I'm proud of my bike!" It took me over 4yrs to build that bike and as of last year I've gotten into fixed gear and track bikes. Got a 1986 quad butted Fuji Track bike that I ride on open road and in traffic. What a great training tool!! Riding my track bike forced me to focus on pedaling and improved my pedal performance and cadence all the way around! I love blasting uphill on a fixed wheel set up... the momentum trains you to keep going. AND NOW... I want a bike with gears. No, I crave a bike with gears! I have plenty of bicycles... about 19 to be exact. I have an old Peugeot that's been identified as a possible Team bike. It's already buttery smooth but alas with down tube shifters it's an obvious sacrifice in speed and I don't sacrifice when it comes to speed!! I CRAVE A SUPERBIKE!! And that's why I loved this video so much. I view geared bikes as "range extenders." Ultimately I imagine that my single speeds and track bikes will enhance my riding experience, provide training so that I'll have a competitive edge on a true road bike!! Sorry for the long comment but this 25 minute video is a wink at the dream I've been chasing for nearly 5 years now. Love GCN... keep up the good work!
The series inspired me to completely renew my 10 year old Stevens road bike with copper paint, a new Shimano 105 group-set and the amazing Vision Team 30 rims.
Hi Guys.I'm in my fifties and have decided to get back into cycling after perhaps a 30 year gap. I've just bought a new bike (£300) and have discovered your channel. Loads of good advice, interesting pieces/presenters and good fun as well. I'm really encouraged by your obvious enthusiasm and excited about my new hobby/pastime and looking forward to getting just a bit fitter. Will join a local club when I'm less of a newbie, keep up the good work!
@@hydorah My friend had that exact set-up on that bike. These were also the bikes that the USPS team was illegally selling on eBay to fund Armstrong's drug protocols.
@@JoeJoe-lq6bd Your mate should definitely have kept that. The value of a bike with that level of quality, team provenance and sheer notoriety(!) will only go up. To be honest, the things Armstrong did, it's astonishing he got away with it for so long. Can you remember how much he paid for it?
Awesome Video, I'll never buy a new bike again, I've built 12 bikes up over the last 10 years all top end bikes with top end components at the fraction of the cost of a new bike.
Having build 2 bikes from frame up, I can tell that it is one of the most rewarding experience for a cyclist, plus every part - the handlebar, seat, shifters, crankset, pedals are of your personal preference. That adds a psychological element at the time of riding and also makes the bike that much more comfortable for you. It is also very good knowledge to have when there comes time to fix and issue with the bike. Great video. thumbs up.
I think one of the points about the refurbishment of the cheaper, older bike is that it has been up-cycled and done well. I have many spent years refurbing old (and new) road and mountain bikes with new(er) or more modern, or just better quality and conditioned components and it is a very rewarding and satisfying experience. Especially when you ride those bikes or sometimes sell them on for others to enjoy. It is also the more eco-approach as opposed to throwing stuff away (if a part isn't damaged I will try and re-use it or sell it on. Glad you guys do these kind of videos that can inspire others to do this. Not everyone can afford to buy new or expensive bikes so chapeau. Keep up the good work!!
I've thoroughly enjoyed this series. You've literally done exactly what I did to, funnily enough, a Trek, Lance Armstrong TdF replica that was also 20-years old, that inherited from my neighbour. Right down to the finishing kit, though I did go for Deda Superleggera and the paint scheme (matte grey), our efforts are amazingly similar. I love my cheap bike/super bike. It's great for use in less than ideal weather and now that we're hopefully moving on to better temperatures, it's now mounted onto my Elite Turbo Muin. Great series guys, keep it up!
This channel continues to be a masterpiece. It made me fall in love with bike and even if I have a modest bike I took a job as a delivery boy by bike when I couldn't find one. And now every day I spend my 5 hours on a bike travelling around and breathing well. Thank you GCN!
Super entertaining series. Us amateur cyclists love to upgrade and dream about upgrading (not sure which one we like more), so this series is perfect for the weekend warrior!
This episode goes on to show, that if I shed 5kg (fat chance) I will outperform by a solid margin my current self riding any super bike. It’s all in the head.
I have really enjoyed the whole process of this bike build. I recently was involved in a traffic accident commuting from work, injuring myself and writing off my (super) bike. I kept my first road bike in the shed and never used it but without a bike to ride after my injury’s have healed I decided to turn my old bike to something more modern. Over the last few weeks I have repainted and upgraded most of the components. This has kept me focused on getting back on the road whilst my injury’s heal.
I turned to cycling after a car crash. Doctor told me that I should refrain from lifting weights but recommended cycling as a method of recovery and exercise. A new passion was born!!
Love this series. It would be interesting to see how much aerodynamic improvement you can make to a ten year old carbon bike, as those bikes are now available used for well under $1000.
A 1984 Trek Steel frame was my first road bike 3 years ago. I credit that bike to getting me into road cycling. One of the first upgrades I made was a used pair of wheels with some good rubber. This video was a nice reminder that she needs some TLC.
Well done John and team. Very enjoyable series. JUst goes to show how far components have come. I would like you to have done a run with some aero wheels just to see what times were possible. Also, why is John not riding it? John, can we still call you a cyclist if we never see you cycle?
Time to send Jon back to the boards, maybe? 😁 Like, building a track bike from scratch, borrowing elements from this series? I mean, let's face it: this series is a boon to us folks in pursuit of the whole concept of smart money w/o breaking the bank.
I still have my CIOCC custom built in 1985... 12 speed Shimano 600 SIS all stock except the handle bars and seat which were changed out during a refit about 10 years ago. Only part that has failed in 37 years has been a downtube shift lever. Never broken a spoke or anything... rides like a dream. When I first got it I was offered a Team Look carbon frame from my builder... neither one of us had any clue how long one would last. My introduction to carbon frames was him tossing that frame and fork at me still in the box and I thought it was an empty box. Learned later that was also the frame that gave carbon it's reputation for being sloppy because they just transferred standard steel frame tubing sizes over to carbon and layed it up... a lot lighter, but noodly. Then carbon got to stiff over time and noisy, and then it developed further into modern carbon... a lot of which is pure crap, but some is amazing.
Santouche Santouche I bought yet another bike so the Mrs had enough and made me get rid of one. Wish I’d have kept it, was well pleased with my paint job. Agree, one sexy bike!
What I love best about these comparison/contrast videos is how much fun everyone is having. Which really speaks to why we ride after all: for the fun. I own three different bikes that run the gamut of performance and no matter what the situation just being on two wheels really is what brings me joy. Keep up the great work GCN, love your content.
A couple of years ago I resurrected my old 1977 Raleigh Super Course. Did not upgrade, replicated old parts where necessary. Only new parts are the pedals. Old ones got lost somewhere along the way. Talk about new life... the bike has somewhere around 20K miles. It might have been cheaper to upgrade to modern spec, but I love it the way it is.
