dain84

I'm going into racing this year. I'm using a specialized Vegas that weighs about 29 pounds. Is it dumb that i'm using a dirt jumper for racing? I can compete with others because I run 3 miles every other day and ride 5 miles every day. What would be some cheap lightening parts?

bmexican

theres nothin wrong with using a dirt jumper for racing in ur beginning years, i did. the extra weight helps you train. if u get used to the heavier bike, then when u get a real racer, it'll fee l that much better. plus dirt jump bikes are really strong, meaning they'll put up with the crashes you'll have in the beginning. but if u do want to lighten it up alittle more try replacing handle bars. their the cheapest thing to replace that will reduce the weight drastically. i no from ur other thread u dont weight much so try an aluminum set of bars. they can take close to 2 pounds off depending on how much the stock bars were. (propbaly alot since it was a stock bike). aluminum bars are usually 40 bucks if u have it. also cut down the seat post to almost nothing (seat needs to be low in racin anyway) thatll take off weight

easternbikes

swap the big jumping seat for somthing like the ody junior for racing

dain84

I'm getting some redline race bars from dans comp for $19.99 i think. I might get em. two piece. I hope i save some serious weight. I cant tell how much my current bars weigh cause I have no scale. I dont think my bike shop does either.

bmexican

thatll work too. and how much do those redline bars weigh? bars that come on complete bikes... especially dirt jumpin bikes, usually weigh a lot, somtimes they're not even crmo, just hi-ten steel crap.

dain84

here is a pic of a bike exactly like mine, even in color. The only difference is I have snafu dirtbox tires on mine now and i have a diamondback seat. I'm gonna get a racing seat when I get an altrnate bike to cruise on. It doesn't feel nice to sit down on a racing seat. So I need a spare bike.

poonster18

whoa nice bike. yea i think you should just change your handle bars... =P

CMcMahon

I'd suggest changing the frame, seeing as how it weighs around 7.5lbs, if I remember correctly.

easternbikes

forks

bmexican

of course... thats a great idea, it would get rid of a decent amount of weight, but the point of buying a complete bike is because it costs less than building one ur self. a new frame would just be more money.

CMcMahon

The fact of the matter is that it's very heavy for a frame in general nowadays, and is at least 2.5lbs more than any frame designed for racing on the market now. Also, even though he says that his bike is 29lbs, there is no way in hell that that bike - circa '98 or '99 - is going to weigh that little.

dain84

it's a 2002. And I weighed it today and it was 30 pounds. It was 31 stock.

dain84

oh yeah and mine has no front brakes and no gyro. It never did. See how it can be lighter?

bmexican

true it is definitly a heavy frame. 2002 isn't too old tho, but yeah it would definitly weigh more than any race frame. so dain if you can afford a new frame, a race specific frame, go for it. that'll save the most weight out of pretty much anything else on that bike.

dain84

well, if the frame is heavy, then the parts must be dAmn light since my friend who has an 8 pound frame has a bike that weighs 36 pounds.