How much does your loaded commuter weigh?
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How much does your loaded commuter weigh?
It just occurred to me the other day that my commuter bike (my only bike actually), is HEAVY! I had been using an '07 Scattante road bike as a commuter but hated how it handled with a rack and panniers on the back. So, I swapped all the parts onto a new Nashbar touring frame (aluminum), and fork (cro-moly). I switched out the Axiom Streamliner rear rack for a Jandd Extreme rack, and my crappy anatomic saddle for a supremely awesome Brooks B17 (life-time convert, thank you). Anyway, out of curiosity, the other day after work I weighed the whole shebang, including what I carry in the panniers, which is my lunch and another bag containing books and other work stuff as well as a couple other clothing items I might need to put on or take off depending on the commuting conditions. The whole rig weighed 40 lbs !!!! How much do your rigs weigh? I have a pretty flat 11.5 commute one way and if I'm not dealing with the wind (this is Chicago, after all), I can usually ride around 18mph average with occasional jaunts up to 20-25 mph. I deal with a lot of wind resistance on the panniers I think and in the winter, what with all the extra layers of clothing, my commute which used to take 40 minutes approximately, now takes upwards of 50 minutes. The fact that I can still get the bike rolling up to 18mph without too much struggle on a day where it's nice and calm with no wind, tells me that the weight really isn't that much of an issue. Besides that, you know a fully loaded touring bike has got to weigh a heck of a lot more than most of our commuter bikes. Anyway, just curious how many of you are riding around on loaded bikes that are tipping the scales well over 35 - 40 lbs.
#2
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Steel frame bike w/ front rack, dynamo hub & lighting, Brooks Pro saddle, VO Al fenders = 27lbs. Plus I'm usually carrying another 7 lbs of front rack bag, repair kit, change of clothes, etc. That becomes 10 extra lbs if I bring my lock...
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I weighed my rig once, added up to ~50 lb. Approximately 1/2 bike, 1/2 equipment & payload. In an earlier scenario it had to be more than that, as I then included my laptop PC + power supply in the payload. Back then I was averaging 18-20mph, depending on conditions.
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I just weighed mine. My steel framed bike with 28mm tires and 8speed IGH with lights, full water bottle, locks(ulock+cable), clothes(jeans,hoodie,tshirt,undies/socks), and tools/spare tubes in panniers comes in right at 40lbs.
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My bike weighs about 24 pounds with rack and fenders. My pannier weighs between 7 and 15 pounds, depending on whether or not I've got the laptop with me.
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I usually carry very little, so around 27 or 33 pounds depending on the bike. Maybe a few more on certain days.
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My commuter 'bent is about 30 pounds and my panniers loaded for work are in the neighborhood of 7-9 pounds.
Should I weigh the clothes I wear?
I do use the lightest air that I can find for the tires.
Should I weigh the clothes I wear?
I do use the lightest air that I can find for the tires.
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Mine is around 42.8 pounds loaded with what I need to get around, maybe more if I had the other pannier attached.
Without any bags on it comes in at 35.6 pounds.
Without any bags on it comes in at 35.6 pounds.
#14
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Without my rack box my bike has a weight of about 28 pounds. So with my stuff for work, plus my tools, pump, spare tube, and patch kit in the box, I'd say that fully loaded my bike is somewhere around 37-38 pounds. But given that headwinds here in Shanghai are relatively tame most of the time, and it's very flat, I never notice the weight.
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I weighed my ~ 14 year old steel mtb a few years ago on the big in-floor scale (it only displayed in 2 lb steps so not sure about accuracy but should be pretty close) at work and it came in at 42 lbs. That's with fenders, rack+bag, lock, my lunch and all the other junk I schlep around with me. For commuting the weight doesn't seem like much of an issue to me.
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All depends o nth time of the year.
Winter I mostly ride the T700 and need the back rack for the layers I shed from the ride in. Probably 36-38
Summer the rear rack comes off and a few other things come out of the bag its probably around 30. I rode it 20 miles in winter trim yesterday.
Some days if I don't need to carry anything I ride the 22.4lb hot rod.Feels like a rocket compared to the T700. This year I'll have the option of the 20.4lb OpusIII.
BTW my bikes are all 61-63CM for the road bikes except the Trek, its a 60cm. The 890 I'm still building. its a 23 inch frame, the M400 that does seem some commuting is a 22 but the Trek 890 will likely replace it for any commuting and make it offroad only if I don't sell it.
Winter I mostly ride the T700 and need the back rack for the layers I shed from the ride in. Probably 36-38
Summer the rear rack comes off and a few other things come out of the bag its probably around 30. I rode it 20 miles in winter trim yesterday.
Some days if I don't need to carry anything I ride the 22.4lb hot rod.Feels like a rocket compared to the T700. This year I'll have the option of the 20.4lb OpusIII.
BTW my bikes are all 61-63CM for the road bikes except the Trek, its a 60cm. The 890 I'm still building. its a 23 inch frame, the M400 that does seem some commuting is a 22 but the Trek 890 will likely replace it for any commuting and make it offroad only if I don't sell it.
#18
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Oh man, my commuter is a tank, but with the loads I carry at times, it has to be. In regular commute form and all my gear on board, it tips the scales at 80lbs. When I did my BL cleaning and had a load of gravel on board to boot, then 150 lbs or more was the norm.
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Commuter 1: ~20 lbs with fenders and pedals
58" Orbea diem with 1700 g disc wheelset (ultegra-105 drivetrain).
Commuter 2: ~22 lbs with fenders and pedals
57" custom trek 7.9 (free crash replacement frame)
totally bobo but i do have crappy (steel) bikes that i feel comfortable locking up outside...
58" Orbea diem with 1700 g disc wheelset (ultegra-105 drivetrain).
Commuter 2: ~22 lbs with fenders and pedals
57" custom trek 7.9 (free crash replacement frame)
totally bobo but i do have crappy (steel) bikes that i feel comfortable locking up outside...
#21
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The LHT with racks, bags, fenders, and lights is about 35 pounds. With my work stuff it was right at 50.
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My '89 Bianchi Volpe (steel) weighs in at 37lb with a large fully laden saddle bag, fenders, lights and a rear rack. With work stuff it probably isn't much more unless i'm carrying a laptop. I keep a pair of shoes and shower stuff at the office.
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Mine is a stock Trek FX 7.6, added fenders, a rack, lights & handlebar extnesions. I carry a lightweight backpack with a change of clothes. The total weight can't be much more than 25 pounds.
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Bike weighed 23 lbs,34 years ago......It's probably twice that now.
I weighed 120, 34 years ago......
I weighed 120, 34 years ago......
Last edited by Booger1; 02-20-12 at 11:15 AM.
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I started to think about what was in my payload and why it is much heavier in the summer. That is because, in the summer, I ride in bike shorts and road shoes, so I have to pack jeans/trousers, belt, wallet, change etc. on the bike. In winter, I just wear my work clothes and mountain shoes, and don't change when I get to work. So the extra items I'm wearing or transporting in the summer (workshoes + bike shorts) are probably partially offset by the extra items I'm wearing in the winter: mainly biking jacket, & other cold weather wear. So I guess I'll start weighing the rider + bike and see what the true all-up weight is in both situations. I bet the rider weighs more (stripped) in the winter, since he's getting less exercise due to the lousy weather.