They would never do that because if they did so, they would have to use light components from brands that are competitors to gcn sponsors. That just would never happen
When Trek started producing bikes in Wisconsin in the early 70's, they were super bikes - at least within the riding company that I kept. Yes there were some Italian bikes that were "better". But Trek was up there. I bought a Raleigh Grand Pris in '73(not a super bike;-) and rode it for 20 years, doing triple centuries and riding with people who did RAM (Race Across America). I rode with a friend from the Netherlands who rode a cheap 10 speed. He would ride that junker on one day centuries with no problem. Of course our rides weren't races so we weren't trying to get the most from our bikes. We were trying to get the most from ourselves which didn't always include speed. We all did work on our own bikes and knew how to keep them going. To me, that's the value of your videos. You help to show what can be done. I currently ride recumbent bikes and trikes, most often riding a 65# recumbent tandem trike with an 80 year old man who can't walk. Now that's a super bike. I love your videos. Keep them up.
Alternate title: Would you pay $8000 more on a bike to be 3% faster? Alternate title 2: Watch one GCN presenter riding a super bike go slower than another riding a cheap bike... Alternate title 3: It's not the bike, it's you...
I don’t think they’re suggesting it as a cost effective project. It’s just a fun project to see if it can be done. Albeit a pricey one 😂 Also, it’s a 7% improvement (was 10% slower, now 3% slower)
I've recently upgraded my 1977 steel Viking. ACOR dual pivot brakes - way better than the Mafac screechers. Put in 700c wheels (£65). Conti tyres. Still 12 kg and 2x5 speed - but goes so much better. Keeping up with the club much more easily.
The super work of art bike wins for me! The New fast aero bikes just don't float my boat! An old frame with New components is like an E Type Jaguar with a cosworth race engine. Looks smashing and goes quick enough!
I agree. Other than being a cheap bastard; I like the classic diamond frame that old road and mountain bikes had. Like my Schwinn High Sierra, Gary Fisher Katai, Trek 800 Sport Singletrack, Nishiki Prestige, Fuji Trutemper, GMC Denali. It's just another form of hotrodding; get the frame you like and parts you want. Build a bad ass bike.
I love you guys ! Its like two best friends, who were friends from childhood ... who love bikes, experimenting and having fun ! You all have the formula on point !
Done the same to a 2016 B'Twin RockRider 500S - added SR SUNTOUR Epixon RL-R MTB Suspension Fork TK 26" 120mm and a Fox Suspension Float Factory LC EV Rear Shock, Carbon handlebars, Magic Mary upfront and a Michelin Rock'T on the back. Not as good as my Whyte T-130 CRS, but the Bafang BBSHD motor and 17.5AH Li-ion battery pack turn it into an off-road monster! 👍 It'll never be a Levo, but boy, is it fun!! 👍🤣
Back around 2008 I picked up a Trek 1000 in Red White Blue paint and installed an Ultegra Crank, and Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels. I was blown away by the perceptive power delivery increase. It became my number one bike, and I got lots of looks in the fast group rides. Especially once I started inching past people in climbs, and breakaways.
I think you did a great job of turning the older bike into a very acceptable club bike. I have a 1987 Raleigh Grand Prix that I purchased as a basket case to $35. It lacked a seat post, saddle, and handle bars. The original component group was first generation Shimano 105. I upgraded to an FSA compact chainset, Shimano 105 front derailleur, Shimano Tiagra 10 speed rear derailleur, Tiagra 10 speed brifters, and Shimano R500 wheelset. The bike rides great and climbs pretty well for being 32 years old. You just can't kill Reynolds 531!! All I need to do now is give her a new paint job.
This IMO is one of the best videos GCN has done for a long time. It's a real world test to an age old question that you see in most bike reviews which is - needs better wheels/finishing kit etc. Ask yourself - how many times have you read a review or watched one on GCN where the reviewer says of some £1000-£3500 bike "Needs better wheels to really unleash the potential". This video in part answers that question though I do have 1 major point.The Total cost for this bike including the original purchase price is £900, but actually £800. Try getting a good Alu frame bike with this kit on it for £800. A well known UK Online bike company near Preston do an AL race bike with 105 for £999. However they don't include as good bars, stem or seatpost as this bike and the tyres and wheels aren't as good either. So in many ways to compare to a mid price bike is unfair because GCN will tell you a mid point bike is £2000-£2500 nearly 3x the cost of this. Well done GCN for filming this, though as Si said I think I'd rather spend £1200-£1400 and get the exact same spec but on a more modern Frame from Cannondale or Specialized.
It's like watching an old top gear bike edition. And by that I mean thoroughly enjoyed it! I may be more of a MTB rider these days but still love any tech segments.
Great work on the cheap bike. I have a Viking 2011 VK sprint model that I am now upgrading in under £300 with new wheels, spray paint, handlebar, stem etc converting my old free wheel to freehub.
I think he deliberately went slower with the cheap bike. His brain is kept telling him it's a heavy bike and your mind directly reflects your muscle...
You guys have inspired me. I bought a 20 year old Mongoose road bike with an aluminum frame a few years ago. I haven't ridden it much but it is loads of fun. When it shifts right. And as long as I don't have to lean on the brakes too much! lol. I think it's time to breathe new life into it! I want to go for a gravel bike vibe but it can't fit any more that 23mm tires! So, its strictly a road bike Maybe I'll do both the Mongoose, as a road bike, and the 40 year old steel framed Raleigh I have as my gravel bike. Inspiration is starting to sound expensive !!!!!!!!
Well interesting, but for the same price on wiggle, you can buy a brand new 2019 Fuji Gran Classico carbon frame road bike with ultegra group set ! Of course, if you have the tools and time, building up such an old bike like that Trek is more like a hobby than actually saving money.
I did the same with my last bike. Bought a 200$ second hand bike. And bought upgrades for it. Worked great till it was stolen. Time to build another one this year. Great video.
I love your channel, i was specting this video all week to see the final results and i just can say that if you can't get a super bike because money this is a great option. I'm from Colombia and i have a really cheap bike, but it doesn't matters, she makes me smile and happier every single second i use it. Some day i'll get enought to get a super one. Sorry for my spelling.
I had a 1997 Cannondale for the longest time that I love. It's a beautiful bike and I'll never let it go but had to buy a modern bike and stop sinking money into it around 2006 when I rode to a shop to buy some new tires and the owner talked me into taking a carbon bike out for a test ride. I rode down a steep winding hill and was impressed by how responsive it was on turns. Riding back up, the stiffness and weight difference were incredible. I flew up the hills. I still ride my Cannondale to work because it gets tons of compliments. It's a very pretty red and yellow paint job. But if I am going for a challenging ride, I am going with my Giant I bought last year.
Yes really enjoyed this,I have an early specialized roubaix 2006 was 9 speed 105,it's now 11 speed 105 with new pro light garda aero wheels it's much faster now.it was 20ib new but it's now about 19ib.The only original parts are the frame,bars,and 105 brakes.
Hi Mark I did a similar thing 3 years ago, found an S-Works Roubaix with Dura Ace 7800 10sp, the frame was perfect but the previous owner didn't use a torque wrench and had damaged the seat-post, and steerer. Replaced the seatpost, saddle and a different design stem helped after cutting the crushed part of the steerer away. Also replaced bottom bracket with a ceramic one, chain, cassette, tyres and just purchased a DA 7950 compact crank from eBay for little money. The original price was £150 and the bike owes me about £700 now - weighs 7.1kgs (15.6Lb) in a XL 58cm with everything attached ready to ride. Simon mentioned that in 20yrs aluminium frame tech has changed a lot, but I'm thinking of upgrading to SRAM ETAP WiFli because I like the idea of 11speed and electronic shifting, but am I throwing good money away IF my S-Works is considered old...... Decisions, decisions??
