Living Car Free - How heavy is too heavy

Hi all,

I just weighed my bike and it weighs 43 pounds.

Its a 2007 trek FX disc with fenders, mudflap, front and rear rack, lights, two trailer hitches, trekking bars and a heavy brooks saddle. I also weighed it with the hand full of tools that I carry with me incase I have a flat etc.

How heavy is everyone's bike on here and does everyone have a weight limit?

BTW I rode this rig 140 miles the other day so its hardly unrideable at this weight.

peace.

My trike weights up to 50 pounds when it's outfitted for winter.

How heavy is too heavy? When it would be faster to walk. ;)

How heavy is too heavy? When it would be faster to walk. ;)

great answer!

I'd guess my SS is about 35#?

My main city bike is 35 pounds. My touring recumbent feels heavier but I haven't weighed it. When going on a trip it is usually loaded up with tent and clothes and stuff. My backup 3-speed city bike is lighter but clunkier.

Mines 18.9 lbs and I'm pissed that it isn't lighter (Trek 5000). My next purchase is a new crank and since I'll be ditching that crap Bontrager/Truvative p.o.s. I currently have, I hope to drop at least an entire pound, getting into the 17 lbs arena.

Ideally, I'd like to hit 15 lbs eventually. Currently I have a heavy (200 gram) padded seat onboard for comfort, but I do have a 124 gram seat I might put back on, cutting a few more grams.

Mines 18.9 lbs and I'm pissed that it isn't lighter (Trek 5000). My next purchase is a new crank and since I'll be ditching that crap Bontrager/Truvative p.o.s. I currently have, I hope to drop at least an entire pound, getting into the 17 lbs arena.

Ideally, I'd like to hit 15 lbs eventually. Currently I have a heavy (200 gram) padded seat onboard for comfort, but I do have a 124 gram seat I might put back on, cutting a few more grams.


Are you car free? How do you stay clean, pull a trailer or haul anything?

I used to have a Giant road bike that was 17 pound and while fast it was essentially worthless for anything other than joy riding. Not that there is anything wrong with that but it would not of worked for my current needs.

I ride a Novara Randonee. With fenders, lights, aerobars, rack, bags... it weighs between 40 and 45 lbs. BEFORE I load up stuff in the bags.

I would think it would make a big difference whether you weighed 100 lbs or 300 lbs, also whether you live somewhere that is perfectly flat or in the Ozarks. If my bike was altogether weightless, things wouldn't be just a whole lot different.

I would think it would make a big difference whether you weighed 100 lbs or 300 lbs, also whether you live somewhere that is perfectly flat or in the Ozarks. If my bike was altogether weightless, things wouldn't be just a whole lot different.

My commuting (only) bike has many thousands of miles and many tens of thousands of feet climbing in the mountains. (We do have a few of those around here)

i ride a >100lb bakfiets 10 or so miles several days a week. And 50lb city bikes when i can -- 25 miles yesterday. And a 25lb Brompton. I feel superfast on the Brompton, at least 10% faster than on the bakfiets, especially off the line. Low weight is overrated. The 50lb city bike feels most nearly effortless. Gentle grades here, adding up to 4-500' of elevation change over several miles on average.

I don't "train," but I confess to enjoying passing "training" cyclists on superlight bikes on my obviously heavy, comfortable, practical rides (sometimes cheating with assist on the bakfiets).

Dunno...don't worry about the bike's weight...or mine:rolleyes::p I suspect most of my bikes will run 30#+ except for my Redline 9.2.5, that one is bone stock except for a Brooks saddle. I do know that the weight will help you "carry through" on a rough road where a lighter bike will buck, push and wear you out. Why do you think the Dutch build such monsters? Yes it is a bit slow climbing, but you probably make up for it on the way down:D

Aaron:)

For me, weight matters because every ride begins and ends with carrying my bike down and up the fire escape to my apartment. My current rig weighs just a shade over 25 pounds with rack, full fenders, pump, lights and cyclometer.

Lock, tools, lunch, clothes and stuff in the trunk bag and my grocery panniers (empty) are about the limit of what I can carry down. When the grocery panniers are full, they come off at the bottom and I make two trips up the fire escape.

Too heavy? Huh?

http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/5538/hpim8547ac6.jpg

My favorite bike to ride was a Schwinn Cruiser Deluxe. It has the 7 speed internal gear hub. With a tool bag,water bottle it was about 53 pounds. And that is almost half my weight of 120 pounds.

I sold it this year when I moved into a 3rd floor apartment with a narrow staircase with a 180 degree stairs on the 2nd to 3rd floor. It was just to heavy ,long and the handlebars too wide for me to carry up and down.

