These 5 components will extend your bike’s life for under €100 (or almost)
Replacing your bike every four or five years has become a luxury for many riders. With the soaring prices of new models, overall inflation, and a growing desire to consume more wisely, more and more cyclists are now looking to extend the lifespan of their current bike without sacrificing performance.
At Velo-Perso.com, we've been talking to passionate cyclists of all levels since 2009, and we personally test every component we recommend. Here are 5 technical parts, often priced under €100, that have proven their worth in terms of smoothness, efficiency, reliability, or durability. Many of them can even be reused if you switch groupsets or frames, helping you avoid more costly replacements.
1. Rotor 12-speed chainring: the smart upgrade for Shimano cranksets
If you're currently riding with a Shimano 105, Ultegra, or even Dura-Ace crankset (from the 6800 generation onwards), chances are your large chainring is starting to show signs of wear after thousands of kilometers. Noise, warping, worn teeth – all signs that replacement is near.
Rotor offers a 12-speed compatible alternative that also fits seamlessly on 4-arm Shimano 11-speed cranksets. The weight is identical to the original chainring, but the stiffness is noticeably improved, thanks to CNC machining from 7075 aluminum. On the road, the difference is clear – especially during sprints or when pushing big gears.
Another key benefit: this chainring can be reused when you upgrade to a 12-speed groupset, saving you from buying a new one again.
The finish is excellent, the anodizing holds up well over time, and several customers have successfully installed it on Ultegra Di2 and mechanical groupsets. One of the photos on our site shows how clean it looks, even on a stock bike.
2. CyclingCeramic derailleur pulleys for Shimano: long-lasting reliability
When thinking about drivetrain efficiency, most cyclists focus on bottom brackets or chains… and often overlook the derailleur pulleys, which are just as crucial. Shimano's stock pulleys are decent but tend to wear out fairly quickly, get noisy, and can lead to tension loss in the cage after a few thousand kilometers.
The French brand CyclingCeramic offers a great solution under €100. Designed for Shimano road derailleurs, these pulleys provide smoother rotation, high shifting precision, and most importantly, twice the lifespan: around 20,000 km under normal use, compared to 10,000 km for standard models.
The pulleys come pre-oiled, but it's recommended to re-oil them with each chain replacement to maintain optimal smoothness. If you forget, they can still run dry without immediate damage, though performance will be reduced.
Note: these are strictly for road use. For gravel or cyclocross, a specific range is available.
As for performance gains, they’re modest – around 1 Watt – but still meaningful, especially for those who ride long distances and want to preserve drivetrain performance. Lastly, several color options are available to match your setup – a nice bonus for detail-oriented riders.
3. Bikone BB86 bottom bracket: less creaking, more smoothness
The BB86 standard is widely used on road bikes from brands like Canyon, Giant, Scott, and Lapierre. But it has one major drawback: the narrow 41 mm shell diameter forces Shimano to use small bearings housed in plastic cups, which aren’t very durable.
Bikone offers a BB86 bottom bracket made from aluminum, fitted with high-grade steel bearings and low-friction seals. It's one of the few options in this price range to deliver both excellent sealing and very good efficiency, with less than 1 Watt of loss compared to ceramic models.
Under heavy use, the typical lifespan is about one full season, whereas Shimano’s original BB86 bottom brackets may need replacement after just 5,000 to 10,000 km. Another strong point: this bottom bracket significantly reduces unwanted creaking – a common issue with carbon frames using BB86.
Installation is straightforward with a standard pressfit tool, which is widely available. For meticulous cyclists, the bearings can even be removed and serviced to extend the life of the bottom bracket, although most will prefer a full replacement when the time comes.
Finally, those looking for even greater smoothness can consider the CyclingCeramic BB86, which is more expensive but equipped with ceramic bearings. However, the performance difference is moderate, as the Bikone model is already very well designed.
4. Rotor Vegast crankset (24 or 30 mm): built to last a decade
Replacing your crankset every 3 or 4 years due to a new Shimano generation (like going from R8000 to R8100) is both frustrating and expensive. Rotor took the opposite approach with the Vegast model, designed as a modular and long-lasting platform you can rely on for 10 to 15 years without issue.
The Vegast is available with a 24 mm axle (Shimano compatible) or a 30 mm axle (offering a weight saving of nearly 100 g when paired with a good bottom bracket), and allows you to mount your choice of chainrings, either in 2-bolt or 4-bolt configurations.
It’s especially popular with customers looking for 46/30 or 48/32 chainring combinations, which work extremely well with 11-speed groupsets and 28T or 30T cassettes. This setup avoids having to upgrade the entire groupset just to install a 34T or 36T cassette.
Another benefit: you can replace the crank arms independently, making it easy to adjust crank length after a bike fit without buying a whole new crankset. This is also a great option for those switching between road and gravel bikes.
Admittedly, it's a bit above the €100 mark, but well worth the investment when you consider long-term value and product lifespan.
5. Spatzwear Windsocks 2 overshoes: clever aerodynamics
Dreaming of a more aerodynamic bike, but held back by the cost (and weight) of modern aero frames? There's a surprisingly effective alternative to improve your drag coefficient (CdA) without touching your frame: the Windsocks 2 overshoes from Spatzwear.
These sleek overshoes, developed with WorldTour pros, literally reshape the airflow around your feet – one of the most disruptive zones in terms of aerodynamics.
Even at 30 km/h riding solo, the gains are measurable. The technical stretch fabric strikes a perfect balance between aero efficiency, comfort, and ease of use.
They’re suitable for cool-weather rides (spring and autumn), though not designed for hot summer days. Their durability is excellent when handled with care, and they fit all standard road cycling shoes.
At under €60, they’re likely the best aero upgrade for the price you’ll find on the market today.