Did the same to a Merida Road Lite (Original Sora groupset 2 x 8), now all Shimano 105 5800, topped with a power meter. Never tried a super bike, but I do like my setup a lot more now!
Great Video! You’re right. the end result is important, but the journey itself is interesting I took up cycling 5 years ago, wasn’t sure if I would carry on so bought a bike off eBay for £200 (Defy 4), did a bit of servicing (used to have bikes a long time ago) and just rode it for 12 months. Then, after a mate poked me, I bought new tyres, new wheels, new pedals and spd shoes, another £300 and rode it for another 12 months Then last year, bought a better one off eBay for £500 (defy advanced pro 1 - carbon frame , disk brakes shimano 105) Not sure I’ve saved that much money - but doing each upgrade piece by piece has given added insight, plus I’ve never been too much out of pocket at any point in time. Good video fella’s
Their course is only 2km. Races can be over 100 miles, and over the course of the race the time adds up, plus the energy cost of riding a cheaper bike harder to keep up with your opponents.
I think the "cheap bike into super bike" came out really well. It's going against a hi tech Orbea so I wouldn't expect it to win but for the money..... Great show!
GOOD JOB!!! Looks great and the performance difference surprised me! Well, maybe not a super bike but it could be called a ...umm... I'll have to give it more thought!
If I were the one to have gotten my hands on that Trek,I would have: -Paint stripped it,then lacquer. -Switch out the Shimano 105 to Shimano 7700 derailleurs,12-23t cassette(and Sora R3000 brifters) -Have a pair of Biopace chainrings(preferably 52-36t). -(this should be unexpected)Get a lighter weight square taper crankset,and square taper BB with a Ti spindle(because there shouldn't be much difference in stiffness between an Octalink and square taper BB,but weight differences are discernable). -Switch out the cockpit,seat post and saddle for decent Chinese ones from eBay. That's me.But I still respect the GCN team for having embarked on such a project.I'd like to see more of this if possible.
That’s a great bike because it will clearly hang with the group on club rides, and it looks nice and clean, too. For people who already own and old frame, or can acquire one on the cheap or free, it’s liberating to know you can build it easily into a nice bike you’ll e proud to ride. My current bike (first road bike) is an ‘84 Schwinn I resto-modded for comfort, speed, and enhanced looks. It’s not a super bike, but it’s opened the door and let me step into the world of road riding at a time in my life when even a $1500 bike is simply out of the question. For many of us out here, the very circumstances in life that restrict our budgets from buying a new bike are the sources of stress and difficulty that necessitate time behind the handlebars. And tweaking an old bike to get out there is the best way for me to do it. It’s inspiring to see just how much performance can be eeked out of a 15+ yo frame.
I'm in a process of restoration of my Caloi 10 Sprint of 1987. I don't know if I can call that a restauration, it's more to an improvement and this video show me a lot of answers about the perfomance and how good it can be. Thanks guys for the video!
Hunk of junk?! I've been riding the same road bike since 1991, rode it this morning, still lovin' it ;) The upgrades, minor: Sella Italia Flite Titanium saddle (just for the perenium hole, looks and lightness really); Grip Shift for rear shifting, mounted on right handlebar end (super lightweight and more convenient and use to have it on my aerobars); broader cassette on rear (11-34T) for the hillier terrain where I live now, Continental tyres, sealed bearing bottom bracket. Stem is currently around 120-130mm (came with 110mm stem, but ran it with 140mm stem and aerobars for maybe 24 years out of the last 28 years). Just about to fit some Tacx jockey wheels to the rear derailleur.
I've done similar with an old specialized hardrock from 2007. The result of this video is spot on. It may be comparable to a modern mid range bike but it's my bike that I built and scoured for parts for. Makes it a lot more satisfying. Also who's gonna have a bike the same as something like that? Probably no one.
Should have serviced the trek and put a new chain and some ave tyres on before the first test really. All the initial test did was highlight that the bike was almost unrideable. Sounding negative - really enjoyed the series :-)
Oxley Rise Estate I ride a trek thats over 30 years old. It was originally an offroad bike, but I put road tires on it. Other than that the only thing needed replacing were the grips (dryrot) and the rear axle. 1983 my dad bought the bike, and I've been using it for years now and it's still going strong.
It's also were you come from: I started cycling only recently and decided to buy a second hand bike first to try out the sport instead of investing a lot of money right away and explaning that to your family. I bought a fifteen year old Trek 5500 OLCV carbon in good shape and It rides absolutely great. Now I'm slowly upgrading with inspiration from this and other channels! So rewarding even though I'll probably end up near the mid-range price. Still I'm prouder then when I would've bought that Giant Contend 1...
Very much what I was thinking. If you are trying to turn a cheap into a superbike, you gotta use not mid-range but superbike parts. The Zipps certainly played the biggest role in this case. Match the Orbea's drivetrain further on and the difference may get statistically insignificant. But that could give people some dangerously right wrong ideas...
Sean Kelly (many years ago) famously said, when asked what the best bike in the world was, "the one that fits and your paid to ride". Fits is the most important factor there. Anyway, you can accomplish allot on an older frame with decent, well maintained components, if it fits you properly and is set up for your purposes. My riding partner has a new Venge, I'm in an old trek 5500, with ultegra 10spd.....he hasn't dropped me yet. Thanks, you guys, nice job.
This video is very interesting. Literally, I take delivery of a 2003 Trek 5900 110 carbon fibre bike tomorrow. The plan is to stripe and repaint, replace the older Dura Ace components with new SHIMANO ULTEGRA r8000 11 speed groupset. All in I've figured around $1,200.00. I'm betting the rebuild will be even closer to the super bike times of this video. When compared the cost to a new Giant TCR or Canyon Ultimate with the exact same components, the savings was give or take $3,000.00. Can't wait to get my hands on this bike! Thanks for all the great content GCN provides.
My mate has just bought a B-Twin Ultra 900 for his first bike w/ Shimano 105 and it is genuinely a brilliant bike for the money. The ride compared to my Condor Leggero is really great for the money. I’m going to decathlon for my next winter bike for sure.
Love it! I have a bike which I've rebuilt and I won't part with it even though I barely ride it now. Pretty much only the frame, fork, seat-post and bars are original but I learned so much by rebuilding it. One day I might turn it into a drop-bar or re-spray it but probably not. It is not as if it is wearing out sitting in the garage.
I've upgraded a 2006 Fuji Roubaix to the point the only thing original on it is the frame and fork. As of March 2019, all new 105 groupset, aero wheels, carbon seatpost, e.t.c. I was regularly passing people on $2000 bikes in my last two races. Over three years I spent $1000 in upgrades, that's only $28/month, by hitting the sales and clearance. It weighs as much as a new $1600 bike, and has some better parts too. If you find a good used bike, upgrade the components until you've got great gear on an ok frame, then upgrade the frame. February to March is a is a time to ask your local bike shop to call their dealers and see what's on clearance. The added benefit is your bike will be fully customized to you. That goes a long ways towards comfort. Even if you buy a new mid range bike, you're still going to spend more on changes to have it suit you. Start cheap and build up.
Those hill climb times (16:20) were so completely consistent!! both riders were 33 seconds faster on the super bike and Chris was 2 seconds faster on both bikes than Simon on both bikes. This sounds like a high school math problem that you only need one speed to figure out the rest. Simon's time on the cheap bike was 7:50, what were the other times that were achieved in the test?
