Throughout the images you can see everything that I mention on this post.
I thought I'd share some of my favorite things that I got for my gravel bike. It's a Megamo Jakar 2025 and it's been a blast to ride so far (yes, it's alloy).
- Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M tires: these improved my confidence in all sorts of terrain by a considerable amount. A LOT of grip. I am currently running 45mm and I think that's my sweetspot, I'm able to tackle moderately technical singletrack without issues. They feel good on tarmac, I'd say because the central part is almost slick. And they're very, very resistant to punctures in my experience. No link for this product because you can find it anywhere.
- AMS Sterrato bar tape. This tape is extremely underrated. I bought it after using fizik tape, which was really good too, but after trying this one I'm never going back. It is extremely easy to install in the handlebars, super elastic and you can easily reuse it because it doesn't use glue, but sticky silicone. The best part about it is how incredibly comfortable it is. It's very cushioned and my hands do really appreciate that. I've seen reviews with over 9.000km and still great condition! You can find it on Amazon or on their own website. If you do get this tape I recommend also getting some frame guards, they're super easy to install with a hair dryer.
- Fidlock bottles: these are a little bit expensive, the two bottles + adapters cost me around 70€ (~80US$) but after I got used to the system they became very comfortable. Other bottle cages used to rattle or drop my bottles when riding aggressively. Fidlock uses a magnetic system combined with a lock mechanism that completely secures the bottles, and it's very easy to use. You can also find these anywhere online.
- RYET Ultimate Saddle: this is probably one of the best saddles on AliExpress. You can get it for as low as 30€ and it's a very good quality product. When I received it, I couldn't believe the value for money it offers. It's very lightweight but also very sturdy. You can shave a chunk of weight for a fraction of money with this. I recommend the EVA version because the 3D-printed cushion is like sandpaper for your bib shorts. You can find it here.
- Elita One Carbon Seatpost: same as the saddle. I shaved a lot of weight (~250g) with this carbon seatpost for a fraction of the price compared to western brand seatposts. It also feels super sturdy and with proper installation works flawlessly. Link here.
- Ullicyc Carbon Integrated Handlebar: probably my favorite upgrade. This handlebar is very good quality and Ullicyc's customer support is very good. They helped me choosing the right handlebar, showed me the kind of safety tests they put the handlebars through and even offered to design a custom mount for my Garmin. I chose this handlebar from their lineup because while it's significantly lighter than my old alloy handlebar, it's still overbuilt. Oh, and it comes with spacers and a computer mount. Link here. I decided to stay with external cables because of ease of maintenance, and it's a hassle trying to route them on an alloy bike that isn't meant for it.
Overall, these upgrades made my riding more fun and enjoyable 🙂
My next upgrade before getting a carbon frame (thinking Megamo West) is going to be carbon wheels. I've been thinking about CSC wheels because they have a warehouse in Europe, very good reviews in the last 10 years and offer free shipping in less than a week. Has anyone here tried them?
I would really appreciate if you let me know your favorite bike "upgrades". Hopefully you found something useful here!
by Ambitious_Guidance20