Comparable steel weights?
12-10-10, 03:20 PM
#26
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I can't tell the difference in ride, but it is fun to try and break that barrier on a build.
Wheels are the key if you are wanting to build a lightweight bike with a steel frame.
Jake
12-10-10, 03:34 PM
#27
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Everything was weighed as you see it except the water bottle and light.
12-10-10, 04:25 PM
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This should give a reasonable idea of the weight differences between tubing: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/centurion/index.html
12-10-10, 04:26 PM
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Setting a weight target largely missed the whole point of owning a steel bike, IMO. Steel's best ride quality come's out when the right balance of weight, frame flex, geometry, and fit are achieved, matched to the rider's style and favorite terrain (plus the right components, of course). What's the point of meeting a weight goal and winding up with a frame that's too flexy and feels like mush? Approaching the subject of steel's ride quality largely from the standpoint of frame weight misses the mark, and may not provide the experience that's being sought. This is especially true since, as has been pointed out, ride quality has relatively little to do with the actual material, especially when you're talking about good quality tubing, regardless of manufacturer.
12-10-10, 04:40 PM
#31
What??? Only 2 wheels?
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I weighed my bikes once by holding them while I stepped onto a bathroom scale. They both came in over 185lbs, but I think I weighed more back then.
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12-10-10, 04:42 PM
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12-10-10, 04:46 PM
#33
What??? Only 2 wheels?
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Oh, I have bikes. I weigh even more with them. Never weighed myself with both at once though. 
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12-10-10, 05:08 PM
#34
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Most common conversation I have at triathlons....
"Hey, nice old bike..." and then something like "my dad had one of those."
Thanks.
Then, about 1/3 simply reach down and pick it up, without asking. They sense danger and walk away.
The other 2/3, say "may I?"
Sigh. Sure.
"That sure is light. I didn't know those old bikes were so light."
Thanks. (I'm still visualizing not drowning.)
Invariably..."my bike is, like, 16 lbs, you know, like..." "how much does that weigh?"
I dunno. It's fine for this fat old man. We laugh.
(Leave me alone, I'm looking at 105-lb female triathletes.)
At least one of those guys gets dropped by the fat man on the old bike.
And at least one comes over and says...
"just think how fast you'd be on aero and carbon..."
Thanks. You really killed me on the swim.
bonding moment
Here.
Have a Yuengling.
No lime needed.
"Hey, nice old bike..." and then something like "my dad had one of those."
Thanks.
Then, about 1/3 simply reach down and pick it up, without asking. They sense danger and walk away.
The other 2/3, say "may I?"
Sigh. Sure.
"That sure is light. I didn't know those old bikes were so light."
Thanks. (I'm still visualizing not drowning.)
Invariably..."my bike is, like, 16 lbs, you know, like..." "how much does that weigh?"
I dunno. It's fine for this fat old man. We laugh.
(Leave me alone, I'm looking at 105-lb female triathletes.)
At least one of those guys gets dropped by the fat man on the old bike.
And at least one comes over and says...
"just think how fast you'd be on aero and carbon..."
Thanks. You really killed me on the swim.
bonding moment
Here.
Have a Yuengling.
No lime needed.
Last edited by RobbieTunes; 12-10-10 at 05:12 PM.
12-10-10, 06:34 PM
#35
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Kind of a broad question, but I'm curious. What's the average weight of an average sized 531 frame vs. columbus slx vs. chro-moly vs. tange, etc.? Not gas-pipe, obviously. Are we talking as much as a pound or more, or more like a quarter of a pound?
I'd like to build up a nice steelie for weekend rides, so I'd like to able to target something close to 20 pounds build weight. If it were just a commuter, like my Specialized Sirrus, then I wouldn't bother as much with weight.
Is it more of a question of size and gauge when it comes to weight? Is it more about the ride quality from one steel tubing to another? I mean, steel is generally steel, but I'm wondering if I should drop 5 or 6 hundred on a Merckx frame, or are there some nice frames in the 100 to 200 range that would satisfy this itch?
