Originally Posted by
well biked
I can definitely identify with that way of thinking.
I've gotten back into racing mountain bikes this year, and I'm using better equipment than I've ever had. At the races, sometimes I do well, sometimes I'm disappointed. But what's funny is that when I look around at the other guys and what they're riding, there's very little correlation between racing with latest-greatest equipment and who's going to smoke the course. Within reason.
This is all 35yrs ago but it became pretty obvious that differences of a few oz in wheel weight was insignificant compared to whether the motor could put out 500watts or 400watts. In the total mass of my 145lbs and 23lb bike a few oz didn't matter at all, especially riding next to a 135lb guy who rode with 36 straight 14g spokes who used to be on an Olympic track team or the old retired 36yr old Cat II rider who weighed 180lbs riding heavy clincher wheels. If the wheel is built well change weights with the tires.