CyclistBest road bike upgrades for every budgetDoesnt your bike just feel like an endless money pit sometimes? Sorry, but were not going to tell you otherwise; in fact, just the opposite: were going to share with you our list of the best road bike upgrades.If you happen to have 1,000-plus burning a hole in your pocket, worry not; some of our suggestions will easily swallow that up. But there are also upgrades you can make for less than 20 that will make a real difference to your bike, so thats where weve started on our way up to the serious big ticket items. The cost of most upgrades can vary wildly, so dont take our recommendations as too prescriptive: you might find a product you like thats a lot cheaper than our suggestions, or be looking for the best of the best, with price not a consideration at all. You might also find second-hand premium products at a fraction of the cost on places like Ebay.Bike upgrades for less than 201. Bottle cagesBottle cages (and the bottles to go with them) are a must-have on any ride of over a few miles. Proper hydration is vital for performance on the bike and for safety in hot conditions, so bottle cages that hold your bottles securely while making them easy to access are essential.They are also an easy upgrade to shave a few grams or boost your style points.Check out our guide to the best bottle cages2. Replacement cablesThe most common cause of poor shifting is dirty or damaged cables, making a cable refresh a good, inexpensive upgrade option. Ideally you want to change both the cable inners and outers at the same time. Incompressible outers and quality inner cables will go a long way to sorting out spongy, imprecise gear shifts. Related Posts Best gravel bike upgrades for every budget Best road bikes of 2024 reviewed by Cyclists experts Buyers guide to road bike groupsets Best bike computers 2024 for training, navigation and data reviewed 3. New bar tapeSam ChallisAlthough some bar tape breaks the 20 mark, you can get quality offerings from top brands that fall in this price range. Besides the aesthetic benefit of clean bar tape, you can choose a thickness, tackiness and grip pattern that suits you not to mention a colour to complement your bike.Bike upgrades for less than 504. MudguardsIf youre riding through poor weather, there are few outlays that will add to your comfort more than a quality set of mudguards. Many new bikes, even racy ones, allow you to fit full-length bolt-on mudguards. Set up correctly, these shouldnt rattle and will protect you and anyone riding with you from the worst of the road spray.Check out our guide to the best mudguards for road bikes5. TPU inner tubeSam ChallisYes, we know you can buy a new inner tube for less than the price of a cup of coffee, but TPU inner tubes are lighter, more puncture-resistant and, most importantly, really compact. TPU inner tubes make great spares to carry with you, cutting down on bulk and weight. You probably only need one and may be carrying it around unused for ages, but that makes it even more handy if your spare tube doesnt take up unnecessary space.Bike upgrades for less than 1006. New tyresAlthough you can buy a new pair of tyres for well under 100, a premium set will cost over 50 each. Its surprising how much difference a quality pair of tyres can make to your ride though. Theyll normally be lighter than budget tyres and have significantly less rolling resistance with better grip, helping to liven up your ride.In the winter, a set of winter tyres can add to your road grip and help save you from punctures. Many will do so without much additional weight or rolling resistance over summer options. Most modern road bikes have tubeless-ready wheels, so you could invest in tubeless tyres. Youll need valves and sealant as well, but running tubeless can make your ride more comfortable, reduce rolling resistance and save you time fixing punctures. If you go tubeless, make sure you equip yourself with a tubeless repair kit while youre at it. 7. New pedalsOver time, pedals tend to wear out and you may find that the bearings are not turning as well as they used to. For less than 100, you can buy a quality pair of pedals, usually with carbon bodies to save a little weight. If youve not switched to clipless pedals, its a good opportunity to try them out or maybe try a different pedal system with popular road offerings from Shimano, Look and Wahoo. New pedals are usually supplied with cleats, so if your pedals are at the end of their lives, its a good opportunity to refresh your cleats at the same time.Check out our guide to the best clipless pedals for road cyclingBike upgrades for less than 5008. New saddleIf youre not sitting comfortably, it may be time for a saddle upgrade. There are so many different designs out there that it can be hard to choose the best bike saddle for you. Higher end saddles will cost over 100, but brands usually have lower priced saddles in the same range, making it less expensive to find the right one. Knowing that saddle preference is very personal, many saddle brands offer a money back guarantee if you decide a saddle isnt for you. Others have test saddles available in some bike shops, so you can get a feel for a saddle before purchasing. A saddle upgrade can also take a chunk of weight out of your bike if it came fitted with a budget steel-railed number. Here are a couple of favourites that are popular with both men and women.Read our guide to the best womens saddles9. New handlebarHandlebars are another item spanning a wide price range. Theres a mass of designs with different widths and different amounts of reach to the hoods and drops. If youre spending over 100, you can expect a lightweight, quality item. Often carbon handlebars will replace alloy and aero bars usually fall into this price range, offering a more streamlined look, saving a few watts and providing more comfortable tops than a standard round bar. 10. Winter wheelsTop notch aero wheelsets (see below) often break the 1,000 barrier although there are options costing below 1,000 too but you can find many winter wheelsets that cost below 500. They may not have the deep section of an aero set and will probably be made of alloy rather than carbon, but you should be able to find a set that is high quality, robust and durable and that will cope with poor riding conditions, allowing you to save your best wheels for when warmer weather returns.Bike upgrades for less than 1,00011. Power meterThe price of a power meter that measures left and right side output independently usually falls within this bracket. A power meter is a useful tool to judge your effort on rides and improve your pedalling technique. It also allows you to track trends in your fitness, making it a great addition if you want to improve as a rider.12. Oversize pulley wheelsWere getting into flashy territory here, but oversize pulley wheel systems, OSPWs, are a hit with the pros who want to save a few watts in their drivetrain. The larger jockey wheels turn more slowly and usually include ceramic bearings, which generate less friction, while the smaller angle through which the chain links have to move relative to one another also cuts down friction. Theyre an expensive upgrade, but if youve bought a nice new bike, theyll help it look the part.Bike upgrades for more than 1,00013. Aero wheelsetAlthough you can find top-notch wheels costing under 1,000, brands best wheelsets typically exceed the 1,000 mark. Theres a lot of development and tech that goes into the best bike wheels and at this price youll typically find a set thats both aerodynamically tuned and lightweight. Its a significant outlay, but a quality set of wheels will make a real difference to your ride.14. Electronic groupsetA groupset upgrade is another expensive purchase that can make a big difference. Once you exceed 1,000, youre in the realm of electronic groupsets. Electronic shifting isnt just about faster, more reliable changes than manual shifting, it also allows you to change how your shifting works, with sequential shifting and compensating shifting helping to ensure that youre in the right gear every time after a shift.Check out our guide to road bike groupsetsLooking for a present and out of ideas? Try our gift ideas for cyclists. Related Posts Best gravel bike upgrades for every budget Best road bikes of 2024 reviewed by Cyclists experts Buyers guide to road bike groupsets Best bike computers 2024 for training, navigation and data reviewed The post Best road bike upgrades for every budget appeared first on Cyclist.