Mountain Biking - Optimizing Light Weight Bikes w/ Component Cost

Let's discuss different mountain bike components that take the most weight off for the dollar.

For example: some people have told me that high-end derailleurs don’t last as long as the standard ones b/c the material is softer.


As noted in your other thread, you need to stop listening to people who are telling you stuff like that, and who are telling you that carbon is prone to crack. They're not helping you at all. They don't know what the hell they are talking about and are only confusing you.



What is more important than being light is having strength, durability and longevity.

Using this as your criteria, just ride your bike and have fun.

Is this really Wheelhot?

I usually go by the $1 per gram rule. Hee hahahaha heee haw!

Just kidding, dude.

Why not try this...tell us what your bike is and what components are on it. They we can tell you how to save the most weight with the least amount of money.

It's easy to say "go out and spend $90 on a carbon bar" but if you're running some freakin' 8lb wheelset then I'd say put the extra $90 into a wheelset.


Seriously, how could a dietician diagnose a weight problem on a patient that he's never seen?

And why have you starte 3 threads on this now?!

Is this really Wheelhot?

What you mean??? Im still here...

And I go with chelboed, its easier to tell you what to upgrade rather then giving you a list. You end up getting a headache

umm...huh? uhhh where we going?:p

Cheap light:
Raceface bars and seatposts
WTB Saddles
ebay some xt/317 wheels
greenfish.com has cheap manitou black super air forks
Kenda tires (smallblock 8)
raceface / shimano cranksets

yada, yada

uphillbiker: I tought you were looking into getting a dually?

The lightest bike is no bike at all.
Can you handle all the ZEN?

all the ZEN? what you mean.

Hmm the lightest FS XC bike, I wonder what it is...so far the lightest I heard is Scott Spark and Trek Top Fuel

optimizing weight v cost all depends on the size of your wallet.

And then, the engine needs to be finely tuned for it to make any bit of difference at all.

all the ZEN? what you mean.

Hmm the lightest FS XC bike, I wonder what it is...so far the lightest I heard is Scott Spark and Trek Top Fuel

13.93 pounds

http://www.light-bikes.com/bikegallery/BikeListing.asp?id=1096

wow, now that gotta be da lightest bike ever. Damn I wonder who uses that bike? It should not be a problem for him in marathon races

all the ZEN? what you mean.


If you must ask, you will never understand.

XD..thats soo cruel of you

wow, now that gotta be da lightest bike ever. Damn I wonder who uses that bike? It should not be a problem for him in marathon races

Nope, there are lighter. Most are hardtails though. As for using it for a marathon race, go for it. For a marathon race parts are chosen for weight plus durability, not just for weight.

I see, thanks for the tip LowCel, I would love to participate in a marathon race, too bad they arent any in Penang. Well for a full-sus, that is most likely to be the lightest full-susser

The lightest mountain bike is a stable full of road bikes you throw away after every outing.

haha, thats a good one

Here:

http://www.light-bikes.com/bikegallery/BikeListing.asp?id=451

11.22lbs

I have the scale 30, I have managed to shave off 3lb ish since bought from stock.

Changed the seatpost, stem, bars, tires etc.

She's just over 20lb now, if I took the grips off she'd probably come in under that.

Here:

http://www.light-bikes.com/bikegallery/BikeListing.asp?id=451

11.22lbs

why does his bb weigh nothing:rolleyes:

why does his bb weigh nothing:rolleyes:

Because the weight is included in his crankset.

Because the weight is included in his crankset.
i thought it might be something like that but was not sure

It's similar to the Shimano listings only they say something like

*weight includes integrated bottom bracket

Taking weight off is a lot like trying to pick out lobster meat, where the last little bits are hardest to get to.


If your bike weighs 40lbs, you're not quite at the last little bits.

Quote mcoine: "If your bike weighs 40lbs, you're not quite at the last little bits."



+1

Maybe it's a Banshee Morphine XC bike with a short travel 888 fork and lightweight Saint crankset with ultralight Sun Mammoth rims.:D (JK)

Guys, I don't want to be rude but this is about my NEW bike. I'm going to keep my current bike and save up for either building or buying a nice full suspension bike.

Build, Build, Build, Build, Build, Build, Build, Build, Build, Build, Build, Build, Build, Build, Build, Build, Build, Build, Build, Build, Build, Build, Build, Build, Build, Build, Build, Build, Build, Build, Build, Build, Build, Build, Build!

It feels so good when it's done b/c you tightened the last bolt. (not to mention that you get the parts that YOU want vs. OEM mediocre stuff)

Another thought...buy a nice used one. Lotsa good deals on the 'bay'.

Dear Uphill:

The most effective way to reduce weight for 90% of riders ?
Reduce the weight of the heaviest component first.

Loose 5 pounds (2,160g).

:-)

My Fat Ti weighs 23 lbs. and if I lose 5 lbs of fat my bike will weigh 18.:D

Dear Uphill:

The most effective way to reduce weight for 90% of riders ?
Reduce the weight of the heaviest component first.

Loose 5 pounds (2,160g).