Thanks for the video. I’m putting together an old Felt frame and I’m glad I found this shootout. For me, the time and performance difference is not to far apart to deter me.
Guys I really enjoy all your challenges, new bikes and scenic routes you present but this is so satisfying to watch. Giving old bikes a new life, and a very decent one in fact. Love it. Also love that you picked up a 20-year-old Trek, whereas I ride a 19-year-old one - alpha-series, just in orange-black colours... loads of memories, and it just keeps on collecting kilometers)
What continually amazes me is, how technology advances in such time... I can't wait to see what the industry has to offer in 5-10 years. Bravo Jon, excellent video GCN!
Great results! I've enjoyed the series quite a lot - great work. If I hadn't revived my almost 30 year old road bike last autumn, I'd start doing that now. :-)
My boss asked me why I got 2 min late for work. I told him that I am ridding a cheap bike not a super bike
Bet he understood huh
You’ve got to be “ridding” me....
@@eugiov7667 You tried.
Did it work?
Ask him for pay rise to buy better bike
I’d love to see y’all compare a super bike from 20-30 years ago to a cheap/mid-range bike of today
THIS!
100%. I've often wondered how a Pro Level bike say ridden by a World Tour level Pro from 1995 would compare to a £2000 bike of today. I reckon today's mid range bike would have it beaten.
Honestly, buying second hand and upgrading is a no-brainer if you have the time and skills. I've built bikes for the price of a mid range modern new bike which blow them out the water. Eg. Supersix hi mod with full SRAM red and carbon wheels for about £1500 all in.
@@douglashadams7705 I ride a 1999 Look steel frame with 9 speed Shimano Ultegra and the best of all parts from that time. It's far better and not even heavier that most of today's mid-rang bikes.
Yes I'd like to see a Bianchi EV4 in there!
Something I don't feel was emphasised is having something that nobody else has. That custom element, a bike unique to you.
I enjoyed this. Thanks Jon.
No matter how much enjoyment you get out of "customizing" a less than perfect fitting bike, someone on perhaps a cheaper well fitting bike will be faster. I couldn't help seeing the seat all the way forward on the rails.
Tom Gilfedder I'm with you in this. Why spend 1,200€+ on something anyone else can buy??? Personalized functionality is where it's ALWAYS been at. Overall FITNESS makes you faster once the bike weight is around 9kg and good groupsets are used.
GCN focuses on racers because they spend big money on new equipment and they’re the people GCN’s advertisers want to meet. This series is for the rest of us, the folks who prefer to pinch a penny and make something practically as good. Thanks Jon.
Heya Grunchy - on the contrary! We're here to cover all of cycling from different disciplines to different ability levels. Glad you enjoyed it!
Nailed it #TomGilfedder
"Cycling never get's easy, you just go faster."
Hunter The Based God there's no excuse for poor grammar
- abraham lincoln
@@barrysidings615 grow a pair and tag a person when you try to insult them.
Northlands Logger I don’t believe I was taking to you?
@Hunter The Based God if the "ats" was intentional you have become my new hero 😂😂😂
I think a missing element here would have been a basic tune up on the old bike before the first test. Getting the shifting right, brake setup and saddle height would be something you would do after buying any bike off e-bay. Ghost shifts tell me that the bike is 500 km overdue for a tune up.
I agree, not a true test.
yep, a simple tune up and new tires would have made a huge difference.
very true, you wouldnt get a super bike out the box and ride it without a tweak / tune up
Wonder if they even checked the tyre pressures. Certainly loading it in favour of the new bike.
yes, GCN lack in that part sometimes the scientifical accuracy. first proper maintence and setup from a mechanic. powermeter on. serveral tests with a powermeter @200, 250W or 300 Watt depending how strong the testers are and can hold that power. then upgrade and all tests again in the exact same conditions.
This is like the old broom joke.
"I've had the same broom for 40 years, only changed the head 6 times and the handle 4."
Try that with one-piece stem and handlebars, proprietary seatpost, and proprietary fork. You are are also waaay more likely to snap the derailler hanger in a way that renders the Orbea non-repairable. It is also non-recyclable.
Only fools and horses
Alright Dave
@@latergator915 Broom DNA testing, Carbon dating and a signed affidavit
Trigger rides again! 😉👍
One more video. This new bike vs the mid range bike. That is the real test. This bike build vs a mid range would be great for those of us with 10 year old bikes that we are considering upgrading and not replacing.
They already talked about the % difference on the mid range bike being better. But perhaps spend the difference of a mid range bike on this? Could certainly make gains on weight and more aero wheels with that cash.
@@MrBJPitt Question is whether or not that's actually true. It might 'feel' better, but we're talking 1,5 minutes difference from a super bike over 1 HOUR. That's nothing for a hobby cyclist in my opinion. Especially considering that the super bike is rocking Dura Ace, so we're probably up somewhere between 4000+. If you can overhaul a bike to perform like that bike for just 800 extra, then i'd say that's a pretty viable option. And that' assuming you have to replace every single part of it.
I've replaced everything (but the frame, of course) on my 2005 Lemond Zurich over the past 2 years. I did it on the cheap by using the next generation Ultegra components (6700 vs 6600 that came in the bike). It's all new components - and new to me - but inexpensive (ok, Cheap!). It rides like a dream! Best thing, I didn't need to get used to the geometry of a new bike, well fitted or not and it only cost me ~$900 and a couple hours of quality time working on my bike.
Love these videos guys - keep it up!
10 years old!!!!! My Benotto 850 is over 30!!!! And other than the tires, it all original....
If your bike is 10 years old, it was already more advanced (better frame and fork) than the bike they used. It will only get better from there.
Have a 20 year old Bianchi that I just upgraded. Runs really great with the Shimmano 105 group set. Plus I get a lot of compliments about it being an old school steel frame. Classic bike updated.
I have that very same Trek; I call it my drug cheats bike, it has mudgaurds and is an ideal wet weather hack, all for under £150 thanks to Short Rochford in Potters Bar.
I head steel... for me its carbon dampens the vibration instead of my body
Have a Raleigh mercury and a sword venge and have to say I prefer the Raleigh the thing is built to last
Steel is real.
Love a modern classic like that.
Great stuff! My commute ride is a self-build and I love it. Not the fastest or lightest, but fast enough and strong enough for everyday use. If it's built with love, it really doesn't matter whether it's a world beater or not.
You said that well, "built with love," and I agree.
“If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.” ― Carl Sagan
I'd be interested to see an "apples to apples" comparison as well - pitting the rebuilt old bike against a modern aluminum bike with a comparable level of components.