Yet it was my favorite ride. I kept my somewhat lighter bikes but only one of them is under 30 pounds and I hardly ever ride that one.

My favorite bike to ride was a Schwinn Cruiser Deluxe. It has the 7 speed internal gear hub. With a tool bag,water bottle it was about 53 pounds. And that is almost half my weight of 120 pounds...
Being in the clydesdale range and applying the same ratio, I guess a 115 lb bike would be okay by me!

How heavy? I don't know. I had to carry it to the campus last week because I got a flat and didn't have a tube. I'd say somewhere in the mid to high 20's with the rear rack. It's an '81 Peugeot with Shimano 600 stuff.

Weight is underrated. The fixation on lighter and lighter bicycles is a result of the shift in emphasis from utility cycling to sport cycling. If you're trying to win a race, the lighter the better. But if you're hauling a C note worth of groceries it's often better to have a heavier bike with more solid components and a lower center of gravity. Heavier bikes in my experience are also more stable on ice in the winter. Overall, 40 or 50 lbs. is not excessive for a utility bicycle fully outfitted with racks and gear. You're not after speed.

Being in the clydesdale range and applying the same ratio, I guess a 115 lb bike would be okay by me!


ha ha ha,

I know a guy who is in the 200's himself and not because he is a body builder. This dude spends hundreds of dollars all the time swapping components trying to get the lightest bike possible.

Does that make any sense? If he can tell the difference between a 105 cassette and a dura ace one then imagine losing 50 pounds of fat !!

My favorite bike to ride was a Schwinn Cruiser Deluxe. It has the 7 speed internal gear hub. With a tool bag,water bottle it was about 53 pounds. And that is almost half my weight of 120 pounds.

I sold it this year when I moved into a 3rd floor apartment with a narrow staircase with a 180 degree stairs on the 2nd to 3rd floor. It was just to heavy ,long and the handlebars too wide for me to carry up and down.

Yet it was my favorite ride. I kept my somewhat lighter bikes but only one of them is under 30 pounds and I hardly ever ride that one.

I did not like the original too wide handlebars either, and replaced them with a more manageable size. Still plenty of room on the handlebars for the necessities like dice and a ding-dong bell as well as a real deal mirror.

^^ dice! that is so many kinds of awesome!!

My new Trek 7.2 fx is somewhere in the 20-ish range, no rack or fenders.

My 1972 Raleigh Record's shipping weight was 38 lbs. I replaced a lot of the steel components with aluminum (seatpost, handlebars, crankset, wheels), but I'm also adding a rack, fenders, and basket which will more than make up for it.

Light bikes aren't any fun unless they're on a track. I'm just assuming the track thing since I've never ridden on one. But I don't ride light bikes either, so everybody wins.

Don't know what my bikes weigh, loaded or unloaded, and don't care enough to weigh them.

Too heavy is when you can't shift out of the small ring.

there's a full keg (175#) on my 100# bakfiets right now, and I'm fixing to go pick up my son (40#) in it on the way to the party. it's fine, really fine.

My utility bike is over 45 pounds with my usual bag, tools, and the battery for my light. With the Wald giant delivery basket and $80 worth of groceries, it feels pretty darn close to 100. I lift 80-100 pounds at work fairly often, and the bike sometimes feels heavier. It's actually pretty tiring to ride, but I think much of that has to do with the very heavy Hutchinson tires.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v214/lamplightsg/Rockadile/IMG_9804small.jpg

http://home.columbus.rr.com/pedex/Picture.jpg
22lbs

http://home.columbus.rr.com/pedex/trackbike_big.JPG
17.9lbs

http://home.columbus.rr.com/pedex/bikes.jpg
18.6lbs

http://home.columbus.rr.com/pedex/000_0111.jpg
to haul stuff with

http://home.columbus.rr.com/pedex/000_0110.jpg
20lb beater bike

Pedex, sweet rides. But I'm afraid I'd have them ten pounds heavier with racks, bags and even old soup cans.

whew - i limit it to upper 20's. otherwise i go slow enough i get discouraged.
cheers

whew - i limit it to upper 20's. otherwise i go slow enough i get discouraged.
cheers

:roflmao: Most of mine weigh more than that before the bags and stuff are added:o;)

Aaron:)

I just reassured my self that weight does matter!! I loaded up about 40lbs. of groceries into my milk crate and it definatley slowed my average speed down by 1mph :rolleyes:

It's too heavy when I can't carry it up or down the stairs to my parking spot.

Mines 18.9 lbs and I'm pissed that it isn't lighter (Trek 5000). My next purchase is a new crank and since I'll be ditching that crap Bontrager/Truvative p.o.s. I currently have, I hope to drop at least an entire pound, getting into the 17 lbs arena.

