Road Cycling - just started serious biking, want to lighten my bike

I recently obtained a Bianchi bicycle from my grandfather, who won it it a raffle 20 years ago. He doesn't ride, never rode this bike, so its in really good condition. I put on new bar tape, adjusted the shifters (suntours-old but good quality, it seems) and the bike rides pretty nice. I've started riding it a lot though, and i was wondering if there was anyway i could lighten my bike by about 3-5 pounds relativly cheaply (under $400). Also:
-Are clipless pedals worth the trouble and (possible) danger?
-Is there a way to move my shifters from the stem to the downtube?
-are carbon forks worth it?

thanks

Originally posted by Phatman
I recently obtained a Bianchi bicycle from my grandfather,
I've started riding it a lot though, and i was wondering if there was anyway i could lighten my bike by about 3-5 pounds relativly cheaply (under $400).
What model is it? How much does it weight now?
What type rims does it have?


Are clipless pedals worth the trouble and (possible) danger?
More power is applied to the pedals. With regular pedals too much energy is used keeping your foot on the pedal. It's much easier to keep up a high cadence with clipless.
Once you get the hang of clipping in and unclipping they aren't "dangerous". :)


Is there a way to move my shifters from the stem to the downtube?
I think so. I've seen this type of ugrade on friend's bikes. Most bike shops should have the part you need.


are carbon forks worth it?
Carbon offers a smoother, less bumpy ride.
It depends on how much you want to spend and how long you plan on keeping the bike.


If you look around you should be able to take care of all the upgrades for less than $400.

not sure what model it is, and i haven't weighed it. Is there any way i could find out the model? It says "standard" on the top tube. Its not that heavy, i can lift it over my head with one hand, so its probably about 30lbs, maybe a few more. How can i weigh it? will balancing it on a bathroom scale work?

A 20 year old Bianchi in mint condition? You deserve something better. Just pop the Bianchi in the mail to my address. I'm a nice guy so I'll help you out by taking it off your hands. :D

Oh well, it was worth a try.

A 20 year ol bianchi with stem shifters is not worth trying to lighten 3-5 pounds. It's not worth a carbon fork either.Save your money or put it into a new bike.Maybe better for you to loose 5 pounds?Weigh it by standing on the scale with the bike.Record the weight. Now stand on the scale yourself.Record the second weight. Subtract the second fron the first.Result,bike weight.:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Yeah, if you are willing to spend $400 on upgrades I would just add a few hundred to that and find yourself a nice bike that will be lighter and offer better performance. It's not worth putting this much into an old bike when what your looking for is a lighter and faster bike which you can get for the price of upgrades. It also depends on what you plan on using it for, commuting, touring, racing? This will determine what your needs are. If you like the bike go for it. It's up to you.

that $400 dollars is not that elastic. I have $600 left in my bank account after working this summer. If I take out 400, i'll still have $200 so my account will say open. That is why I have a $400 limit, that isn't just a nominal number. I find that if I buy a $400 dollar bike, I'll just get another steel framed bike, with so-so components, and I'll be back where I started-having to work so the bank doesn't close my account.

That is unless, you know of any bikes less than $400 that are light with nice components.

Also, I suppose I will use this bike for general touring/cross training from running. My coach suggested cross-training either swimming or biking, but i hate swimming and I like going fast, so i chose biking

Sounds like it is time to change banks!

Find one that will let you have a zero account balance and spend the whole $600 on a Giant road bike. They are very good and very light. I can't vouch for the price of them as I live down under, but I remember other people looking for bikes in this price range, and Giant was one option.

CHEERS.

Mark

Clean it up,maybe see about putting the shifters on the downtube or using barends. You probably need tires and tubs.Save more money. No way are you going to drop the weight of that turd by 3-5 pounds for $400, and even if you do, the frame is still low end. Was it made in Tiawan?Shop around for something used as you can double the bang for buck.There are even pretty nice used bikes to be had for $400. Ride it as is and Keep it for a beater.Droppin some weight from it will not make it as fast as more training and fitness for you.

A pound of the wheels is worth 4 pounds of the bike. I say go for new wheels, when / if you upgrade, just change the rear hub out so you can keep the wheel set. Just because a bike is old, doesn’t mean it’s bad, keep the bike, and enjoy the ride.