:-)

This is very true. However for those of us that have already lost the weight (was 220, race weight now 165) we feel that we deserve a light bike. :D

BTW....not real sure where this is going, I just like to give myself a pat on the back from time to time. :D

This is very true. However for those of us that have already lost the weight (was 220, race weight now 165) we feel that we deserve a light bike. :D

BTW....not real sure where this is going, I just like to give myself a pat on the back from time to time. :D

I think all you guys with light bikes are sissys but I'll give ya a big pat on the back for getting down to race weight.:D

I think all you guys with light bikes are sissys but I'll give ya a big pat on the back for getting down to race weight.:D

Actually, I was a sissy before I even had a light bike. :rolleyes: However, it's better to be a sissy than....well.....you! :p

get a spynergy wheelset

For road bike I love my Spynergy PBO carbons. For mountain bikes I feel there are much nicer wheelsets for the money.

get a spynergy wheelset

Why?

Why?

Kind of what I was thinking. For the money they definitely aren't "light".

ahhhh my WW ears!

Light bikes are fun :) heavy bikes, not so fun. less manageable, more weight to pull up climbs... I'm always looking to make my bikes lighter, while keeping them reliable. Its certainly not a waste of money when it comes to racing...

For example, take Coggans power chart. On that chart, at my weight (139lbs), I sit at the top of the "good" row. I'm as light as I can be and still be healthy, says my coach. So my only options for power/weight gain beyond what I'm already doing in training is losing weight on my bike. When I go from training wheels to race wheels I lose 2 lbs between wheels and tires. If i put my weight on the little chart thingie down to 137 lbs (2 pounds lighter), I go into the "very good" row :) I know that chart is just body weight, but for me losing weight on my bike is my only option, so I'm just using them as equivalents for the sake of argument.
so, it does make a difference.

if you racing cross country light is good,but downhill the more weigth the better

Not so much any more. DH race bikes are getting lighter.

what is the point of a light dh bike, unless theres some uphill involved

You really haven't raced dh have you. Heavy doesn't mean fast or efficient when racing dh. A lighter bike is faster mainly due to more efficient use of one's energy through the run, allowing the person to ride harder through the run. In English, it means that it takes less effort to control a lighter bike when descending, which makes the run faster.

what is the point of a light dh bike, unless theres some uphill involved

Have you ridden different DH bikes? A lighter bike can be more responsive and easier to throw around.

Please, before you post, ask yourself 2 questions:
1) Do I know what I'm talking about, and can I back up this view in some way?
2) Is this information relevant to the topic
If the answer to either question is "no," rest your fingers and use your eyes only. Learn from the thread.
There is altogether too much misleading and/or donwright false informations on these boards.

Most top DHers are veritable weight weenies these days. There is some pedaling involved in DH racing, but as was stated above the main reason is that is it simply easier to control a lighter bike. You want to ride the bike down the hill, not the other way around :) There is a massive difference between "freeride" and "downhill racing." Many freeride legends couldn't break the top 30 in a pro downhill race, and many top downhillers would never pull the kind of stunts their non-racing bretheren do. The two aspects of the sport are completely different.

Please, before you post, ask yourself 2 questions:
1) Do I know what I'm talking about, and can I back up this view in some way?
2) Is this information relevant to the topic
If the answer to either question is "no," rest your fingers and use your eyes only. Learn from the thread.
There is altogether too much misleading and/or donwright false informations on these boards.


Listen, everyone has an ass and it is their right to talk out of it if they so please.

[QUOTE=ZeCanon]ahhhh my WW ears!

Light bikes are fun :) heavy bikes, not so fun. less manageable.......

QUOTE]
I tend to look at it the other way around. A very wise poster once said,"befor you post,ask yourself two questions".

ahhhh my WW ears!


Have a link to your bike?

hey...erm isnt heavier bikes will go down downhill faster because of gravity? I always wonder this, light bikes will go faster then heavier on uphill and flat roads, how bout downhill?

For example, take Coggans power chart. On that chart, at my weight (139lbs), I sit at the top of the "good" row.

You must be a toddler.


hey...erm isnt heavier bikes will go down downhill faster because of gravity? I always wonder this, light bikes will go faster then heavier on uphill and flat roads, how bout downhill?

Sentence structure dude.

I was wondering, light bikes travel faster then heavier bikes on climbs and even terrain, how bout downhill? is light bikes still faster then heavier bikes? and aint heavier bikes supposed to be faster then a light bike during downhill because of the pull of gravity?

I was wondering, light bikes travel faster then heavier bikes on climbs and even terrain, how bout downhill? is light bikes still faster then heavier bikes? and aint heavier bikes supposed to be faster then a light bike during downhill because of the pull of gravity?
http://www.rit.edu/%7Evjrnts/courses/physics1/homework/feather.html

Please, before you post, ask yourself 2 questions:
1) Do I know what I'm talking about, and can I back up this view in some way?
2) Is this information relevant to the topic

3) Does ZeCanon still have his cute vest and whistle from his days as senior crossing guard at Woebegone Elementary school?

I just consulted my Coggan's Magic Eight Ball and it read "Yes, definitely"

To answer all of your posts:
139lbs race weight, 5'10. No toddler, just in far better shape than you apparently.
A link to my bike... no don't have one sorry. But I ride a yeti asr/reba/X.0/fizik/Kings w/717's etc etc. I like it. Next year we get ironhorses though, which is kind of a bummer. I could probably scrape up a picture of me riding it if you want.

I really don't understand why people dont' even care when completely false information is posted here. IMO, if you can't contribute to a topic, keep your mouth shut and do a little learning. I love how I can start a complete poo poo fest just by pointing out that someone is downright wrong...