So you’re thinking of upgrades—that means you're serious about ’cross! It can get pricey—think a whole new drivetrain or carbon wheels—or it can be as simple as a new handlebar tape.
The first question to ask yourself is why you want to upgrade your components. Chances are you're looking for speed or performance gains, or freshening up a stale ride to get you psyched for another season of racing.
In general, we find it all too common for cyclocross racers to reach for the credit card and purchase fancy race wheels or a whole new bike before really analyzing what they're riding, what their goals are, and what will provide the biggest return on investment.
There are plenty of affordable items that can make a big difference in your racing experience. We believe there are three "buckets" of affordable upgrades you can make before you get into the territory of new wheels:
- Speed: You might think this means new wheels, but if you're still rolling on stiff, narrow clinchers with inner tubes, you're at a major disadvantage compared to racers able to ride a lower pressure without flatting.
- Operation: We're tempted to buy new bikes simply because the old one doesn't work like it did when it was new. But there's a number of small, affordable upgrades to get it back to like-new operation.
- Psychosomatic: If you feel comfortable, you'll race confidently. If you feel pro, you might race like a pro.
Today, we'll take a look at some great options to consider in each "bucket" and hear from three outside experts on their favorite upgrades. The good news is that there are options well under $50 in all three buckets that even most budget-constrained racers can justify.
