Originally Posted by
Walter S
If I believe the calculator, the effect of weight is small indeed. Probably less than I would have guessed. I increased the weight of the bicycle from 22 lbs. to 120 lbs. That dropped the speed from 15 mph to 14.07 mph. Then to decrease the weight of the cycle from 120 lbs. to 100 lbs., the speed improves from 14.07 mph to 14.26 mph. So to shave 20 lbs. off my pack improves my speed by so very little.
Using the calculator, if I keep the wattage and body weight the same (150 lbs), put in a 6% grade over 20 miles, and our bike + load weights 65 lbs (me) 120 lbs (you) I will arrive 1.5 hours earlier. Although I agree that touring is not a race 90 minutes of extra riding a day is significant. Beyond the extra work one may be creating for oneself with heavier loads there's the extra time in camp it takes to manage all of that stuff (packing/unpacking, sifting through stuff, repairing, maintaining, fiddling....). For me simple is better but viva la difference, it would be pretty boring if we all did it the same way.
Have you posted a gear list? I am curious where your gear weight comes from. For instance, are you planning for multiple contingencies, carrying lots of "luxury" items, lots of clothes?