Best small bike upgrades for comfort and speed

[JamesBennett]

I am new here and happy to join this biking community. I ride my bike often for exercise and short trips, but sometimes I feel seat is not comfortable and speed is slow uphill. I want to improve comfort and speed without big cost. Can anyone suggest good small upgrades, like better saddle, tire type, or handlebar position changes? I heard that tire pressure and pedal type also make big difference. I am not very expert, so basic tips for beginner will help a lot. In my daily work I also do planning and measured stuff, like mep takeoff where I count and measure many things before start job. This careful planning idea I also use when I choose upgrades for my bike. If you have favorite upgrades or setup tips, please share.
Thanks and sorry for my English.

[Jesper]

@JamesBennett
Hello James, and welcome.
You should post a photo of your bike to help us to help you. We might see something obvious in the set-up and it saves us from having to ask a lot of questions. Tell what your have for gears (how many teeth per cog; front and rear).

On the following: ignore what you already knoe and apply what think will help. Nothing here is written in stone, as we are all different and we all have different goals.

Did you get a size fit for the bike? That can make a big difference, but if not perfect much can be overcome with adjustments or minor parts changes.
Comfort will certainly be affected by saddle type, but even the best saddle can be uncomfortable if improperly adjusted. Riding position and posture are also going to affect comfort. Some of that will decrease when certain muscles develop more over a period of days to weeks. It is not uncommon to feel a little sore out of the gate; but prolonged soreness, and most especially outright pain should be addressed a quickly as possible (consult your physician if necessary).

Sometimes not being fast enough is just about conditioning and muscle development. Of course knowing what gears to use is also important. Strength and speed will come with time. Everyone has their own theories of how to do it. My theory is simple: get out and ride as much as you can while staying within your limitations. You do not need to kill yourself trying to ride hard and fast, nor ride long miles; just ride regularly and your body will get there. Taking days off to recover (not talking for injuries; that is different) is fine, but you also lose a little by doing so. If your normal ride is 5 miles a day then a "recovery" can be 1 or 2 easy miles; if your normal ride is 50 miles then do 10 to 20 or even just 5 easy miles on a "recovery" day. That keeps your body from "falling behind", but still allows muscles to repair and grow without harm. The next thing you know is you will going faster using higher gears and riding longer distances. Do not be afraid to take a break at any time while riding or a complete day off if necessary. For those not able to ride during the winter you need to have another activity(ies) to substitute for your lack of riding (e.g. indoor trainer, running/jogging, weight training, aerobics; and/or just about anything that boosts your heart rate and maintains muscle tone).

If your diet is based on a baseline of activity and cycling is above and beyond that level than you might have to increase caloric and protein intake. If you are trying to lose weight please understand that weight loss is not immediate and at the start you may actually gain weight due to increase in muscle mass so be patient and eat well balanced meals. Do not try to starve yourself or the activity level will suffer too.
I do not get into all the energy drinks, shakes, gels, pastes, powders, enemas, etc. (a lot of wasted money in my opinion). I would swear that nobody knows how to eat properly since the vast majority of cyclists using that stuff are not doing high level (or even amateur) competition stuff. Stay hydrated before, during, and after rides; bring a basic snack if you want.
I just did 70 miles on a ride a couple weeks ago at a reasonable speed (avg ~17mph). My midway break was a banana and a beer (more of a reward than a need!) over 15 minutes ok break time. I did take a pint of H2O and drank some about every 25 miles; finished ride with 1/4-1/3 left in the bottle.

I am in my 60s, and granted though I have cycled the vast majority of my life I do not train for long distance rides; but instead regulary do 7 to 20 mile rides with 25 to 50 mile rides sprinkled in to average about 300 miles a month. Remember, just 3.3 miles a day will get you 100 miles a month; something the vast majority of those who have ever ridden a bike before will not achieve in their entire lifetime.

Then there my test days. On my regular loops I will work harder just tocsee if I made any gains or back stepped. Those tend to be my shopoing days (I go months without driving). I crush out the first half at whatever speed I can; get my short recovery break while shopping (~10 minutes); then I attempt to do the same pace on the return trip with anywhere from a 5%-15% or more weight increase. This can also accomplished by returning into the wind or adding climb. I do that about 30% of the time but generally on rides less than 20 miles.

Accessories: do not load yourself down with unneeded stuff! This is not a list for touring (i.e. anything going 24hrs or more); but it does apply for e-bikes also. The trend tends to be carrying nothing at all (mostly e-bikers and casual bikers) or carrying enough for yourselt snd ten others. Note: if riding with others I tend to ensure I have water whether I need it or not and an extra inner tube that will fit the majority of tires that are being used in your group (I'll advise those with tires byond my tube range to carry one lest be walking home).
Mandatory/ *optional for short rides of less than 10 miles or so (Note: an average 10 mile walk with a bike in the hot sun or freezing weather is 4 to 5 hours! YOU DECIDE!): frame pump (CO2 bottles are BS!), 2 tire levers, small patch kit, *spare inner tube or 2, tire/tube and glue for tubular rims, some bandaids, water bottle cage (even if you are not carrying a bottle), *wrench(s) for saddle/bar adjustment, *small swiss army style knife (I have the "classic": tweezer, toothpick, scissors, blade, file, flat tip screwdriver-fits limit screws; size 6cm x 1.8cm x 0.9cm), 12" to 24" x 1" wide strip of velcro (when you need it you will be very happy I told you to carry it!!), lights (night riding only, optional for daytime). Users of tubeless tires carry what you must; I do not use them so I have no idea what kind of goop you need to reinflate or what you do if the goop does not work.
All of will fit into a small under the saddle "tool" bag except pump.

All electronic devices are unnecessary; but I know the majority of you are addicted and just cannot get by without though absolutely NOT needed for cycling. My motto: "Free your mind, leave them behind!" @GirishH this does not apply to you or to other touring cyclists riding in the absence of populated areas.