Fifty Plus (50+) - The "Stone Pig"

Reading SaiKaiTai's post - http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=396025 - where he describes his beloved Lemond Reno as a "stone pig", got me to thinking about the whole bike weight thing. I have road bikes that I currently ride ranging from 15.4 lbs to 30+ lbs (this is surely in the "stone pig" range).

Harold, an old now retired bike mechanic I used to work with, was fond of saying, "Most riders can't tell how heavy a bike is while they're riding it. They have to pick it up to get a real sense for how much it weighs. Problem is we don't ride bikes and pick 'em up at the same time. Stop worrying about weight."

I think Harold was on to something. The difference between my lightest and my heaviest is about the same amount of weight I should probably drop from my 50+ year old body. Additionally, my favorite bike is not the lightest one. It comes in at about 18.5 lbs with pump, water bottle cages, and seat bag.

In any event, it got me to thinking that maybe grabbing the seat and handlebars and hoisting up the bike to see how heavy it is, approximates the "kicking a tire" when shopping for a car phenomena. So, how many of you do this with a bike you're checking out? That is, grab the bike and hoist it up and down a bit when your first looking at it.

I have done this, I was in the LBS and saw a Scott Addict, I could pick it up with one finger and though "My god is this thing light". Then I thought "I wonder how well the frame would hold up to my weight", then I looked at the price and set it back down. Light weight is a nice feature but in the end I pick the bike I buy by how well it feels when I ride it.

Oh, gawd... did I actually say "stone pig" ??? I feel kind of embarrassed.

Oh, gawd... did I actually say "stone pig" ??? I feel kind of embarrassed.

Yup, you said it.

We're a forgiving bunch, but although the collective brains are like swiss cheese we're very retentive for embarrassing details.

"Oh yeah, Sai Kai, the guy who thinks a Lemond is a stone pig..."

Sorry guy, you're labelled;)


(Excuse me pal, but if there's a chance for collective teasing, I'm in there like a butcher's dog)

There isn't much weight difference between my two road bikes. I don't notice the difference until it's time to climb hills or pick it up and load it on the bike rack:)

Well, I said it so now I must suffer the slings and arrows...

But, there... see what Beverly said about noticing the difference when she climbs?

Oh, gawd... did I actually say "stone pig" ??? I feel kind of embarrassed.

This evening when you are just about to fall asleap, listen for the soft quiet sounds that an insulted bike makes when it is sneaking in to take its revenge.

There isn't much weight difference between my two road bikes. I don't notice the difference until it's time to climb hills or pick it up and load it on the bike rack:)

My bikes are in the rafters in the bike shed. The 20 lb is not lighter than the 15 and 16 lb ones. And that Offroad bouncy thing of my Son-in-law lives on the floor if he doesn't put it on the rack.

Now climbing- Not only do the two lighter bikes forget about gravity-The heavy bike has to have a triple to even look at a hill.

To an extent- 5lbs difference will not affect the ride of a bike- But I recently put a Mountain biker on the TCR and then the OCR. He was a bit shocked at how the TCR climbed and accelerated. When I put him on the OCR-The heavier bike- His opinion was that it was stable- Sluggish but once he got it to speed- it held the speed well. Just a pity it took so long to get there.

In the case of mountain bikes, it's likely the heavy tires make the biggest difference in acceleration - although I'm sure having boingers at one or both ends hurts, too. As for me, I'd love to have a sub-20 pound recumbent; mine is about 26 pounds. No matter what anybody else says, 6 extra pounds of bike makes a difference!

Oh, gawd... did I actually say "stone pig" ??? I feel kind of embarrassed.


I was always preferential to a "stone fox". ;)

I was blown away by how much easier it is to climb hills on my new Specialized Tricross Comp than my old, heavier Specialized Crossroads hybrid. But I can't believe I would have found it as easy going up hill on my old bike if I dropped the few pounds of body weight that equivalent to the difference between the two. I can understand a big drop in body weight making a big difference but not such a little. Is there something about the bike itself being lighter that makes such a difference? If not, I would think all of the roadies who spend $$$ to save a few ounces would just go on a diet instead.

I have road bikes that I currently ride ranging from 15.4 lbs to 30+ lbs (this is surely in the "stone pig" range).


15.4 lbs is 1.1 stone
30 lbs is 2.1 stone

There isn't much weight difference between my two road bikes. I don't notice the difference until it's time to climb hills or pick it up and load it on the bike rack:)

My Trek hybrid weighs almost 40 lbs with the trunk bag. My Ruby weighs 21 with the wedge. I weigh about 127. I am a couple miles per hour faster on the Ruby (with no extra effort on my part) and can climb hills much, much more easily. And as Beverly says, I can pick the Ruby up and load it myself. I think that the less one weighs, the bigger the difference that extra weight makes. Of course, the two bikes are built differently; I'm comparing apples to oranges.

