If you’re serious about bicycle ownership, you’re probably not content to ride the bike as you bought it. A stock road bike is virtually a blank slate for upgrades, modifications, and personal touches—from small tweaks to major conceptual overhauls. We’ll explain further in this list of the best upgrades to make to your road bike.
New Brakes: Something to “Disc”-uss
It’s not the fanciest or most eye-catching upgrade you can make, but you’ll still be glad to make it. Disc brakes have been a popular component of mountain bikes for some time, but due to their added weight, they’ve seemed to be an unwieldy addition to lighter and sleeker road bikes. As materials have gotten stronger and lighter, however, a new market for aftermarket disc brakes has emerged for road bikes. Whereas traditional rim brakes slow your wheels down by applying friction to the rim, disc brakes work by applying pressure directly to the rotors. This lessens the wear that brakes necessarily impart upon wheels, which means a longer lifespan for your bike. Disc brakes aren’t susceptible to the buildup of mud, ice, and grime the way rim brakes are, making them a good choice for city biking in cold weather.
New Wheels: Stop Tiring Yourself Out
Your stock tires may not be the best match for you and your bike. By upgrading from aluminum wheels to new carbon fiber alternatives, you’ll enjoy a lighter ride that gets up to speed faster than before. How important is it for you to save time? Minutes add up to hours, and that means shorter commutes and faster tours—all thanks to this miraculous carbon-fiber construction.
LEDs: There Is a Light That (Almost) Never Goes Out
Bike lights can be unreliable. If you’re riding between sunset and sunrise, illumination is a must, and you want a light that gives you as much brightness as you need and won’t fail you at inopportune times. Look for high-powered LED lights to add to your bike—fortunately, the days of pedal-powered lamps are over.
An Electrifying Addition
Once you’ve made some improvements to smaller parts of your bike, it’s time to think big. Converting your traditional, manual bicycle to an electric bicycle, or e-bike, is one of the best upgrades to make to your road bike. A battery-operated motor that you attach to your front hub or chain drive will assist your pedaling, allowing you to achieve speeds of over 20 mph without having to overexert yourself through sheer pedaling alone. If you’ve been in the market for an e-bike but came down with a nasty case of sticker shock before you could make the purchase, you’ll be pleased to find that you’ll save thousands of dollars by upgrading your existing bike.