Lol... all of you spoiled guys on your super bikes!! I actually appreciated this video quite a bit as I'm of modest income. I started riding to help recover from a car crash injury. An old single speed Schwinn Caliente is where it all began.... a year later I was stripping road bikes and converting them into single speeds myself and replacing everything with bits of carbon. I got my 24lb Diamond Back down to 16.71lbs. Fast but uncomfortable. I learned of proper fitment (watching GCN of course) and that made a world of a difference. I was faster using less energy because my saddle was no longer beating my rear end to a pulp anymore. I upgraded my tires from 23mm to 25mm and could not believe the difference. I traded my bullhorn set up for dropbars and found that I could deliver more consistent power to my wheels for a much longer period of time. Needless to say, "I'm proud of my bike!" It took me over 4yrs to build that bike and as of last year I've gotten into fixed gear and track bikes. Got a 1986 quad butted Fuji Track bike that I ride on open road and in traffic. What a great training tool!! Riding my track bike forced me to focus on pedaling and improved my pedal performance and cadence all the way around! I love blasting uphill on a fixed wheel set up... the momentum trains you to keep going. AND NOW... I want a bike with gears. No, I crave a bike with gears! I have plenty of bicycles... about 19 to be exact. I have an old Peugeot that's been identified as a possible Team bike. It's already buttery smooth but alas with down tube shifters it's an obvious sacrifice in speed and I don't sacrifice when it comes to speed!! I CRAVE A SUPERBIKE!! And that's why I loved this video so much. I view geared bikes as "range extenders." Ultimately I imagine that my single speeds and track bikes will enhance my riding experience, provide training so that I'll have a competitive edge on a true road bike!!
Sorry for the long comment but this 25 minute video is a wink at the dream I've been chasing for nearly 5 years now. Love GCN... keep up the good work!
The series inspired me to completely renew my 10 year old Stevens road bike with copper paint, a new Shimano 105 group-set and the amazing Vision Team 30 rims.
Hi Guys.I'm in my fifties and have decided to get back into cycling after perhaps a 30 year gap. I've just bought a new bike (£300) and have discovered your channel. Loads of good advice, interesting pieces/presenters and good fun as well. I'm really encouraged by your obvious enthusiasm and excited about my new hobby/pastime and looking forward to getting just a bit fitter. Will join a local club when I'm less of a newbie, keep up the good work!
I liked that postal paint scheme.
It's actually a Trek OCLV used in races. A high-end bike for its time.
@@00tohsaka9 I bet you're right. The same frame was probably available with Dura Ace and fancy wheels on it for mega money
@@hydorah My friend had that exact set-up on that bike. These were also the bikes that the USPS team was illegally selling on eBay to fund Armstrong's drug protocols.
@@JoeJoe-lq6bd Your mate should definitely have kept that. The value of a bike with that level of quality, team provenance and sheer notoriety(!) will only go up. To be honest, the things Armstrong did, it's astonishing he got away with it for so long. Can you remember how much he paid for it?
It was the same frame Lance Armstrong rode in the Tour de France
one of the greatest series ever i think i might make a custom bike now
I am making an enduro bike
Thomas Brown having a frame that means something to you/has some history and a setup that suits YOU and not Peter Sagan cannot be overstated enough.
Awesome Video, I'll never buy a new bike again, I've built 12 bikes up over the last 10 years all top end bikes with top end components at the fraction of the cost of a new bike.
Having build 2 bikes from frame up, I can tell that it is one of the most rewarding experience for a cyclist, plus every part - the handlebar, seat, shifters, crankset, pedals are of your personal preference. That adds a psychological element at the time of riding and also makes the bike that much more comfortable for you. It is also very good knowledge to have when there comes time to fix and issue with the bike. Great video. thumbs up.
My favorite video series ever! John Canning brought his A-game and he delivered the goods. My hat's off to you sir.
This is a feature length testament to the skill and expertise of JC.
#CanningsPotY2019
Exactly. He’s a bit of a legend, that John.
Thanks lads
@@JonCannings Bravo Jon!
I think one of the points about the refurbishment of the cheaper, older bike is that it has been up-cycled and done well. I have many spent years refurbing old (and new) road and mountain bikes with new(er) or more modern, or just better quality and conditioned components and it is a very rewarding and satisfying experience. Especially when you ride those bikes or sometimes sell them on for others to enjoy. It is also the more eco-approach as opposed to throwing stuff away (if a part isn't damaged I will try and re-use it or sell it on. Glad you guys do these kind of videos that can inspire others to do this. Not everyone can afford to buy new or expensive bikes so chapeau. Keep up the good work!!
I've thoroughly enjoyed this series. You've literally done exactly what I did to, funnily enough, a Trek, Lance Armstrong TdF replica that was also 20-years old, that inherited from my neighbour. Right down to the finishing kit, though I did go for Deda Superleggera and the paint scheme (matte grey), our efforts are amazingly similar. I love my cheap bike/super bike. It's great for use in less than ideal weather and now that we're hopefully moving on to better temperatures, it's now mounted onto my Elite Turbo Muin. Great series guys, keep it up!
This channel continues to be a masterpiece. It made me fall in love with bike and even if I have a modest bike I took a job as a delivery boy by bike when I couldn't find one. And now every day I spend my 5 hours on a bike travelling around and breathing well. Thank you GCN!
Thanks Peter we appreciate all the support
Super entertaining series. Us amateur cyclists love to upgrade and dream about upgrading (not sure which one we like more), so this series is perfect for the weekend warrior!
Let us know if you give it a go yourself!
This episode goes on to show, that if I shed 5kg (fat chance) I will outperform by a solid margin my current self riding any super bike. It’s all in the head.
PHONOGRAPH maybe you should upgrade the chain ;)
I have really enjoyed the whole process of this bike build. I recently was involved in a traffic accident commuting from work, injuring myself and writing off my (super) bike. I kept my first road bike in the shed and never used it but without a bike to ride after my injury’s have healed I decided to turn my old bike to something more modern. Over the last few weeks I have repainted and upgraded most of the components. This has kept me focused on getting back on the road whilst my injury’s heal.
I turned to cycling after a car crash. Doctor told me that I should refrain from lifting weights but recommended cycling as a method of recovery and exercise. A new passion was born!!
Such a bummer. Fast recovery mate!
"dont fancy that climb on a singlespeed"
...
James would. Waiting for that fixed gear video, downhill included.
Exactly what I’m doing currently! Tear down and doing a complete rebuild. Can’t wait to get it finished!
Love this series. It would be interesting to see how much aerodynamic improvement you can make to a ten year old carbon bike, as those bikes are now available used for well under $1000.
As the owner of an old Cervelo Tri Bike that I have been restoring, I find this super inspiring! Thanks for putting this out there!
Should have compared with something like a new Specialized Allez Elite for same overall cost. I would take the new Allez...
Agreed. The Motobecane isn't bad either in that range. So many choices...
Kevin Skipper no worries mate
Smart
A 1984 Trek Steel frame was my first road bike 3 years ago. I credit that bike to getting me into road cycling. One of the first upgrades I made was a used pair of wheels with some good rubber. This video was a nice reminder that she needs some TLC.
Well done John and team. Very enjoyable series. JUst goes to show how far components have come. I would like you to have done a run with some aero wheels just to see what times were possible.
Also, why is John not riding it? John, can we still call you a cyclist if we never see you cycle?
Mark P 👌🖖✌️
Time to send Jon back to the boards, maybe? 😁 Like, building a track bike from scratch, borrowing elements from this series? I mean, let's face it: this series is a boon to us folks in pursuit of the whole concept of smart money w/o breaking the bank.
Funny
13:10
I still have my CIOCC custom built in 1985... 12 speed Shimano 600 SIS all stock except the handle bars and seat which were changed out during a refit about 10 years ago. Only part that has failed in 37 years has been a downtube shift lever. Never broken a spoke or anything... rides like a dream. When I first got it I was offered a Team Look carbon frame from my builder... neither one of us had any clue how long one would last. My introduction to carbon frames was him tossing that frame and fork at me still in the box and I thought it was an empty box. Learned later that was also the frame that gave carbon it's reputation for being sloppy because they just transferred standard steel frame tubing sizes over to carbon and layed it up... a lot lighter, but noodly. Then carbon got to stiff over time and noisy, and then it developed further into modern carbon... a lot of which is pure crap, but some is amazing.