Ideally, I'd like to hit 15 lbs eventually. Currently I have a heavy (200 gram) padded seat onboard for comfort, but I do have a 124 gram seat I might put back on, cutting a few more grams.

The dirt on my bike weighs more than 15 pounds. ;)

I mostly ride an old Trek MTB, aluminum hardtail, probably weighs 30 pounds? My elderly Fuji 10speed is a little lighter, but not as much as you'd think. My backpack weighs about 10 to 25 pounds and I weigh about 212 in winter clothing. So gross tonnage is 220-267.

I mostly ride an old Trek MTB, aluminum hardtail, probably weighs 30 pounds? My elderly Fuji 10speed is a little lighter, but not as much as you'd think. My backpack weighs about 10 to 25 pounds and I weigh about 212 in winter clothing. So gross tonnage is 220-267.

I guess you can't ride over my favorite bridge. 220-267 ton bikes are too heavy. :D:D

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/253/hpim6876fs0.jpg

I guess you can't ride over my favorite bridge. 220-267 ton bikes are too heavy. :D:D


Ironic they would put the two signs together.

ha ha ha,

I know a guy who is in the 200's himself and not because he is a body builder. This dude spends hundreds of dollars all the time swapping components trying to get the lightest bike possible.

Does that make any sense? If he can tell the difference between a 105 cassette and a dura ace one then imagine losing 50 pounds of fat !!

I am definitely the component with the greatest potential for weight loss! No blaming the bike for my slow speeds, it's all the "gravity" I carry with me. Now, when I am back down to 150 lbs maybe then I will start counting grams.

I think I would start feeling funny with 25 pounds of school books in a backpack on a 15 pound bike.

I think I would start feeling funny with 25 pounds of school books in a backpack on a 15 pound bike.

Your rims would probably feel pretty funny too! :p

My steel hardtail is kinda porky at ~50lbs loaded. Gearing ftw! My tourer is a feather at ~20lbs.

Pedex, sweet rides. But I'm afraid I'd have them ten pounds heavier with racks, bags and even old soup cans.

add messenger bag and any bike becomes a cargo bike, and one messenger bag=3 panniers cargo wise

@ 55 miles per day the last thing I need is to lug around any more weight than needed

I get asked all the time, "why such a minimalist bike without gears?", easy, may seem counterintuitive but its simply less bike to move around and the speed ranges we typical ride in gears/brakes are just 5 more lbs of useless weight to have to accelerate and stop and move down the road. Then there's the maintenance or lack there of. Simple means tough, cheap, and easy to take care of.

add messenger bag and any bike becomes a cargo bike, and one messenger bag=3 panniers cargo wise

@ 55 miles per day the last thing I need is to lug around any more weight than needed

I get asked all the time, "why such a minimalist bike without gears?", easy, may seem counterintuitive but its simply less bike to move around and the speed ranges we typical ride in gears/brakes are just 5 more lbs of useless weight to have to accelerate and stop and move down the road. Then there's the maintenance or lack there of. Simple means tough, cheap, and easy to take care of.

3 panniers? Let's see... I regularly carry 90 lbs of groceries with a rack and 2 panniers... so you're saying you'd carry 135 lbs in your messenger bag? :eek:

:p

Rack and panniers are VERY useful sometimes. ;)

The style of bicycle makes a world of difference when it comes to weight, in my experience. I used to ride around a ~35 lb. beach cruiser, w/ fenders, rack, lights, water. I sat upright and my saddle position was comfortable but not very effecient.

Now I ride a cyclocross bicycle only slightly lighter, maybe ~33-34 lb. with all the same accessories and simply because of the more aggressive saddle position, drop handlebars, and aerodynamic gain my average speed has risen by two or three mph every ride.

I guess being a huge wind sail was slowing me down some :)

Hi all,

I just weighed my bike and it weighs 43 pounds.

Its a 2007 trek FX disc with fenders, mudflap, front and rear rack, lights, two trailer hitches, trekking bars and a heavy brooks saddle. I also weighed it with the hand full of tools that I carry with me incase I have a flat etc.

How heavy is everyone's bike on here and does everyone have a weight limit?

BTW I rode this rig 140 miles the other day so its hardly unrideable at this weight.

peace.

Wow your bike is way over the maximun that I can carry around-not much upper arm strength I'm afraid. I do have a weight limit since I exclusivily use folding bikes now and have to lug the bike about far more than a regular cyclists does.

