Originally Posted by
schnee
The best reason to have a weight weenie bike is for friends and co-workers.
Whenever they see your bike for the first time, the first thing they do without fail is pick it up by the top tube.
If the bike isn't especially light in their minds, they'll sort of wrinkle their nose, then force themselves to smile and say 'nice bike', but in their own minds they're thinking 'what a boat anchor, this isn't any nicer than my bike, he can't be that good, I could totally take this guy'.
If the bike is really light, you'll see it fly up off the ground, as they over-estimated what it would take to lift it. You'll get an honest, 'whoa, nice bike. That's really light. How much does it weigh?' At that point, tell them, to the ounce. You'll get respect, admiration, and you'll know that you'll always be able to crush them if they dare ride with you because in their minds, you're really really fast.
Yes, being a weight weenie is worth every penny.
If you aren't interested in making your bike lighter that is perfectly fine. That's your right but there is nothing more annoying then a cyclists who isn't weight weenies and try to diminish the value of a lighter bike. As if making a bike lighter is below them. It's pompous and stupid.
There is value in riding a lighter bike. If you don't agree that's perfectly fine but there is nothing wrong with cyclists wanted to spend money on lighter parts. Get over it.