I've heard different responses on this issue, but I understand that a pound off the belly is the same as a pound off the bike. I suppose it matters somewhat to 20-somethings with only a few percent body fat, and it might matter to some of us older folks who remain preternaturally thin, but for me and I suspect most of you, the difference between and 17-pound bike and a 22-pound bike can be made up just as easily (and much more inexpensively) by losing five pounds. Am I right?

Some years back we had a community fundraiser....several running events and a 10 mile bike race. Its a small community. But several riders showed up, a couple on nice CF bike, and some of the local high school athletes. One of the high school athletes took off on a WalMart NEXT mountain bike with knobbies and was quickly out of sight. I didn't figure he would last. It was an out and back, and I met him at about three and half miles, coming back. He did well over 20 mph on the fairly level course on a NEXT full suspension cheap mountain bike.

What's the title of that book.....Its Not About the Bike?

Some years back we had a community fundraiser....several running events and a 10 mile bike race. Its a small community. But several riders showed up, a couple on nice CF bike, and some of the local high school athletes. One of the high school athletes took off on a WalMart NEXT mountain bike with knobbies and was quickly out of sight. I didn't figure he would last. It was an out and back, and I met him at about three and half miles, coming back. He did well over 20 mph on the fairly level course on a NEXT full suspension cheap mountain bike.

What's the title of that book.....Its Not About the Bike?

Skinny guy, right? ;)

My touring bike kind of looks like a mountain bike with fenders. It has large 26 x 1.75" tires and weighs about 40 lb with racks, loaded with three water bottles and clothing for a nice Sunday outing. I like coming up behind guys on road racing bikes and then gluing myself to their rear wheel. Once I'm in their draft it's not easy to lose me. :D

Donna and I both have Reno's, and if they are "Stone Pigs", then our mtn.bikes have got to be The Whole Hog (both mtn bikes are chro-mo steel and each mtn bike is around 30 lbs). So after riding heavy mtn bikes for years, the Reno feels very light to us, maybe not CF light, but they serve the purpose. Got to admit though, that when we bought the Reno's, we also looked at CF road bikes--very nice, but for what little we get to ride, couldn't justify the expense. Maybe after I retire, if I still ride, I'll go for one. But Donna has in mind to turn me into an equestrian!

Aren't the Equestrians the ones who think that Barack Obama is the incarnation of Haile Sellasie?

I've heard different responses on this issue, but I understand that a pound off the belly is the same as a pound off the bike. I suppose it matters somewhat to 20-somethings with only a few percent body fat, and it might matter to some of us older folks who remain preternaturally thin, but for me and I suspect most of you, the difference between and 17-pound bike and a 22-pound bike can be made up just as easily (and much more inexpensively) by losing five pounds. Am I right?

I asked a mechanical engineer this very question. I believe that is correct. 5 pounds is 5 pounds, whether off you or the bike.

The only difference is rotating mass -- wheels, crankset and your shoes. Taking weight off there is more important than taking weight off elsewhere.

Also, as folks frequently note -- a full water bottle weights 2 lbs. Do you know the difference riding when your water bottle is full or empty?

Donna and I both have Reno's, and if they are "Stone Pigs", then our mtn.bikes have got to be The Whole Hog (both mtn bikes are chro-mo steel and each mtn bike is around 30 lbs). So after riding heavy mtn bikes for years, the Reno feels very light to us, maybe not CF light, but they serve the purpose. Got to admit though, that when we bought the Reno's, we also looked at CF road bikes--very nice, but for what little we get to ride, couldn't justify the expense. Maybe after I retire, if I still ride, I'll go for one. But Donna has in mind to turn me into an equestrian!

Keep in mind, it's all very relative.
Took the Reno out tonight and it felt anything but heavy.
I mean, we ride 'em, right? We don't bench press 'em

I heard last week about a medical study where they found that placebos had a greater effect if the subjects were told that they were more costly.

a full water bottle weights 2 lbs.

Alcohol is lighter.

Alcohol is lighter.

And powdered water is almost weightless!

How many here actually ride bikes that weigh 30#? My touring bike is that heavy while my carbon bike and LeMond are much lighter. The gearing is also different amongst the bikes, but when I ride the Tank I can tell a big difference. The good news is that it goes faster downhill.

I've got a couple of bikes as light as 26 lbs, but my favorite rider is a customized '71 Schwinn Super Sport I got down to a hair under 30 lbs according to the digital scale at home). Although I didn't commute to work today, I got out my son's 40 lb diamonback from my van and at lunch sprinted a couple of miles to get lunch and sprinted back, just for the heck of it. (Ok, it's a gorgeous day here in North Texas--couldn't pass it up!). I have lots of fun with stone pigs. CF? Why spend the money? Although I have seen some gorgeous bikes at my lbs and fully understand the allure of the newer technology, its just not for me at this time.:)