I would probably build it up with modern stuff, Campy Centaur, decent wheels, etc. But nothing like carbon bars or carbon railed seats made from kangaroo leather or anything like that.
Oh and I'm posting here because it will most likely be older steel. I'd like to stick to classic styled, lugged bikes.
I'd like to build up a nice steelie for weekend rides, so I'd like to able to target something close to 20 pounds build weight. If it were just a commuter, like my Specialized Sirrus, then I wouldn't bother as much with weight.
Is it more of a question of size and gauge when it comes to weight? Is it more about the ride quality from one steel tubing to another? I mean, steel is generally steel, but I'm wondering if I should drop 5 or 6 hundred on a Merckx frame, or are there some nice frames in the 100 to 200 range that would satisfy this itch?
I would probably build it up with modern stuff, Campy Centaur, decent wheels, etc. But nothing like carbon bars or carbon railed seats made from kangaroo leather or anything like that.
Oh and I'm posting here because it will most likely be older steel. I'd like to stick to classic styled, lugged bikes.
12-10-10, 06:57 PM
#36
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The old 80's magazine "winning" would often do a feature on some pro's bike. Almost all were in the 21-22lb range. I only remember a few in the 20-21lb range. Pro bikes were built to last.
12-10-10, 07:30 PM
#37
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Most common conversation I have at triathlons....
"Hey, nice old bike..." and then something like "my dad had one of those."
Thanks.
Then, about 1/3 simply reach down and pick it up, without asking. They sense danger and walk away.
The other 2/3, say "may I?"
Sigh. Sure.
"That sure is light. I didn't know those old bikes were so light."
Thanks. (I'm still visualizing not drowning.)
Invariably..."my bike is, like, 16 lbs, you know, like..." "how much does that weigh?"
I dunno. It's fine for this fat old man. We laugh.
(Leave me alone, I'm looking at 105-lb female triathletes.)
At least one of those guys gets dropped by the fat man on the old bike.
And at least one comes over and says...
"just think how fast you'd be on aero and carbon..."
Thanks. You really killed me on the swim.
bonding moment
Here.
Have a Yuengling.
No lime needed.
"Hey, nice old bike..." and then something like "my dad had one of those."
Thanks.
Then, about 1/3 simply reach down and pick it up, without asking. They sense danger and walk away.
The other 2/3, say "may I?"
Sigh. Sure.
"That sure is light. I didn't know those old bikes were so light."
Thanks. (I'm still visualizing not drowning.)
Invariably..."my bike is, like, 16 lbs, you know, like..." "how much does that weigh?"
I dunno. It's fine for this fat old man. We laugh.
(Leave me alone, I'm looking at 105-lb female triathletes.)
At least one of those guys gets dropped by the fat man on the old bike.
And at least one comes over and says...
"just think how fast you'd be on aero and carbon..."
Thanks. You really killed me on the swim.
bonding moment
Here.
Have a Yuengling.
No lime needed.
12-10-10, 10:06 PM
#38
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There are bike weights (as ridden) and bike weights (sans saddle, pedals, and bottle cages).
I think some of the reason most vintage bikes mentioned in this thread come in over 20 lbs. is the wheels. If you're riding around on 2000 gram wheels, you can save a pound easily with modern wheels (even aluminum). You can save 1/2 lb. with a modern saddle, 1/4 to 1/2 pounds with light tires and tubes, and so on.
I think some of the reason most vintage bikes mentioned in this thread come in over 20 lbs. is the wheels. If you're riding around on 2000 gram wheels, you can save a pound easily with modern wheels (even aluminum). You can save 1/2 lb. with a modern saddle, 1/4 to 1/2 pounds with light tires and tubes, and so on.
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12-10-10, 11:42 PM
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12-11-10, 04:55 AM
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What's the point of meeting a weight goal and winding up with a frame that's too flexy and feels like mush?
And, something else we can all keep in mind - not all of us are, as into riding our vintage bicycles, as we are into appreciating other aspects of vintage bicycle ownership.
