Old 08-22-13, 01:30 PM
  #20  
Carbonfiberboy 
just another gosling
 
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Everett, WA
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Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004

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I figure losing weight off the bike comes in at around $1000/lb. The ~$1.58/g mentioned upthread works out to $717/lb. I think about that when I get on the scale in the morning. So far this year, I've saved the cost of a new Calfee tandem. Of course you can do both things at once, but still . . .

I don't think the location of the saved weight makes much difference, though saving it off your body makes more difference than saving it off your bike. Lots easier to climb out of the saddle standing if you're light. Everyone knows it's better to carry water in bottles than in a Camelbak as far as energy cost goes. Weight makes a much larger difference if you're racing and already climbing near the front. Doesn't take many seconds to put you from there onto the leader's wheel on a long climb. But for a more recreational cyclist, it's just seconds/lb., i.e. like $100/second/lb.

It's fun to play with calculators like this one:
http://www.hembrow.eu/personal/kreuzotter/espeed.htm
to answer these questions:
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