Originally Posted by
PeteHski
Not as bold as claiming that 1 kg really matters on an endurance road bike.
RChung would have the numbers, but I was surprised to see the results of calculations showing just how little difference bike weight made under any conditions other than extended steep climbs: "extended" here meaning Alps, Pyrenees, etc. Those calculations are what prompted the swing away from ultimate lightness and toward ultimate aero in high-end racing frames.
That said, the market swing toward endurance and gravel bikes, the successors to the sport touring bikes of the 1980's, has probably made a lot of manufacturers happy. Not only because they get to sell additional bikes but also because, with the focus shifting away from high performance and light weight and toward comfort and durability, they can expect the heavier bikes to hold up better, leading to fewer warranty claims, even from that part of the aging population of bike enthusiasts who tend to put on weight as they age.
A bunch of them had already rolled back their frame warranties from lifetime to, e.g., five years, back when bikes were being built silly light, so the combination of heavier bikes plus limited warranty is all to the good from their point of view.