Best replacement parts for a Carrera Zelos

[CK61938]

Hello,

I have a Carrera Zelos road bike bought from Halfords. It's a damn fine bike for £250 and I have been getting some serious mileage on it as the weather is starting to get better. Never thought I would enjoy being on a road bike so much given I had a hybrid for over 3 years and used to ride MTB's back in the day.

Thing is, with me using it to commute to work on a daily basis I feel it won't be long til I need to replace certain parts: chain and cassette mainly, possibly a new bottom bracket. I have had the bike since New Year's Day this year. I honestly don't know how often some of these parts need replacing. Is it every 3 months, 6 months, yearly? Hard to tell at times.

Question is, do I go for like for like on these parts in terms of pricce, or should I go for something slightly more pricey that I know will probably last longer. The cassette on the bike is a Shimano TZ500, 7 speed, 14-28t and the chain is just a regular old KMC Z51, 7 speed. For a full spec on the bike: https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/carrera-zelos-mens-road-bike-51-54cm

On top of this, I do plan on getting a more expensive bike at a later date via my cycle to work scheme. So I could probably hold off until then (likely to be between April and June). I got my eye on a couple of the Boardman SLR road bikes that are about a grand a pop and one of them has the Shimano 105 groupsets.

Any advice/suggestions are greatly welcomed and appreciated. Thanking you in advance!

 

[Jonny ///M]

I'd replace what parts you wear out and keep to the original spec.

Chain and freewheel are fairly cheap. You can check chain wear which will then tell you how worn the freewheel is.

To upgrade to anything worth while 8 speed upwards will mean you need a new rear wheel that will accept a cassette. Your wheel only accepts a freewheel.

 

[CK61938]

Cheers Jonny. I did check and noticed the wheel only accepts freewheel as opposed to regular cassette. I had a feeling it would be a case of keeping to original spec. Makes sense I guess, cheap bike may as well get the same cheap parts used to build it. But hopefully if and when I do get a new bike later on, it will definitely be one with much better specs.

 

[Jonny ///M]

If you do choose to upgrade then I think 105 sits about £400 online and about £100ish for wheels.

So many bike at the £1k mark with full 105(brakes and chainset sometimes get downgraded) that you could pick up for £850 all day long.

Merida scultura 400 or cube attain sl are decent bikes. Little bit more cash if you wanted disc brakes.

 

[XE11]

i had a play with that bike in my local halford. damn fine bike indeed. especially as a commuting workhorse. before moving onto a new bike, try some new tyres. Shimano 105 R7000 is still quite new, so not a lot of bikes have them yet. I think it is a major upgrade over the older 5800 version of 105. Also try Decathlon, this is one fine workhorse too:

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-rc-520-disc-road-bike-navy-105-id_8554421.html

 

[CK61938]

i had a play with that bike in my local halford. damn fine bike indeed. especially as a commuting workhorse. before moving onto a new bike, try some new tyres. Shimano 105 R7000 is still quite new, so not a lot of bikes have them yet. I think it is a major upgrade over the older 5800 version of 105. Also try Decathlon, this is one fine workhorse too:

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-rc-520-disc-road-bike-navy-105-id_8554421.html

Damn that bike does look good, but they only have S and XS sizes left and I require a M at least. But a very good price for the bike. My current bike actually has Continental GP 4 seasons. It was essentially the first things I changed when I bought the bike.

 

[XE11]

Damn that bike does look good, but they only have S and XS sizes left and I require a M at least. But a very good price for the bike. My current bike actually has Continental GP 4 seasons. It was essentially the first things I changed when I bought the bike.

i think they are going through a re-branding process at the moment and trying to get rid of the "B'twin" name. this is the new one for this season: https://www.decathlon.co.uk/rc-520-gravel-adventure-bike-105-id_8554425.html

i think the only difference is the tyres are now Hutchinson Overide 35, where it was B-Twin's own brand before.

 

[area51]

Hi was going to suggest a more Urban(Cyclocross to those that know) far better all round machine as can use tow pathes/canals/off roading sensibly? the wider tyres give a far better ride

KMC chains are pretty good always best to link chain with a tool less link then once in a while can quickly remove wash in Comma hyper clean re oil and replace prolongs life of it and cogs by a lot.
plus don't forgot to clean cogs and chainset it's a worn chain which wear quickest that wears cogs which also wears chain rings.
Should get around 3 chains to a cog set if maintained reg it's the grit that turns into a grinding paste and it's far better to lube very often with a thin/light one than a thick one rarely

In the freewheel drop some thicker oil in there (lean bike to left side then drop into flat part you can see between cogs and spindle then turn pedals back as you do so soon know if in right place as that will stay still while cogs move) SAE 80 oil sort of gearbox oil

7speed chains even 8 which are same chain are pretty cheap Used to use Sedis years back on everything
Check flea bay can also pick up a cassette rear wheel if want to pretty cheaply there all 130mm across the stays 5&some 6 was 126mm but even 9's was 130mm some went to 135mm like MTB's it's only some odd frames that run likes of 142mm with non symetrical stays with like of 11plus

 

[Roady]

<snip>there all 130mm across the stays 5&some 6 was 126mm but even 9's was 130mm some went to 135mm like MTB's it's only some odd frames that run likes of 142mm with non symetrical stays with like of 11plus

FYI: area here is talking about hub widths. You'll generally have to match what you already have (otherwise you'll have to change the drop out/RD hanger at the very least).

Most road Quick releases are 135mm as a standard these days. Although yours with a freewheel might be different.

Disc brakes are tending to be 135mm or 142mm (with the occasional oddities like my Specialized SCS in between).

 

[area51]

FYI: area here is talking about hub widths. You'll generally have to match what you already have (otherwise you'll have to change the drop out/RD hanger at the very least).

Most road Quick releases are 135mm as a standard these days. Although yours with a freewheel might be different.

Disc brakes are tending to be 135mm or 142mm (with the occasional oddities like my Specialized SCS in between).

Road 9 speed stayed 130mm mtb's are 135mm plus the old 6 speed mtbs was 130mm between the rear drop outs