Love this series. You’ve genuinely inspired me. I’ve found a bargain scouring eBay so I’ll be in the garage! 👍🚴🏻♂️
Woohoo, let us know what you're building!
Global Cycling Network I’m resurrecting a Cervelo P2C TT bike - challenge to see if I can make a top end Aero bike for £2k! 👍
@@S7EVE27 Could you give us an update?! I bought a cervelo p2k tt bike! Luuurveee them tear drop aero tubes and drop seat stays!
Santouche Santouche I bought yet another bike so the Mrs had enough and made me get rid of one. Wish I’d have kept it, was well pleased with my paint job. Agree, one sexy bike!
What I love best about these comparison/contrast videos is how much fun everyone is having. Which really speaks to why we ride after all: for the fun.
I own three different bikes that run the gamut of performance and no matter what the situation just being on two wheels really is what brings me joy.
Keep up the great work GCN, love your content.
Hmm, this makes me tempted to get something off of eBay and rebuild it. Thanks for the inspiration!
A couple of years ago I resurrected my old 1977 Raleigh Super Course. Did not upgrade, replicated old parts where necessary. Only new parts are the pedals. Old ones got lost somewhere along the way. Talk about new life... the bike has somewhere around 20K miles. It might have been cheaper to upgrade to modern spec, but I love it the way it is.
I'd love to see a sub 5Kg weight-weenie build project next
Scoba Mowol that would be so expensive
They would never do that because if they did so, they would have to use light components from brands that are competitors to gcn sponsors. That just would never happen
It'd be cool if they did that but sourced everything second hand or on discount.
Jacob Richardson but it would have to be the most up to date and they would not be second hand
Come on, sub 4
When Trek started producing bikes in Wisconsin in the early 70's, they were super bikes - at least within the riding company that I kept. Yes there were some Italian bikes that were "better". But Trek was up there. I bought a Raleigh Grand Pris in '73(not a super bike;-) and rode it for 20 years, doing triple centuries and riding with people who did RAM (Race Across America). I rode with a friend from the Netherlands who rode a cheap 10 speed. He would ride that junker on one day centuries with no problem. Of course our rides weren't races so we weren't trying to get the most from our bikes. We were trying to get the most from ourselves which didn't always include speed.
We all did work on our own bikes and knew how to keep them going. To me, that's the value of your videos. You help to show what can be done.
I currently ride recumbent bikes and trikes, most often riding a 65# recumbent tandem trike with an 80 year old man who can't walk. Now that's a super bike.
I love your videos. Keep them up.
Alternate title: Would you pay $8000 more on a bike to be 3% faster?
Alternate title 2: Watch one GCN presenter riding a super bike go slower than another riding a cheap bike...
Alternate title 3: It's not the bike, it's you...
nail. on. the. head.
I don’t think they’re suggesting it as a cost effective project. It’s just a fun project to see if it can be done. Albeit a pricey one 😂
Also, it’s a 7% improvement (was 10% slower, now 3% slower)
I guess given all components upgrade, it'll cost a bit of bananas
Closer to $800, not $8000
Until your comment, I didn't even notice that Chris beat Si's time using the cheap bike vs Si on the super bike lol
I've recently upgraded my 1977 steel Viking. ACOR dual pivot brakes - way better than the Mafac screechers. Put in 700c wheels (£65). Conti tyres. Still 12 kg and 2x5 speed - but goes so much better. Keeping up with the club much more easily.
The super work of art bike wins for me! The New fast aero bikes just don't float my boat! An old frame with New components is like an E Type Jaguar with a cosworth race engine. Looks smashing and goes quick enough!
I agree. Other than being a cheap bastard; I like the classic diamond frame that old road and mountain bikes had. Like my Schwinn High Sierra, Gary Fisher Katai, Trek 800 Sport Singletrack, Nishiki Prestige, Fuji Trutemper, GMC Denali. It's just another form of hotrodding; get the frame you like and parts you want. Build a bad ass bike.
One of your best videos!!! loved it... and exactly right, it is about upgrading slowly... because the significant others are watching...
Great series and props to JC for the great transformation.
I love you guys ! Its like two best friends, who were friends from childhood ... who love bikes, experimenting and having fun !
You all have the formula on point !
Done the same to a 2016 B'Twin RockRider 500S - added SR SUNTOUR Epixon RL-R MTB Suspension Fork TK 26" 120mm and a Fox Suspension Float Factory LC EV Rear Shock, Carbon handlebars, Magic Mary upfront and a Michelin Rock'T on the back. Not as good as my Whyte T-130 CRS, but the Bafang BBSHD motor and 17.5AH Li-ion battery pack turn it into an off-road monster! 👍
It'll never be a Levo, but boy, is it fun!! 👍🤣
Back around 2008 I picked up a Trek 1000 in Red White Blue paint and installed an Ultegra Crank, and Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels. I was blown away by the perceptive power delivery increase. It became my number one bike, and I got lots of looks in the fast group rides. Especially once I started inching past people in climbs, and breakaways.
This is what I do whenever I’d like a “new bike.” It’s way cheaper and you feel proud of yourself when finished and when cycling.
I think you did a great job of turning the older bike into a very acceptable club bike. I have a 1987 Raleigh Grand Prix that I purchased as a basket case to $35. It lacked a seat post, saddle, and handle bars. The original component group was first generation Shimano 105. I upgraded to an FSA compact chainset, Shimano 105 front derailleur, Shimano Tiagra 10 speed rear derailleur, Tiagra 10 speed brifters, and Shimano R500 wheelset. The bike rides great and climbs pretty well for being 32 years old. You just can't kill Reynolds 531!! All I need to do now is give her a new paint job.
Great Job with this series, it turned out really good.
Thanks Stefanos, glad you enjoyed it!
This IMO is one of the best videos GCN has done for a long time. It's a real world test to an age old question that you see in most bike reviews which is - needs better wheels/finishing kit etc. Ask yourself - how many times have you read a review or watched one on GCN where the reviewer says of some £1000-£3500 bike "Needs better wheels to really unleash the potential". This video in part answers that question though I do have 1 major point.The Total cost for this bike including the original purchase price is £900, but actually £800. Try getting a good Alu frame bike with this kit on it for £800. A well known UK Online bike company near Preston do an AL race bike with 105 for £999. However they don't include as good bars, stem or seatpost as this bike and the tyres and wheels aren't as good either. So in many ways to compare to a mid price bike is unfair because GCN will tell you a mid point bike is £2000-£2500 nearly 3x the cost of this. Well done GCN for filming this, though as Si said I think I'd rather spend £1200-£1400 and get the exact same spec but on a more modern Frame from Cannondale or Specialized.
Great series guys. Next test put aero wheels on the cheap-super bike and see what the time difference is. Next upgrade?
It's like watching an old top gear bike edition. And by that I mean thoroughly enjoyed it! I may be more of a MTB rider these days but still love any tech segments.
I loved this series. Top effort and thank you 🙏🏼
Thanks David, we really appreciate your support.
