Originally Posted by
drainyoo
That's on the frame, weight on the wheels is different. You would notice 3.5lbs on your wheels.
Plus those 3.5lbs in water might not be immediately noticeable when seating and the bike is moving forward but that's still 3.5 extra lbs that you have to move. It does make a difference to a certain extent. Obviously the less weigh the less of a difference. But which would be easier to ride up a hill, 30lbs bike or a 15lbs bike? Race cars are a great example. There is a reason why they are built very very light. Power to weight ratio. A lighter bike in my opinion will perform better but I'm no expert so...
I'm not debating that lighter is faster, just that a lot of perception is based on standing and letting the bike move beneath you. If you don't get out of the saddle, you're not going to feel 3.5 lbs anywhere on your bike. If you time yourself on a climb, you'll probably be able to measure it, but not feel it.