Originally Posted by
bigtea
UMD, I honestly like most of your comments and think you have a lot of good knowledge to share on a variety of topics. But on this one, we don't see eye to eye.
Here's the big difference, and the essential point I'm making. Cannondale is not making those bikes for other professional riders. They are making those bikes (and you can purchase an exact copy of what is being ridden in the Tour) for non-professional cyclists who pay big $$ for what is essentially a cheat. Think of it as a golfer with fifteen clubs in his bag or a swimmer with fins.
I know nothing of golfing so your example is lost on me. I ride a ~13-15 pound bike (depending on trim). There is no minimum weight in amateur racing, so it's not cheating. There is certainly no minimum weight for recreational road cycling.