...I just weighed my bike and it weighs 43 pounds.
...How heavy is everyone's bike on here and does everyone have a weight limit?...
The recumbent bike I have weighs 34 lbs factory, about 45 lbs with accessories.
----
When I first got interested in recumbents I was somewhat off-put by the weights; usually about ten lbs heavier than typical upright bikes of the same market level. After a couple years of riding I don't worry about it much anymore. I'm likely a bit slower up hills but it makes no real difference the rest of the time, and the comfort level is simply wonderful.

The recumbent delta trike I like most weighs about 65 lbs bare, and the weight isn't the reason I don't own one yet--the $2500+ price tag is.
~

.

The recumbent delta trike I like most weighs about 65 lbs bare, and the weight isn't the reason I don't own one yet--the $2500+ price tag is.
~

Thats $200 less then I paid for my first car :eek: at less in was a 1951 Plymouth

My modern touring bike is about 26 pound without any accessories. I haven't ever weighed it with accessories, but it at various times has 2 water bottle cages, computer, lights, front rack, or very occasionally front and rear rack.

I do think weight is overrated, but not as overrated as some people here might suggest. Once up to speed, it makes no difference, aerodynamis makes a difference. But it does make a difference in accelerations and hill climbing, the former being quite a large part of urban riding. The level of weight obsession a lot of road bikers have is silly, because it becomes a comparison of a few pounds, which would be a pretty normal weight fluctuation week to week for any given person. But I do know that an extra 50 pounds sure does make a difference. When my tourer wa sloaded with that weight I had to use my granny ring on a hill I usually take in the 42.

The touring bike is going to be sold and I'll be building up my bridgestone hybrid with drops and racks n' stuff. If it's under thirty pounds sans racks, that would be just swell, but in that particular circumstance I care more about getting the cheapest reliable parts I can find.

I do have a silly lightweight bike, my cyclocross bike is, according to the specs, a hair under 21 pounds with pedals (eggbeaters).

And to answer the question originally posed: there's only one way to find out how heavy is too heavy for you...or your bike :D

My heaviest bike ever was 42Kg or ~92lbs, and that was too heavy. I've experimented with weight and found that low 20Kg's or ~50lbs is the max for a bike to still feel good to ride around, though at that point it's a heavy bike.

Edit: This is weight for the bike. If you count the weight when loaded with say a 40Kg sack of feed, or groceries to get the bike to 40-60kgs or so, that's something else. Point was a bike that weighs 42Kg as is sucks to hump around, and it also has much less reserve capacity to haul stuff. The bike in question had an electric assist, but it was quite disagreeable to operate without using the motor so that was a little dissapointing.

I guess you can't ride over my favorite bridge. 220-267 ton bikes are too heavy. :D:D

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/253/hpim6876fs0.jpg

Oh that's brilliant, - that picture has really brightened up my day :roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:

Good lord, weight? I ride traditional adult tricycles and English heavyweight roadster bicycles and I've never weighed any of them.
http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/7445/fiets910cp0.gif
Weight is something I never think about with any of my utlity bikes/trikes because I can move more on them than I can carry while walking. Besides I need a stick to walk most times and on my bikes I'm rolling free :D

wow, my bike, full rigid aluminum mountain bike (=pain), was recently weighed and it came in at 34 lbs, with water bottle cages, lights, computer and no racks.

I thought that was really heavy, and while it is over ten pounds heavier than some full suspension bikes, its not that bad. And considering I don't race (seriously) on it and it is mostly transportation, it is fine.

Thanks for the perspective!

But if you're hauling a C note worth of groceries it's often better to have a heavier bike with more solid components and a lower center of gravity. Heavier bikes in my experience are also more stable on ice in the winter. Overall, 40 or 50 lbs. is not excessive for a utility bicycle fully outfitted with racks and gear.

I was in China some years ago, and they had these utility cargo trikes with a bit of a flatbed on the back (with a leafspring suspension). I saw someone pushing a bike down the street that had 3 refrigerators on the flatbed. I guess the thing was so heavy that he couldn't pedal very easily. I tried to get a picture, but I didn't have my camera ready in time...

I was in China some years ago, and they had these utility cargo trikes with a bit of a flatbed on the back (with a leafspring suspension). I saw someone pushing a bike down the street that had 3 refrigerators on the flatbed. I guess the thing was so heavy that he couldn't pedal very easily. I tried to get a picture, but I didn't have my camera ready in time...

The thing is it's waaaaaaaaaay easier to move 3 refrigerators by pushing a cargo trike than it is to try carrying them on your back. Having owned and used cargo trikes for a while now I've found that there are times when it is just simpler to get off and push, then climb back on once the going gets easier. I have carried some pretty heavy loads at times, - on my first trike I even managed to bend the rear axle one time through getting a little too keen, but something tells me I don't think I could manage 3 fridges all at once ;)