ericm,

I went up the West side of Hicks. It kicked my behind.

The purpose of lightening the bike would be not so much to make myself faster but to make the bike more enjoyable to ride. The bike as it is feels noticeably crude and lower-end than the 105 9-speed (5503) bike and the 10-speed (6603) Ultegra bike I used to have. Yes, I have quickly gone through a couple of bikes while learning what geometry will better suit my body.

Let me ask you to confirm, are you recommending the 6603 crankset for my HG50 9-speed chain and 9-speed front derailleur? I could change the 6603 crankset's big ring to a 50T to make it match the capacity of my 3403 front derailleur. Or should I use the 6603 crankset and 9-speed chain with a 6603 front derailleur?