Originally Posted by brunning
a very low end or improperly maintained bike will hinder your riding, but at the "enthusiast" level, a 15lb cervelo r3 with campy record and zip 303 tubies will probably not prove faster than a 20 lb decent frame with tiagra or 105.
a heart rate monitor is a better investment than a carbon seatpost.
A 5 pound difference in bike weight can make a very measurable difference when climbing; maybe 1 minute on a 2000 foot climb. I agree that a HRM is a better investment though; better training can gain you several minutes on that same climb.