I've been gathering parts for a few months in order to re-do my main road bike. It's a Decathlon Sport 7.2 (Decathlon is a French big box sporting goods retailer that had a failed attempt in the States). It's an entry-level bike--aluminum frame, steel fork, Sora 8-speed triple and I switched the rear derailleur to a Tiagra.
I've been upgrading slowly along the way. The Shimano R500 wheels were bought in the Fall and the Ultegra brakes came off of the bike that will also provide the derailleurs here. I bought that one on CL to part out and flip. In the end, I re-built it with most of the parts that came off of the Decathlon bike and re-sold it.
I did this about a month ago--I just never got around to posting it here.
Anyway--before: (still wearing its trainer tire on the rear)
Stripped down of anything I wasn't re-using (BTW--saddle is a WTB Speed V with a lycra cover--not as bulky as it looks, but still a cush saddle)
Bars with the 10-speed 105 levers (lightly used, ebay) mounted and one side wrapped
My Chinese knockoff Ritchey WCS stem is visible here. Instead of full carbon, it's aluminum w/ a carbon "wrap". Whatever--cheap stem with nice cosmetics.
I have 2 layers of bar tape and some Cinelli gels in between the layers. I hate achey hands.
Got these trick little aluminum pullies off of ebay (more Chinese stuff) mounted on the Ultegra rear derailleur. The stock pullies were a bit worn.
...and all done:
Seat cover removed:
Derailleurs and brakes are 6500 Ultegra. Cranks were upgraded to SRAM Apex compact double 50/34(I dig the look of the external hollowtech bottom bracket). Fresh set of M520 SPD pedals. Tires are some cheapie Kenda Kadences that I used on my singlespeed for a short time. I'll use these for awhile and then put my lighter Michelin Axial Carbons on there.
SRAM 10-speed chain and Tiagra 12-28 10-speed cassette (I deal with some serious hills around here). Bars are Forte compact ergonomic (can't remember the model)
The bike lost a pound in the process, but it's still chunky at 23lbs. I'll probably get a carbon fork next season.
It's a great ride now. The compact bars and the 10mm shorter stem make this bike fit like a glove. It's also way more comfortable to ride down in the drops now. It's going to be a great long-distance bike for the MS150 and hopefully, my first century.