If My Bike is 15lbs but I am 210lbs does it really matter??
04-07-12, 04:18 PM
#52
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After recovering from a near death experience I decided to treat myself to a nice new bike. When leaving the LBS with my new steed I heard a someone say "he has a Corvette bike and a Brigs and Stratton lawn mower engine for it". I couldn't help but agree with him, but I have enjoyed that bike ever since. Life is short, go for it if you can.
04-07-12, 04:35 PM
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If you love the 15 lb bike enough to ride more and lose 60 lbs it's more than worth the money. 3 stents in your heart $56,000 15 lb bike priceless.
04-07-12, 05:09 PM
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After recovering from a near death experience I decided to treat myself to a nice new bike. When leaving the LBS with my new steed I heard a someone say "he has a Corvette bike and a Brigs and Stratton lawn mower engine for it". I couldn't help but agree with him, but I have enjoyed that bike ever since. Life is short, go for it if you can.
04-07-12, 07:10 PM
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According to Bicycling mag (p57) this month, every pound over your ideal weight costs you 15 to 20 seconds per mile on a climb. You might as well buy that time back.
04-07-12, 09:18 PM
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poop before you ride...less weight for the climbs
seriously though, as everyone has said, life is short, get an awesome bike and ride it to the ground
seriously though, as everyone has said, life is short, get an awesome bike and ride it to the ground
04-08-12, 06:50 AM
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Don't obsess about it publicly, like some other idiots - posting the same 5 photos in 4 different threads, all because you saved 15 grams by changing to color-coordinated Ti chainring bolts (or some other asinine crap), is annoying.
04-08-12, 07:41 AM
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04-08-12, 08:03 AM
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That's what posting on Weight Weenies is for!
04-08-12, 08:15 AM
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Matter to who? Concerning racing results? A light bike an be fun to ride, especially on hilly terrain. I switch between a 17lb Roubaix and a 14.5lb Caad7, and can immediately tell the difference in acceleration and climbing.
I'm 5',11''/150lbs BTW.
I'm 5',11''/150lbs BTW.
04-08-12, 08:24 AM
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As long as I'm working on this last 15 pounds I won't pay for carbon but when it's gone, I'm paying for anything that I fancy.
04-08-12, 03:35 PM
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Last year I was 208 lbs. This year I hit 185 lbs. I'm riding the same 17 lbs. bicycle on the same roads (and lots of hills).
Does it matter? Hell yeah the weight matters especially when climbing hills. That's over 30 lbs. right there that I no longer have to spin up the same long hills. Am I faster in the hills, I noticed about a 1-2 mph difference in speed going up the same hills with slightly less effort. Or another way to put it is I can go at the same speed as I did last year with less effort. Take your pick.
Once you're down near your ideal weight and fitness though, what matters is how efficient your bike is. If you have a bike that has a stiff frame at 15 lbs., every pedal stroke goes into forward motion. That you WILL notice a big difference as well at the price of ride quality.
Does it matter? Hell yeah the weight matters especially when climbing hills. That's over 30 lbs. right there that I no longer have to spin up the same long hills. Am I faster in the hills, I noticed about a 1-2 mph difference in speed going up the same hills with slightly less effort. Or another way to put it is I can go at the same speed as I did last year with less effort. Take your pick.
Once you're down near your ideal weight and fitness though, what matters is how efficient your bike is. If you have a bike that has a stiff frame at 15 lbs., every pedal stroke goes into forward motion. That you WILL notice a big difference as well at the price of ride quality.
04-08-12, 07:00 PM
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It's more important to look good than it is to be good.
04-09-12, 07:48 AM
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04-09-12, 08:32 AM
#68
Descends like a rock
I cant say why you bother, but if your 15lb bike can handle your weight, who cares. Ride and have fun. I can tell you for a fact that you will have more fun and see a real difference in your performance if you focus on getting your weight down as well. I'm just now getting to 210 after starting from 255 and I can really feel the weight difference. I've noticed it most with the last 10-15lbs or so I've lost. I can climb a lot longer now without wearing out.
04-09-12, 08:32 AM
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The greatest problem facing cyclists today is that those who can afford light bikes can also afford Twinkies.
04-09-12, 09:34 AM
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Its better than being 210 pounds and having a 20 pound bike.
04-09-12, 09:39 AM
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04-09-12, 11:31 AM
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I wouldn't.. unless you like the looks of it, I'm a fat guy too.. and I'm concentrating on losing the weight, thats what will give you the biggest benefit
04-09-12, 11:39 AM
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I just did some playing around with the calculator linked in this thread. Dropping 5 lbs on a bike (22 to 17) on a 5% climb is a 0.25 mph gain
