Originally Posted by
reppans
HERE'S an article on the subject, I hadn't seen it before my post, just googled it but it's pretty consistent. YMMV, but I strongly believe in it - the physics are pretty simple.
I have a 9lb EDC bag that I occasionally strap on my rear rack for longer day rides - I personally can't feel (or maybe barely feel) the incremental work to ride it uphill against gravity, and I'm not strong rider - it's a 5% add to my 180lb bike+rider combined weight. I can't speak for you, but what I REALLY notice about the weight is the handling change to the bike. On my folder, it rides low above a 349 wheel so barely impacts the handling, except while climbing where I'm spinning less smoothly or standing - I actually look back frequently to make sure it hasn't dropped off. On my gravel bike it rides high above the 700 wheel, and it's quite noticeable, nearly all the time - don't need to look back on this bike, I know it's there.
I also use the folder for utility runs with a 10lb trailer, and riding empty to Home Depot, it's amazing how it has almost no effect to the handling - if feels more invisible than my bag on the rack. Coming back towing a 50lb bag of lawn fertilizer, however, it's a 60lbs combine addition or 33% over my 180 bike&rider. True to what I believe, it's really noticeable accelerating and uphill, but I still feel like I'm riding uphill with 1/3rd more effort. Maintaining flat ground pace speed, I really don't notice the weight - if anything it's more aero drag. But your point on no flat ground is fair enough so assuming all slight ups/downs, then the 1% impact becomes 1.5% to average pace.
Cost of ultra-light/-compact camping need not be crazy expensive. $500 for an UL rain outfit? - $500 covers my rain outfit, shelter, sleep system, and campsite puffy for cold evenings/mornings (through good multitasking); $100 for my kitchen; $100 for the camp chair/water purification; $100 for camping sundries; and $150/75 for panniers/bags for my folder/gravel bikes. This does not include: electronic gadgetry or spare clothing which I have for regular life anyway, or more importantly, the cost of trial and error and upgrades to get to the ideal (for me) set-up. Everything mentioned above was purchase new, but I take good advantage of holiday sales, coupon offerings, and clearance pricing.
To your specific example of upgrading the rain outfit - I just happened to upgrade my windshirt (spare clothing item) to the latest and greatest GoreTex Shakedry fabric, said to breath as well as a windshirt, but is 100% hydrophobic, permanently waterproof, and can never wet-out (w/permanently beading surface). For the lower half, I'm considering using a rain kilt (I bought a $20/2.5oz one, but think I'd rather just multitask my existing Polycryo or Tyvek sitting groundsheet), and then ride in my camp sandals. This gives me redundant rain outfit options, but both have +/- depending upon which way the wind is blowing, cost $125 (new on clearance), but once again it was really only intended as a windshirt/spare clothing upgrade.
hi reppans, I had answered but must have had a problem as it didnt go on as I thought.
re the report, that is specifically about very light setups--a 22lb bike and very little load, so from my experience with 30+ lbs bikes and very specifically with long, expeditiony trips where we end up having more weight than usual, along with mountainy terrain, I really notice the diff of having 10lbs more. (very easy to have 10-15lbs more when carrying extra food and water in an area where there are unknowns of getting stuff)
re the rain gear-in my disappeared response, I had mentinoed that my rain jacket is a tough showers pass one, cost about 150-175, and the lighter models here in Canada tend to be easily 250, and up, to some really eye watering prices for the latest and greatest.
My jacket is great for my commuting use, and in cooler temps, although it does have great ventilation so it works fine in warm weather, but it certainly is heavier and bulkier than others. At the time, I bought it for the cost (100 bucks less than the nicer ones) and as I use it commuting, I liked that it is tougher than the super light ones.
but as you say, there are sales and stuff, and lots of light jackets out there, I just havent checked them out too much. I do have a very light so so rain jacket, and I took it on my Mexico trip last year as I figured I wouldnt be needing it much, and also because the year before when I rode through central america, I took the heavy one and that was a mistake, as I hardly ever used it and it took up space and weight for no real reason--live and learn.
all that said, looking into lighter stuff should be a bit more on my priority, and figuring out where I should concentrate on is always a good exercise.