I’ve had my van nicholas chinook for about 4 – 5 years now and love it enough that I’ve resisted any temptation to go back to carbon. I’d like to give it a bit of a spruce up so would like suggestions on what are the best small upgrades that provide some small performance upgrade while looking awesome. I’m going to stick with a red black and silver colour scheme.

Areas is initially thought of changing are the cables and saddle that are sure a change anyway. Are nokon style cables any good?

As always I’m looking for bargains too.

No sure I’d change the saddle, if it works for you it’s the last thing I’d change.

In think I’d go with:
Ti seatpost.
Carbon wheels, ideally with skinwall Veloflex tyres.
Proper road pedals.
Nice black bartape.
And bottle cages, nice ones, either ti or Elite Custom in matt black would be my choice.

Road pedals and some nice shoes
Black bartape

Where are your bottle cages? – Some nice black or satin metal bottle cages.

I was going to go for this bottle cage –

http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/1712383/products/elite-moreo-inox-stainless-steel-bottle-cage.aspx

Not going to put proper road pedals on as I’ve had them before and other than looking nice they were of no benefit and I didn’t enjoy waddling around every time I stopped.

I thought about a carbon post but they’re so expensive. I quite like the look of this miche alloy one –

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Miche-Supertype-Seatpost-27-2_32361.htm?sku=75047&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=AdwordsProductAds&utm_campaign=Adwords&gclid=CIWD6KmsmswCFbYV0wodl40HeA#

Have also been very tempted by some direct from China carbon wheels but not sure whether to go 38 or 50mm?

Carbon seatpost – £67. Got to say, that Miche one looks horrible IMO.
Bottle cage – Custom or Ciussi.
Carbon clinchers – I’d go 35mm, maybe from Light Bicycles
And finally, skinwall Tyres – Veloflex, obviously.

Done.

Nothing wrong with the current seatpost. It also matches your stem.

The thing about ti frames, is that they look really good as they are.
I’m yet to be convinced that adding bits of colour all over the place helps. Maybe I need to see some images of similar. If it was me, I’d stick with black. Dull I know, but I like the look of ti as it is.

Again, as above – nothing wrong with Elite bottle cages. Cheap, light and don’t drop bottles.

Pedals:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shimano-a600-road-pedals/rp-prod74749

Simply superb, look great, MTB cleats and cheap as chips.