rekmeyata

clincher tires didn't enter the market until 1978 and that was a 700 size tire not the typical American and Japanese size of 27", and even then they weren't real popular till about 1980 or 81 when bikes started to come out with clinchers included but even then high end bikes came with only tubs. Trek 760 came with tubs up until 1987 which was the last year for tubs for Trek.

Anywho, professional racing bikes weighed between 18 to 22 pounds and stayed that way from 1968 till 1998.

Problem with bikes up until early 80's was the frames were noodly, and French made steel bikes were the worse even into the late 80's.

jimmuller 

Huh? My UO8 had 27"clinchers in 1972.

rekmeyata

My bad, I was thinking FOLDING clinchers, sorry, but it took me a while to find the facts but I did please read this: Bicycle History

Cougrrcj

My dormmates '74 Raleigh SuperCourse was Reynolds 531 and specc'd out at 27 according to the Raleigh catalog.Here's a Raleigh catalog spec page from 1979-- https://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalog...ifications.gif Even the Raleigh Competition weighed in at 24 pounds. All-out Racing bikes might have been lighter, but the mid-grade bikes were still 25-26 pounds.



Heck, even my triple-butted fully CrMo '86 Miyata 710 is 23.5 pounds.

OldsCOOL

Japanese bike companies did well in producing quality lightweights at lower prices. My '76 Fuji "The Finest" weighs in at 21.8 with tubulars.

rekmeyata

Keep in mind boys and girls that a road bike back in the 70's with clinchers did not have the weight advantage that later in 78 when folding clinchers came out (this was what I mistakenly thought we were talking about with the weight issue). So yes a 70's era bike with heavy clinchers were above the 25 pound range, but once clinchers became foldable and racing level clinchers came along then that weight dropped to almost the same weight as tubulars. Also pre folding clinchers never had a racing solid wire clincher tire for obvious reasons, so they were built heavier in the rubber and casing department too.

D1andonlyDman

A couple of points about that Raleigh catalog spec:

The bikes I described as 23 pounders were not mid-grade bikes like the Super Course. they were at the Raleigh Competition level or beyond. The Super Course used straight gauge tubes, not butted tubes, and thus it's frame was over a pound heavier than the Competition.

That 24 pound Competition is a fairly big 23.5" frame with 25c clinchers on fairly heavy Weinmann rims. Lighter rims and thinner tires would knock close to half a pound off.

Campy Grand Sport group weighs more than Nuovo Record

The spec'd weight includes a pump, toe clips, and straps

It has a Brooks Pro saddle that weighs well over a pound.

Similarly sized and equipped, that Competition would be very much the typical 23 pound high end clincher-equipped bike I was talking about.

crank_addict

Not vintage but interesting comparing to top tier modern 2015.

54cm Ti frame, carbon fork, 'disc brakes' (heavy), Di2

And the total weight is.....
19.3 lbs
New 2015 Independent Fabrication Crown Jewel 54cm Titanium Dura Ace Di2 Enve Hed | eBay

(yours for only $16,399.00)

randyjawa 

Clinchers we available long before 1978, both in 27" and 700c sizes. This old Torpado, an early seventies model, featured 700c steel clincher rims, fitted with ordinary 700c clincher tires...

noglider 

Maybe rekmeyata meant high pressure clinchers entered in 1978?

Cougrrcj

I was riding on 105psi Schwinn Super Record clinchers in 27x1-1/8 back in '76/77.

D1andonlyDman

He's already said that he meant FOLDING clinchers

crank_addict

'79 Super now with quill pedals / toe clips comes in at 21.6 lbs. Brooks and GP4 rims are not weight weenie class but are classic. Thats what counts

[IMG][/IMG]

Daveyk15

My 1985 Bob Griffin Time Trial Bike total weight just 19 lbs

Small Frame 53/54 Cm with Reynolds 531 Pro tubing

Mavic GL 330 rims with tubs and Campag Record Hubs

13-18 Maillard Alloy block (insanely light) rest of Groupset Campagnolo Record or GS

When I put clinchers on it with a steel freewheel weight goes up to 20 ish lbs

Small frame and lack of chrome keeps it pretty light along with alloy block

vtchuck

My four steel frame bikes all have clinchers with tires 25mm or smaller and range in size from 24" to 25.5"

25" PX-10 531 24.5 lbs

24.5" Romic Tange Champion 23.75 lbs

24" Falcon 531 24.5 lbs

25.5" Trek 660 True Temper Team 23.75 lbs.

All are equipped with quality components... Campy, Dura Ace, Superbe, Cinelli, SR, Sakae, SunTour but no special super light stuff.