Think of it this way: the heavier the bike, the harder you have to work, hence the better your workout. :p

With such a bike, I would be willing only to put enough money into it to make it rideable. Yes, old Suntour stuff is good quality. The stuff rarely breaks, even if it might be heavy and out of date. Like others have said, shedding those 3-5 pounds will be hard, even if you blow the whole wad. And, you'll run into compatibility issues that will end up running the budget even higher.

For $400, I would think that you should be able to find something used that is much more up-to-date (and lighter). Look around. Inform yourself, so that you can make a wise purchase.

Cheers,
Jamie

If you want the bike for cross-training, rather than racing, just think of the weight as training resistance.
You could lift that weights bar in the gym much higher and faster if you took those pesky bits of iron off the end.

I would consider moving the shifters to the downtube. Stem shifters are badly place for most users and can be painful in a crash. A shifter band should be available from any bike shop with a decent box of old parts, probably for free.
Put some decent tyres and brake blocks on.

Before jumping off the wheel buying cliff,look at the size wheels you have.If they are 27",the better stuff is 700c, which is slightly smaller in diameter and could create an issue with brake reach.

Before spending your precious $400 on upgrades, I'd search the used market thoroughly. Classified ads, bike shops and eBay.

$400, and a little luck, will get you a pretty decent used bike. You won't get 9-speed shifting at this price, but you should get 7, maybe 8-speeds, and a light, but stiff, aluminum frame. 25 lbs., would be a reasonable expectation.

Finally, you probably won't notice a 5 lb. weight loss on a flat ride.

You have a classic bike in like new condition many people would drool over. I wouldn't mess with it. As others have said, I don't know if you could even knock off 5 pounds, and you would not notice the difference if you could. Losing weight yourself costs nothing and may be more effective.

Ride that beauty and enjoy it for the classic that it is. In my weekend group most of us have Shimano Ultegra or Dura Ace equipped bikes with a couple of Campy Record 10s thrown in. Serious modern bikes - Specialized Allez, Trek 5200s, Klein Quantums, modern Bianchis. A couple of guys ride old 10 speeds like yours. Guess what? They keep up just fine at our moderate 20-22 mph pace. Worry more about the rider, less about the bike.

Look on the top tube for the model. Bianchi is pretty good about putting the model right there where you can see it.

Do go ahead and put some clipless pedals on. They aren't that expensive and are easily installed. You will learn to pedal more effectively.

Rainman...do you know what stem mounted shifters implies? they were used only on the lowest end bikes. No drool here.And, Bianchi made some very low end junk.

ouch

i found some wheels in a catalog, and they were pretty light-Forte Empressa Road wheels 750g, and 950 g and they are pretty cheap ($199.99). I am a little irked though, because it says that the max rider weight is 175lbs, and i am 177-180 depending on the time of day. will the wheels just snap under the pressure of five extra pounds? will they wear out faster? does this weight not make a difference?

Are they the right size for your bike?There is a reason they are cheap.They are Forte.You wan to pay $200 for wheels? Go to www.coloradocyclist.com or www.excelsports.com and get them built with ultegra hubs and Mavic open rpo rims. Good stuff.Problem is your rerar dropouts are 126mm or less, and modern hubs are built for 8,9, or 10 speeds and 130mm dropout spacing. So you will need a cassette,and chain too. Your suntour friction drivetrain will handle it though.No free lunch.

i think you misunderstood-$200 for the PAIR. Ok...just wasn't sure if you understood me on that one

Everyone knows I am a sucker for old Bianchis, but ...

I have never seen an Italian-made Biachi with stem shifters. I'll bet your bottom bracket is English-threaded, which implies Taiwan manufacture. If so, do not invest too much money in it. If you can find a good 5- or 6-speed wheelset on eBay or at a yard sale, that is probably the best upgrade you can make. Friction downtube levers or old ratcheted SunTour barcons would be an improvement over those that stem-mounted castration system.

Although a lightweight bicycle is indeed a pleasure to ride, a few pounds of surplus nonrotating weight is not that big a deal for the nonracer.