Cheap Cycle Parts

Cycling can be an expensive hobby, but fortunately there are still some cheap cycle parts out there that will give you reliable performance. With patience and some online shopping know-how, you can easily score some cheap new bike parts for upgrading your new steed. Here are the top five cheap cycle parts for pimping your ride without breaking the bank.

1. New grips and bar tape. Your handlebars are one of the key contact points on your bike, and keeping your hands happy does a lot to keep you comfortable on extended rides. You can also up the bling factor on your bike by color coordinating your grips with the frame color. For flat bar bikes, Oury has comfortable, long-lasting grips in a wide range of colors that can typically be had for less than $15. For drop bar bikes, check out the cork bar tape offered by Cinelli. It's comfortable, cheap, and comes in lots of color combinations.
2. New chain. Someone once said that bicycle chains are like underwear: they need to be cleaned often and replaced regularly. This is because, inevitably, old chains become filled with grit and grime, which increases the amount of friction - and pedaling effort - on the chain. Dirty chains wear out faster and can damage your cassette and chain rings, so they are one of the most important cycle parts to replace regularly. SRAM offers high performance chains that won't break the bank. For nine-speed cassettes, try the SRAM PC-971 chain, which you can find online for under $30. For ten-speed set ups, try their PC-1071 offering.
3. New cables and housing. How long has it been since you replaced your brake and shifter cables? If you notice that your shifting is off, and tuning the derailleur doesn't help, it may be time to replace your cables. You'll typically pay between $5 and $10 per cable at your local bike shop, possibly less if you shop online. Shimano's top of the line cables can be had for only $15. High-end cables and housing are an affordable upgrade that will make your shifting and breaking performance noticeably better. It's a cycle part that you won't regret spending the money for.
4. New brake pads. Going fast is fun, but you need good brake pads to be able to stop in time. A nice set of brake pads won't set you back too much, and they can make even mediocre brakes perform much better. Kool Stop pads are a favorite cycle part of many cyclists because they are affordable and will stop your bike in wet or dry conditions (not all pads will actually stop your bike in the rain).
5. New tires and tubes. New rubber is one of the best upgrades that you can put on a bike, and online cycle retailers often run clearances on last year's tires. To find good deals, you need to know what tires are best suited for your conditions. Before buying, check out online reviews to find out what other bikers think of the tires. There are often good deals on Vredestein's road and mountain products. If you are patient and wait for closeouts, you can often buy new tires for 40 to 70 percent off retail. These are some of the best new cycle parts that you can buy for your bike.