Upgrade

[ehirsch83]

I agree with Sky King.

105 components are decent, so you don't need to upgrade those right now.

But besides the wheels, how does the stock saddle feel and the handlebars?

[BikeHN]

Saddle is def. an ehhhhhh. I haven't gotten a new one b/c I just expect that all saddles besides a banana seat are gonna be uncomfy right?? Handlebars are good. I might check out prices on wheels, I know they can be quite pricey & don't know if my 500 bucks will suffice.

[Catrin]

Saddle is def. an ehhhhhh. I haven't gotten a new one b/c I just expect that all saddles besides a banana seat are gonna be uncomfy right?? Handlebars are good. I might check out prices on wheels, I know they can be quite pricey & don't know if my 500 bucks will suffice.

If the bike is fit properly and you have the right saddle FOR YOU, then the saddle really does just fade into the background and it is possible to ride all day without really worrying about saddle issues. At least that is my experience. If you have access to a good fitter you might want to explore this if you have saddle issues at all.

For me the most important thing is the three points of contact I have with my bike be comfortable and without pain. Once that goal is accomplished I would look at a different wheel set/tires if you have enough left in your budget. At least that is what I would do

[indysteel]

I agree with Catrin. It is possible to have a saddle that is comfortable, even on long rides. It often takes the right pair of shorts, too, but there's no reason to tolerate discomfort. The question is finding the right saddle, which as you might assume, can be difficult.

[Miranda]

+1 on the right saddle....

The saddle I have now on two of my bikes is the exact same one I had tried before and hated it in pain. The difference is that before the saddle was on my old ill fitting too large for me bike... and after it was on my current right sized bike, fit by a pro... and literally both the saddle and bike disappear underneath me.

If you are going for more speed, then you might also consider switching the width of your tires from 25s to 23s. The latter is usually the standard. It takes a little more balance practice, but is not long to adjust.

I'm getting ready to swap over my wheelset this season so we will see. But I have heard this to be true. It's the reduction of rotational gravity that makes a difference.

[ehirsch83]

After hearing about the saddle.,I would invest in a good fit(retul is amazing!) and saddle. Make sure chain,cassette,etc. don't need replaced then look at wheels.