Great work on the cheap bike. I have a Viking 2011 VK sprint model that I am now upgrading in under £300 with new wheels, spray paint, handlebar, stem etc converting my old free wheel to freehub.
I think he deliberately went slower with the cheap bike. His brain is kept telling him it's a heavy bike and your mind directly reflects your muscle...
True
yeah, if you step on a bike you like a lot you'll unconciously push a lot harder.
You guys have inspired me. I bought a 20 year old Mongoose road bike with an aluminum frame a few years ago. I haven't ridden it much but it is loads of fun. When it shifts right. And as long as I don't have to lean on the brakes too much! lol. I think it's time to breathe new life into it! I want to go for a gravel bike vibe but it can't fit any more that 23mm tires! So, its strictly a road bike Maybe I'll do both the Mongoose, as a road bike, and the 40 year old steel framed Raleigh I have as my gravel bike. Inspiration is starting to sound expensive !!!!!!!!
Well interesting, but for the same price on wiggle, you can buy a brand new 2019 Fuji Gran Classico carbon frame road bike with ultegra group set ! Of course, if you have the tools and time, building up such an old bike like that Trek is more like a hobby than actually saving money.
As Wiggle is a sponsor, it would be great to put them side by side.
I did the same with my last bike. Bought a 200$ second hand bike. And bought upgrades for it. Worked great till it was stolen. Time to build another one this year. Great video.
A really great series of videos being brought to an end with this marvelous one. Well done guys, great to see GCN doing what GCN does best 👍
Cheers Howard, glad you loved it!
I love your channel, i was specting this video all week to see the final results and i just can say that if you can't get a super bike because money this is a great option. I'm from Colombia and i have a really cheap bike, but it doesn't matters, she makes me smile and happier every single second i use it. Some day i'll get enought to get a super one. Sorry for my spelling.
That orca aero is so beautiful. I could never afford it, but I love it.
I had a 1997 Cannondale for the longest time that I love. It's a beautiful bike and I'll never let it go but had to buy a modern bike and stop sinking money into it around 2006 when I rode to a shop to buy some new tires and the owner talked me into taking a carbon bike out for a test ride. I rode down a steep winding hill and was impressed by how responsive it was on turns. Riding back up, the stiffness and weight difference were incredible. I flew up the hills. I still ride my Cannondale to work because it gets tons of compliments. It's a very pretty red and yellow paint job. But if I am going for a challenging ride, I am going with my Giant I bought last year.
Yes really enjoyed this,I have an early specialized roubaix 2006 was 9 speed 105,it's now 11 speed 105 with new pro light garda aero wheels it's much faster now.it was 20ib new but it's now about 19ib.The only original parts are the frame,bars,and 105 brakes.
Hi Mark I did a similar thing 3 years ago, found an S-Works Roubaix with Dura Ace 7800 10sp, the frame was perfect but the previous owner didn't use a torque wrench and had damaged the seat-post, and steerer. Replaced the seatpost, saddle and a different design stem helped after cutting the crushed part of the steerer away. Also replaced bottom bracket with a ceramic one, chain, cassette, tyres and just purchased a DA 7950 compact crank from eBay for little money. The original price was £150 and the bike owes me about £700 now - weighs 7.1kgs (15.6Lb) in a XL 58cm with everything attached ready to ride. Simon mentioned that in 20yrs aluminium frame tech has changed a lot, but I'm thinking of upgrading to SRAM ETAP WiFli because I like the idea of 11speed and electronic shifting, but am I throwing good money away IF my S-Works is considered old...... Decisions, decisions??
@@LimeyDude no need for electric gears I think.
Did the same to a Merida Road Lite (Original Sora groupset 2 x 8), now all Shimano 105 5800, topped with a power meter. Never tried a super bike, but I do like my setup a lot more now!
I bet if you put same zip wheels on the GCN bike for the test then it would be even closer on the TT
But it would bust the bank!
what I was thinking
would be actualy intresting to see if there would be even a significant gap
But you can buy a midrange bike for the cost off those zipp wheels😉
I would be more dramatic: I bet the Celeste with the Zipps is faster than the Orbea with the cheapo modern wheels!!!!
Great Video!
You’re right. the end result is important, but the journey itself is interesting
I took up cycling 5 years ago, wasn’t sure if I would carry on so bought a bike off eBay for £200 (Defy 4), did a bit of servicing (used to have bikes a long time ago) and just rode it for 12 months.
Then, after a mate poked me, I bought new tyres, new wheels, new pedals and spd shoes, another £300 and rode it for another 12 months
Then last year, bought a better one off eBay for £500 (defy advanced pro 1 - carbon frame , disk brakes shimano 105)
Not sure I’ve saved that much money - but doing each upgrade piece by piece has given added insight, plus I’ve never been too much out of pocket at any point in time.
Good video fella’s
"It's not a superbike, it's not aero" BUT it is just a few seconds slower, so what are you paying for? A title? It's all about the rider.
Their course is only 2km. Races can be over 100 miles, and over the course of the race the time adds up, plus the energy cost of riding a cheaper bike harder to keep up with your opponents.
@@asaduppal5594 20:48
Chris cheap bike 6:47s vs Simon super bike 6:50s... Well, the problem isn't the bike then?
I think the "cheap bike into super bike" came out really well. It's going against a hi tech Orbea so I wouldn't expect it to win but for the money..... Great show!
GOOD JOB!!!
Looks great and the performance difference surprised me!
Well, maybe not a super bike but it could be called a ...umm... I'll have to give it more thought!
If I were the one to have gotten my hands on that Trek,I would have:
-Paint stripped it,then lacquer.
-Switch out the Shimano 105 to Shimano 7700 derailleurs,12-23t cassette(and Sora R3000 brifters)
-Have a pair of Biopace chainrings(preferably 52-36t).
-(this should be unexpected)Get a lighter weight square taper crankset,and square taper BB with a Ti spindle(because there shouldn't be much difference in stiffness between an Octalink and square taper BB,but weight differences are discernable).
-Switch out the cockpit,seat post and saddle for decent Chinese ones from eBay.
That's me.But I still respect the GCN team for having embarked on such a project.I'd like to see more of this if possible.
Aluminum has come a long way.... Got a new CAAD12 Ultegra and it's light-years better than my older Super Six Dura Ace and CAAD3 Saeco
Completely enjoyed this entire series. Thanks guys!
One thing shows how much faster Chris is than me: tractors are just the right speed for me to draft behind.
I once done 5ml behind one - my, that was sweet and we where doing 30mph ! ;)
Some of that farm equipment goes pretty fast. Farmers can put the hammer down :)
Is that uphill or downhill??
Lolz!!!
😂
It’s just payback for farmers who get stuck behind cyclists
That’s a great bike because it will clearly hang with the group on club rides, and it looks nice and clean, too. For people who already own and old frame, or can acquire one on the cheap or free, it’s liberating to know you can build it easily into a nice bike you’ll e proud to ride. My current bike (first road bike) is an ‘84 Schwinn I resto-modded for comfort, speed, and enhanced looks. It’s not a super bike, but it’s opened the door and let me step into the world of road riding at a time in my life when even a $1500 bike is simply out of the question. For many of us out here, the very circumstances in life that restrict our budgets from buying a new bike are the sources of stress and difficulty that necessitate time behind the handlebars. And tweaking an old bike to get out there is the best way for me to do it. It’s inspiring to see just how much performance can be eeked out of a 15+ yo frame.