If it is really ride quality, that we are all seeking, then, in my opinion, we seek in the wrong place. Not one of my older bikes can offer the ride quality of my 2000 Marinoni "Squadra". Nothing vintage about that bike but a real treat to ride. Incidentally, ride quality, in my mind, is a combination of the feel of the bicycle, coupled with the "user friendliness" of the components installed.
All that said, I still like my Peugeot PX10 better than anything else in my humble collection, even though I rarely ride the X10. It is pretty. I restored it. And I always wanted one.
01-09-11, 07:33 AM
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Gonna bump this to make it easier to find ...
01-09-11, 08:23 AM
#42
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01-09-11, 08:35 AM
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I do, too! it's just harder to find the stuff that got stored on the bottom shelf! Sadly, I'm soon gonna need the 5-speed freewheels ...
01-09-11, 08:46 AM
#44
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+10 Change the target to 22 pounds, and all of a sudden, you can find affordable vintage bikes at that mark. My Lotus Classique (Tange 1 Champion tubing) weighs in at 21 1/2 pounds.
I need to weigh my modern conversion of my 1987 Prologue.
I need to weigh my modern conversion of my 1987 Prologue.
01-09-11, 08:54 AM
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I generally agree with randyjawa's analysis. However, I've had a couple of Vitus 980 Peugeots pass through my hands - most recently a 1986 Triathlon that came in right at 20lbs.
01-09-11, 09:45 AM
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I have no idea what my old Sannino, Colnago Super, or Caylor weigh and I could care less. They have primo groups that function flawlessly and handle at lightspeed. A few oz here or there or even a lb ain't gonna make no diff with my fat ass on board.
Take a good dump before you ride and worry about something important
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Take a good dump before you ride and worry about something important
Charlie
01-09-11, 10:35 AM
#47
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My 53cm Merckx Corsa Extra with stock 8speed DA and DA hubs laced to period correct Mavic hubs came to 20.5 with no pedals. An extra pound is negligible at that weight for they type of riding I expect most of us do with our vintage steel frames. If you want steel and want to go well below the 20 pound mark, there are a number of builders that can easily bring a complete bike weight down to 17lbs without the use of a carbon fork of weight weenie gimmicks.
01-09-11, 12:26 PM
#48
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My newly built 96 Kona Kapu 55cm is the lightest steel in my stable. It weights in at 20.6 lbs using an pretty accurate hanging scale and not a bathroom scale b.s. The bike has a threaded Look carbon fork, 8 speed STI Dura Ace and 600 components, 32 spokes Open 4CD rims. The frame itself weights 3.6 lbs with headset cup and race and 4 bottle holder bolts.
Early 90's Specialized Epic 56cm built with Shimano 6600 components, 1800g aero wheels and a Easton EC90 full carbon fork weights 19.67 lbs.
86 Look 753r 57cm built with Campy Chorus 8 speed, Open 4CD rims weights 22.44 lbs.
All bikes weighted with bottle holders and pedals.
I would rather ride a 20+ lbs lively bike than a 16 lbs dead bike.
Early 90's Specialized Epic 56cm built with Shimano 6600 components, 1800g aero wheels and a Easton EC90 full carbon fork weights 19.67 lbs.
86 Look 753r 57cm built with Campy Chorus 8 speed, Open 4CD rims weights 22.44 lbs.
All bikes weighted with bottle holders and pedals.
I would rather ride a 20+ lbs lively bike than a 16 lbs dead bike.
01-09-11, 12:53 PM
#49
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I posted a few days ago on the road forum about weighing my 1991 Waterford and how surprised I was. It's 18.2 lbs (56 cm) with 9 speed dura ace. The fork is threadless CF, it's got SPD-SL pedals, and Kysrium wheels (which aren't light).
01-09-11, 03:30 PM
#50
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It's a Waterford Paramount, right? As opposed to a Waterford Waterford? Just curious, as I have a 753OS Waterford Waterford with Dura Ace 9, and now I'm curious what it weighs.