daryl1

Hello, I am considering upgrading parts on my bike (~19.1lbs) to get lose around 2 lbs. I am 5'10" ~115lbs and whenever I carry a few extra pounds of weight in a backpack it seems just a little more difficult to pedal uphill. I'm pretty sure its not mental, but I may be wrong.

If I can get to around 17.5lbs by spending around $500 new components do you guys think it worth the cost? Would there be a discernible difference? I'm reading a lot of threads on "weight weenies" and can't really understand why they would spend so much money on saving a few lbs if it did not make a difference.

Thanks for the help
Daryl

redirekib

Spend it on beer...

pdmech73

At 5'10" and approximately 115 pounds, you are severely underweight. That means your BMI is 16.5.... Are you sure you weigh 115 pounds? If anything, you should be gaining body weight in muscle mass in order to get yourself up those hills.

-Paul

waterrockets 

My new bike is 3 lbs lighter than my old one, and I can't tell unless I'm out of the saddle swinging it around. The math supports that it's faster on climbs, but it takes a while for that to add up.

The 7 lbs I've lost in the last 2 weeks though, that's going to make a difference (3 lbs. to go). I can already feel it on stairs.

Turbocruiser13

I felt a huge difference when I got my new bike...but then again that was going from a nashbar frame with no name 36h wheels and an aluminum fork with a carbon sticker on it plus a triple to an aluminum frame with a carbon fork and super light wheels plus a compact crank...probably realistically dropped 6-7lbs easily off the bike. As stated before, you should be thinking about gaining weight in muscle not losing weight on the bike.

If you're that worried about weight...might as well leave the bike at the bottom of the hill and jog up to the top, that'll save ya almost 20lbs for free

redirekib

7 lbs. ? you must be stronger than me. I'm 5'10" @163, down from 173 Winter weight. My goal was 155 but when I get near 160 I start gorging. I feel that I can't get enough to eat.

wfrogge

Hes tall... like lurch!

Bezier

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN0pi2wwWSo

Seriously, male or female, 115 pounds @ 5'10" means you are twig (and about as strong as one too). You need muscle to get up those hills!

SouthFLpix

Yes that weight is very low for a male, but it would actually be fine for a female.

Bezier

https://www.modellocate.com/browse/ne...229&touid=9789

Sorry, but that doesn't look like a healthy weight to me. You have to realize that most women who are 115 pounds are quite a bit shorter 5'10".

AEO

no, not really

at 5'7 and 128lbs myself, my weight is borderline. a female of the same height would be roughly the same as me.

SouthFLpix

I photograph models for a living. 5'10 and 115lbs is considered quite normal. Here is one such model that I photographed, she is actually 5'11 1/2 and about that weight(117 if I recall correctly):

(warning, swimsuit shot....may not be safe for work)
https://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v9..._3973_8x12.jpg

Anti404

So you're saying models are representative of healthy women? D8

SouthFLpix

That's a loaded question, but let me just say this; If I woke up one day and every woman looked like the models I photograph, the first thing I'd ask would be..........."Is this heaven?"

Bezier

Just because it's considered normal in the modeling world doesn't make it healthy. If that model is really the height and weight you say she is, that's a BMI of under 16. It's highly unlikely that a women with a BMI that low is still having regular periods, and she certainly wouldn't be in any condition to engage in strenuous physical activity.

PS: With staged lighting, angles, etc. you can hardly rely on a picture like that to determine if she's underweight

PartyPat

more photos needed!

Longfemur

Spend the money. You gotta learn by experience.

SouthFLpix

No one cares how much a model weighs, but to work in the fashion industry she has to be between 5'8" and 5'11 and measure 34-24-34 in order to fit sample sizes. That almost always puts them in a weight range of 110 to 120. This is what a typical fashion model looks like:

She's actually a very in demand fashion model for a major agency.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...s/image001.jpg

Ok, here are some more photos I took, including some non-models (Note: I own the copyright to all these photos)

Model(5'8 and 112lbs):
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...7_9x12t2-1.jpg

Commercial model (about 5'7, weight is less then 120):
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9..._2934_9x12.jpg

International beauty pageant queen (no clue):
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9..._0919_8x12.jpg

Actress (about 5'8 and 120):
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...s/DSC_2254.jpg

On air talent for a news station (I forget height and weight):
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9..._1771_8x12.jpg

And for the ladies. Male model....5'10, 155lbs:
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9..._5416_9x12.jpg

Nachoman

For the next few weeks put some extra weight in your backpack. After you remove the unnecessary weight you'll be happy with yoru bike again.

kukusz

+1.

However, no way in hell are you losing 2 pounds off your bike for $500. If your wheels are boat anchors, you might be able to do it.

edit: ok, it's 1.6 pounds, but still pretty hard.

operator

Spoken like a true industry h0e.

Artificially defining attractivness to a point where only 1% of the population is, and can be like that without being unhealthy is superficial.

Or how about telling us which photos actually make it to publication without photoshopping nowadays?

Turbocruiser13

If I woke up one day and every woman looked like the one in that photograph, the first thing I would ask would be........"Where's Taco Bell?" The only thing that woman has going for her is blonde hair...the rest is....

umd

$500 to save 2lbs is a good deal, and it does make a difference if you climb a lot. However, I agree that 115 @ 5'10" is way too low. My low point was 114 @ 5'9" and I was anorexic and anemic. I am far stronger and faster now at 140 than I was when I was a twig. Get some meat on those bones, your body will thank you.

SouthFLpix

Zero percent, but I think yourself and the public at large probably misunderstand the main reason why photoshop and other digital effects are used.

Let's be clear, women whom are working as full time models or whom are competing on a state or national level in beauty pageants are exceptionally gorgeous. In fact, many times holding their portfolio in my hand, they will walk in the door and my jaw will still drop just a little. They look better in person then they do in photos, I guarantee you that much. These girls are almost too perfect. In fact, many times I have agreed to meet a certain model on location and I've seen the model surrounded by 10 or 15 people just trying to talk to talk to her (and South Beach is known for attractive people). There is just something different about these girls.....maybe it's exceptionally good symmetry that we note in our subconcious, I don't know for sure, but I do know they are just stunning in person. They just have something about them that is different then the average person.

Why is photoshop used then? The same reason filters and digital effects are used in films, to set a mood. Why was The Aviator shot in such a style as to resemble 'Technicolor' film? Why are movies such as Saving Private Ryan shot in washed out colors or in grainy film? To set a mood of course.

It's definitely not to make the actors or models look better or to 'pull one over' on the public. On the contrary, many times because of the special effects we tone down the look of a model or actor in order to achieve the desired effect. In fact, I am going to shoot a 'cycling theme' just for kicks this month, and I have told the model I that I want to tone down her looks a bit, because the mood and emotion I want to set for that shoot is one of determination and toughness, rather then showcasing a beautiful person.

Small example. Both of these photos were taken in the same shoot. The first one I wanted wild and vivid colors to jump out at the viewer. I also photographed her from a low angle to make her look taller and larger then life. For the second photo I wanted to set a completely different mood, more peaceful and romantic, and adjusted the photo accordingly

Example one (bright/vivid surreal colors; larger then life feel):
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...587_8x12a1.jpg

Example two (muted colors; more peaceful feel)
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...522_9x12a1.jpg

rail157

$500 to save 1.6 lbs? You can lose that much weight with a good BM.

Just ride your bike more.