Great project. Well done. The satisfaction is in the process or the journey of making it happen.
I'm in a process of restoration of my Caloi 10 Sprint of 1987. I don't know if I can call that a restauration, it's more to an improvement and this video show me a lot of answers about the perfomance and how good it can be. Thanks guys for the video!
I really like the Vision Team 30 rims you installed.
Hunk of junk?! I've been riding the same road bike since 1991, rode it this morning, still lovin' it ;) The upgrades, minor: Sella Italia Flite Titanium saddle (just for the perenium hole, looks and lightness really); Grip Shift for rear shifting, mounted on right handlebar end (super lightweight and more convenient and use to have it on my aerobars); broader cassette on rear (11-34T) for the hillier terrain where I live now, Continental tyres, sealed bearing bottom bracket. Stem is currently around 120-130mm (came with 110mm stem, but ran it with 140mm stem and aerobars for maybe 24 years out of the last 28 years). Just about to fit some Tacx jockey wheels to the rear derailleur.
I think trying to overcome the fear the chain is going to come off when you put any power down is what holds you back a lot on an older bike.
I've done similar with an old specialized hardrock from 2007. The result of this video is spot on. It may be comparable to a modern mid range bike but it's my bike that I built and scoured for parts for. Makes it a lot more satisfying. Also who's gonna have a bike the same as something like that? Probably no one.
Maybe you could've done both tests on the super bike first, to get an understanding for the course.
But in general, a very nice mini documentary :)
Awesome! Building up older bikes is my hobby, Great work John!
Should have serviced the trek and put a new chain and some ave tyres on before the first test really. All the initial test did was highlight that the bike was almost unrideable. Sounding negative - really enjoyed the series :-)
exactly, if the orbea had crap tyres and un-indexed rear mech it would also have been slow and unsteady.
Sooooo true. At least tune the shifting, and move the bars down a bit, give the trek a chance, some of us are still riding this bike today!!
Oxley Rise Estate I ride a trek thats over 30 years old. It was originally an offroad bike, but I put road tires on it. Other than that the only thing needed replacing were the grips (dryrot) and the rear axle. 1983 my dad bought the bike, and I've been using it for years now and it's still going strong.
(1) it's the engine, (2) it's the bike tune including fit, (3) it's the bike, 3rd.
It's also were you come from: I started cycling only recently and decided to buy a second hand bike first to try out the sport instead of investing a lot of money right away and explaning that to your family. I bought a fifteen year old Trek 5500 OLCV carbon in good shape and It rides absolutely great. Now I'm slowly upgrading with inspiration from this and other channels! So rewarding even though I'll probably end up near the mid-range price. Still I'm prouder then when I would've bought that Giant Contend 1...
Swap those zipps over and do the tt and climb again. I bet it will close the gap even more
Very much what I was thinking. If you are trying to turn a cheap into a superbike, you gotta use not mid-range but superbike parts. The Zipps certainly played the biggest role in this case. Match the Orbea's drivetrain further on and the difference may get statistically insignificant. But that could give people some dangerously right wrong ideas...
Sean Kelly (many years ago) famously said, when asked what the best bike in the world was, "the one that fits and your paid to ride". Fits is the most important factor there. Anyway, you can accomplish allot on an older frame with decent, well maintained components, if it fits you properly and is set up for your purposes. My riding partner has a new Venge, I'm in an old trek 5500, with ultegra 10spd.....he hasn't dropped me yet. Thanks, you guys, nice job.
I would like to see the same wheelset on both bikes just to compare the deep section gains
Felipe Navas --> what good would deep wheels do going uphill?
Deep wheels would be nearly all the time difference
Im agree with you not only the wheelset but groupset, handle bar and groupset should use shimano R8000 because the super use dura ace
This video is very interesting. Literally, I take delivery of a 2003 Trek 5900 110 carbon fibre bike tomorrow. The plan is to stripe and repaint, replace the older Dura Ace components with new SHIMANO ULTEGRA r8000 11 speed groupset. All in I've figured around $1,200.00. I'm betting the rebuild will be even closer to the super bike times of this video. When compared the cost to a new Giant TCR or Canyon Ultimate with the exact same components, the savings was give or take $3,000.00. Can't wait to get my hands on this bike! Thanks for all the great content GCN provides.
At decathlon you can get a aluminium bike with ultegra and carbon fork for just under 1000
Yup, I have it as trainer, winter amd training bike and its awesome. Of course not as fast as my pinarello but its a really really good bike.
My mate has just bought a B-Twin Ultra 900 for his first bike w/ Shimano 105 and it is genuinely a brilliant bike for the money. The ride compared to my Condor Leggero is really great for the money. I’m going to decathlon for my next winter bike for sure.
Link?
Love it! I have a bike which I've rebuilt and I won't part with it even though I barely ride it now. Pretty much only the frame, fork, seat-post and bars are original but I learned so much by rebuilding it. One day I might turn it into a drop-bar or re-spray it but probably not. It is not as if it is wearing out sitting in the garage.
Trigger found his broom 12% better once the handle and head had both been swapped...
Scott Vessey I came here for this comment
Yes Dave
I've upgraded a 2006 Fuji Roubaix to the point the only thing original on it is the frame and fork. As of March 2019, all new 105 groupset, aero wheels, carbon seatpost, e.t.c. I was regularly passing people on $2000 bikes in my last two races. Over three years I spent $1000 in upgrades, that's only $28/month, by hitting the sales and clearance. It weighs as much as a new $1600 bike, and has some better parts too. If you find a good used bike, upgrade the components until you've got great gear on an ok frame, then upgrade the frame. February to March is a is a time to ask your local bike shop to call their dealers and see what's on clearance. The added benefit is your bike will be fully customized to you. That goes a long ways towards comfort. Even if you buy a new mid range bike, you're still going to spend more on changes to have it suit you. Start cheap and build up.
Those hill climb times (16:20) were so completely consistent!! both riders were 33 seconds faster on the super bike and Chris was 2 seconds faster on both bikes than Simon on both bikes. This sounds like a high school math problem that you only need one speed to figure out the rest. Simon's time on the cheap bike was 7:50, what were the other times that were achieved in the test?
Thanks for the video. I’m putting together an old Felt frame and I’m glad I found this shootout. For me, the time and performance difference is not to far apart to deter me.
Great build up and showing how the gap came down. Well done Jon and the extended GCN team for all that testing.
Guys I really enjoy all your challenges, new bikes and scenic routes you present but this is so satisfying to watch. Giving old bikes a new life, and a very decent one in fact. Love it. Also love that you picked up a 20-year-old Trek, whereas I ride a 19-year-old one - alpha-series, just in orange-black colours... loads of memories, and it just keeps on collecting kilometers)
Maybe another challenge idea? A sub £1000 hill climb bike and try and KOM the steepest street in Harlech Wales.
What continually amazes me is, how technology advances in such time... I can't wait to see what the industry has to offer in 5-10 years. Bravo Jon, excellent video GCN!
Agreed.
Great video guys love the great work you always do and should put the new GCN bike up for a raffle I’d love my very own GCN bike 😉
Great results! I've enjoyed the series quite a lot - great work. If I hadn't revived my almost 30 year old road bike last autumn, I'd start doing that now. :-)