Was I really lugging that thing around?
#1
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Disco Infiltrator




Joined: May 2013
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From: Folsom CA
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
Was I really lugging that thing around?
I'm nearly done with my Cannondale XR build. I'm not entirely happy. There are a few parts that have just come out heavy and uglier than I want. One spot is the stem, where I bought a quill to threadless converter that must have weighed half a pound. Another is wheels and tires... I got heavy duty wheels and hybrid tires, and with racy wheels and tires I could save three pounds. So it's not really mountain bike heavy but it's not really road bike light either.
It's not nearly as heavy, though, as my Super Sport with all its steel components, where the crankset and pedals together weigh six pounds! Or my MTB with its useless cheap suspension fork.
Have you ever hefted a part you've taken off a bike and thought, wow, have I really been lugging this thing around all this time?
It's not nearly as heavy, though, as my Super Sport with all its steel components, where the crankset and pedals together weigh six pounds! Or my MTB with its useless cheap suspension fork.
Have you ever hefted a part you've taken off a bike and thought, wow, have I really been lugging this thing around all this time?
__________________
Genesis 49:16-17
"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon is at the full."
Genesis 49:16-17
"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon is at the full."
#2

But it's interesting that I have two nearly identical bikes, except one is laden with all of the commuter encumbrances, and the other is stripped down. The stripped down one is certainly a lot more fun to ride in good weather when I have nothing to transport.
#6
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From: Singapore
Bikes: Fully customized 11-spd MTB built on 2014 Santa Cruz 5010 frame; Brompton S2E-X 2014; Brompton M3E 2014
Just the motor. 
But it's interesting that I have two nearly identical bikes, except one is laden with all of the commuter encumbrances, and the other is stripped down. The stripped down one is certainly a lot more fun to ride in good weather when I have nothing to transport.

But it's interesting that I have two nearly identical bikes, except one is laden with all of the commuter encumbrances, and the other is stripped down. The stripped down one is certainly a lot more fun to ride in good weather when I have nothing to transport.
#7
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 6,682
Likes: 4
From: Above ground, Walnut Creek, Ca
Bikes: 8 ss bikes, 1 5-speed touring bike
I'm nearly done with my Cannondale XR build. I'm not entirely happy. There are a few parts that have just come out heavy and uglier than I want. One spot is the stem, where I bought a quill to threadless converter that must have weighed half a pound. Another is wheels and tires... I got heavy duty wheels and hybrid tires, and with racy wheels and tires I could save three pounds. So it's not really mountain bike heavy but it's not really road bike light either.
It's not nearly as heavy, though, as my Super Sport with all its steel components, where the crankset and pedals together weigh six pounds! Or my MTB with its useless cheap suspension fork.
Have you ever hefted a part you've taken off a bike and thought, wow, have I really been lugging this thing around all this time?
It's not nearly as heavy, though, as my Super Sport with all its steel components, where the crankset and pedals together weigh six pounds! Or my MTB with its useless cheap suspension fork.
Have you ever hefted a part you've taken off a bike and thought, wow, have I really been lugging this thing around all this time?
#8
Thread Starter
Disco Infiltrator




Joined: May 2013
Posts: 15,350
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From: Folsom CA
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
I think you might be surprised on a piece-by-piece comparison. I'd guess that your hub is about the same weight as the inexpensive cassette and freehub and RD it replaced. Your bike weighs thirty-plus pounds unloaded. A racy road bike weighs about half that. It's not one part that makes the difference, it's differences in all the parts.
__________________
Genesis 49:16-17
"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon is at the full."
Genesis 49:16-17
"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon is at the full."
#9
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Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Michigan
Bikes: Windsor Fens, Giant Seek 0 (2014, Alfine 8 + discs)
I'll always account for by far the heaviest extra weight on the bike. I could easily stand to lose 20 pounds and it would benefit me in far more ways than less weight to drag around.
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Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
#10
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 126
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From: Japan
Bikes: Pinarello Razha 2015, Trek FX 7.4 WSD 2015
I changed my crankset and was surprised at how heavy the original parts were: all-steel triple chain rings with chain guard. It's easily twice as heavy as the crankset I replaced it with.
#12
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Joined: Aug 2009
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From: North of Boston
Bikes: Kona Dawg, Surly 1x1, Karate Monkey, Rockhopper, Crosscheck , Burley Runabout,
Wait, people weigh stuff? As a mountain biker, I usually go for grip, durability and long lasting function, over weight. At 235 lbs, stuff breaks. Great if you are racer weight.
#13
I have a Disc Trucker that I custom built as an ultra-commuter machine, but it was a pig and I didn't like riding it. I removed the rack and changed the IGH to a derailleur, which I'm sure trimmed a few pounds, but it's still a pig and I still don't like riding it. The wheels and tires are pretty heavy, but it's not worth replacing them. It's a functional rainy day bike, and I have lighter bikes for dry days.
#14
contiuniously variable

Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 2,280
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From: Southeastern Pennsylvania
Bikes: 2012 Breezer Uptown Infinity, Fuji Varsity
I think you might be surprised on a piece-by-piece comparison. I'd guess that your hub is about the same weight as the inexpensive cassette and freehub and RD it replaced. Your bike weighs thirty-plus pounds unloaded. A racy road bike weighs about half that. It's not one part that makes the difference, it's differences in all the parts.

- Andy
Last edited by TransitBiker; 05-11-15 at 03:40 PM.
#16
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From: Chicago, IL
Bikes: Cannondale Road Warrior 900, Surly Big Dummy, Electra Townie
#17
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Disco Infiltrator




Joined: May 2013
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From: Folsom CA
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
Shimano stops listing weight for most parts below Deore 9-speed level where the RD, cassette, and hub add up north of 2 lb. I'd bet the Altus or Acera level that comes on your equivalent bike is around three. So it's a 2.5 pound difference, not a 5.5 pound difference, and so your bike is 35ish rather than 30-some pounds. That doesn't excuse all the other components.
__________________
Genesis 49:16-17
"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon is at the full."
Genesis 49:16-17
"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon is at the full."
#18
contiuniously variable

Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 2,280
Likes: 9
From: Southeastern Pennsylvania
Bikes: 2012 Breezer Uptown Infinity, Fuji Varsity
Shimano stops listing weight for most parts below Deore 9-speed level where the RD, cassette, and hub add up north of 2 lb. I'd bet the Altus or Acera level that comes on your equivalent bike is around three. So it's a 2.5 pound difference, not a 5.5 pound difference, and so your bike is 35ish rather than 30-some pounds. That doesn't excuse all the other components.
- Andy
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