Originally Posted by
Barrettscv
My first commuter was about 33 lbs. It was a great bike that helped eased me into cycling.
I soon wanted a little more performance and began riding for fitness. My bikes each now weigh less than 24 lbs, before racks or fenders. There is no real reason to haul around a bike much heavier than that, IMO.
My first commuter weighed about 30 lbs. No fenders, no racks, I wore a backpack everywhere I went.
I soon wanted to do more with my bike; to carry groceries, to carry school books, to ride in the winter, in the rain, in the sleet, in the slush, in the dark. And I wanted the bike to be easier to maintain, to be more reliable. So I ditched the shock fork for a rigid steel fork. I added racks. I added fenders. I bought lights. I bought studded tires. I picked up a disc compatible frame. I wanted it to be there when I needed it, so I bought a lock. And it still rides like a bicycle. It's a joy! I find it difficult to not arrive sweaty and out of breath wherever I go, because it is still so much fun to just crank away, even with 40 lbs of groceries on the back.
No matter what I do to modify my bike, I'll always ride it for fitness, for my wellbeing. It elevates my heart rate, makes me breath harder, makes me enjoy life more. It burns stress from my mind and fat from my body. Where the bike performs less, I find myself performing more. My sturdy, reliable, utilitarian bike weighs 48 lbs with racks, fenders, lights, lock, and winter tires; none of which I'm willing to remove to get a "base weight", which would be pointless anyway since I never ride the bike at its base weight (although I do know that the lock and chain weigh nine lbs, not that it matters). And I see no reason to bother with a bike less useful/lighter than that, IMO.