Why bike weight matters?

[mobi]

When a biker's own weight is 60-100 kg, how riding a few kg lighter bike helps?

 

[smokeysmoo]

IMO apart from psychologically it doesn't. The vast majority of riders can lose far more weight off themselves than they ever could off their bikes.

 

[Kies]

It does have an affect, as does wind resistance, but less than people think. We are all being told that bike weight is the holy grail, but in reality, losing 2kg off your body frame is far better than spending hundreds for a lighter bike.

 

[helston90]

Because you can buy your way into a light bike/ components- loosing weight off the body takes effort and commitment?

 

[young Ed]

i weigh in at about 62 or 63 ish kg (about 9 stone 12 lb) so losing weight off me would not be all too wise!
lighter wheels is a worth while upgrade as the rolling mass has more of an effect than a non-rolling mass like yourself or the frame
also a lighter makes carrying your bike up steps easier! also it a competition as to who has the lightest and greatest bike!
Cheers Ed

 

[Mo1959]

I'm currently finding the hills a bit harder and I know it's because I am carrying an extra few pounds.......can't blame the bike. Lol

 

[buggi]

obviously its different when talking the difference between mtb and road bike, but between road bikes i would say its psychological. However, that psychology got me on the bike in the first place. I bought the lightest bike i could afford bcoz i was going to start commuting. I was literally going from 0 miles to 34 miles in a day and needed the psychology. If i hadn't had it... I would have given up when i got to Tesco's (only a mile from my house).

now 14 years later I'm a bit wiser... I realise its all about the colour!!

 

[marcusjb]

Because you can buy your way into a light bike/ components- loosing weight off the body takes effort and commitment?

Basically that.

It is important, as are aerodynamic considerations. It all makes a considerable difference.

BUT, not the differences the marketting hype would have you believe. But, that hype is there to persuade you to part with your hard earned.

Spend £xxx on this, and you will float up the hills is their message because they are in the market of selling you stuff. They don't make money from you getting up at 5am each morning and heading off for a couple of hours of interval training.

Sure, you'll float a little better than you did when your setup was 200g more - but, unless you put in the effort and work hard, it will still be hard work.

Don't get me wrong, everyone should strive to ride the most aero and lightest setup suited to their purposes, but, as ever, don't believe the hype. A larger, unfit rider is still going to find hills hard work whether they are on a 10kg bike or a 7kg one.

 

[cyberknight]

On the flat i cant tell much difference commuting between a subway disc and my virtuoso , both laden with panniers etc .Its going up hill the extra 3 kg or so of the subway where you feel it.

 

[Banjo]

Try walking up a steep hill carrying a 5 kilo weight see how much more effort is required. Its not phsycological its gravity.

 

[Cuchilo]

If I lost 2kg I'd be on a drip

 

[MontyVeda]

I know a bloke who spent the best part of £500 to reduce the weight of his bike by 250 grammes. Another bloke did the same thing by buying a 500ml water bottle to replace his 750ml bottle, thus reducing the weight by 250 grammes for a mere £5... I'd have spent bugger all and filled the 750ml bottle 2/3rds full

 

[Gravity Aided]

I think a lot of this began in the 70's when professional cyclists did all they could, including drilling components, to shave a few grams off a bike when it might make a difference of a few milliseconds in a race. But this filtered down to the public through people wanting bikes that were like "the pros". Because the experienced amateur cyclist is not listened to as much as advertising hype is.

 

[vickster]

Didn't they just use epo?

 

[youngoldbloke]

It's certainly easier riding my Rose Xeon CRS uphill, than my Ribble winter bike! I'm 61-62 kilos (winter weight ) at the moment, and could probably go down to around 59 kg ideally, but the lighter bike feels like it wants to GO, the heavier one feels a lot more lethargic - or is it just me? Actually I suspect it has a lot to do with the lighter wheels on the Rose.