What's Your Commuting Load?
12-01-05, 09:33 AM
#1
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What's Your Commuting Load?
Today I weighed my panniers in their winter-loaded condition (lights included). I was a bit shocked at how much weight I haul around.
I've been discussing wheels and racks for commuting with a pal of mine. I haven't had any problems with a set of Tiagra hubs, 32-spoke, and Alex AT450 rims. Haven't had a even a wobble. Nonetheless, I 've felt a bit uncomfortable with them, because I know I schlepp far more weight around than most people.
So, today we did a weigh in - 30 pounds! Yikes. That makes the total weight around 210-215 pounds (me: 155, stuff: 30, bike: 25?).
No wonder that young bike shop guy nailed me going up a hill.
I've been discussing wheels and racks for commuting with a pal of mine. I haven't had any problems with a set of Tiagra hubs, 32-spoke, and Alex AT450 rims. Haven't had a even a wobble. Nonetheless, I 've felt a bit uncomfortable with them, because I know I schlepp far more weight around than most people.
So, today we did a weigh in - 30 pounds! Yikes. That makes the total weight around 210-215 pounds (me: 155, stuff: 30, bike: 25?).
No wonder that young bike shop guy nailed me going up a hill.
12-01-05, 09:44 AM
#2
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I weighed my backpack yesterday and it came out at 16 lbs. Didn't weigh the chain though, but that probably adds another 10+ lbs wrapped around the seatpost. No-name hubs and rims, but they're original equipment and 15 yo and still in good shape.
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12-01-05, 10:24 AM
#3
I can't find my pants
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My bike is 45 lbs with bag but without books. If I ever need to bring books home, it can shoot up to 60 lbs. I'm between 155 and 160 depending on whether or not my mother cooked for me 
12-01-05, 10:28 AM
#4
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I don't carry anything. My bike weighs (I think) about 35 pounds. However, on days when I take my daughter to or from school, she and her Trail-a-Bike add about 65 pounds. She helps out by pedaling, but it is still noticable.
Paul
Paul
12-01-05, 10:52 AM
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i weighed my rack trunk on the UPS scale here, was about 14 pounds. add the u lock and i guess it's 24
sometimes i take my grocery pannier with and get coffee or food, so another 5-10 pounds.
winter clothes? around 10-15 pounds
so usually with rack and winter jacket/about 25 pounds
sometimes i take my grocery pannier with and get coffee or food, so another 5-10 pounds.
winter clothes? around 10-15 pounds
so usually with rack and winter jacket/about 25 pounds
12-01-05, 11:24 AM
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Hey, as long as I have gears, it's ok. Makes me wonder, though, how I'd do on a good day with an ultra-light bike.
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12-01-05, 11:51 AM
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about the same .... it takes time to get used to ride faster ...
But boy will you be sprinting!!
But boy will you be sprinting!!
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12-01-05, 12:43 PM
#8
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My MTB commuter with a burley moose rack, fendors, pump, extra tubes, flat kit, tools, locking chain, blinky lights, etc weighs 39.5 pounds. Add in a lead bottle light, pannier with clothes, lunch, water bottle, work portfolio, papers, etc and it's close to 60 pounds. Add in my 165 pound body and about 10 pounds of winter clothes/shoes/helmet/helmet light and I'm easily lugging around 235 pounds. No wonder I'm so slow.
12-01-05, 01:06 PM
#9
Portland Fred
Originally Posted by chennai
I've been discussing wheels and racks for commuting with a pal of mine. I haven't had any problems with a set of Tiagra hubs, 32-spoke, and Alex AT450 rims. Haven't had a even a wobble. Nonetheless, I 've felt a bit uncomfortable with them, because I know I schlepp far more weight around than most people.
12-01-05, 01:31 PM
#10
Full Member
though i haven't put my bike on the scales... i know it is heavy. when i dropped by the local bike shop while commuting, the guy looked at me funny and asked what exactly i had in there(the panniers). i got a good laugh at that...
he knew it was heavy b/c he took it to the back to make some adjustments.
he knew it was heavy b/c he took it to the back to make some adjustments.
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12-01-05, 02:03 PM
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I'm a pretty light vehicle:
Me: 136 pounds (despite being 6' 1" tall...)
Bike: 20 pounds (fixie w/brakes)
Gear: 3 pounds (U-lock, patch kit, spare tube, multitool and 15mm wrench, lights, rubber gloves + sometimes a light jacket)
160 pounds in all
Add the weight of my backpack, books, wallet, the clothes I have on etc.; grand total 175 or so.
Me: 136 pounds (despite being 6' 1" tall...)
Bike: 20 pounds (fixie w/brakes)
Gear: 3 pounds (U-lock, patch kit, spare tube, multitool and 15mm wrench, lights, rubber gloves + sometimes a light jacket)
160 pounds in all
Add the weight of my backpack, books, wallet, the clothes I have on etc.; grand total 175 or so.
12-01-05, 04:49 PM
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36 lbs of bike, (with lights/no rack)
9 lbs of stuff (counting rack & panniers) in the morning (nearly 2 pounds is food, which I devour throughout the day)
150 lbs of me
for a grand total of...
195 lbs blinking and moving through the streets of our fair city.
9 lbs of stuff (counting rack & panniers) in the morning (nearly 2 pounds is food, which I devour throughout the day)
150 lbs of me
for a grand total of...
195 lbs blinking and moving through the streets of our fair city.
12-01-05, 05:04 PM
#15
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Two months ago I rode onto the truck scales at the winery I worked at. 260 certified pounds. I'm 195 so 65 ponds of bike and gear. 12 lb lighting system, work and cycling cloths, Bruce Gorden touring bike with 700x38 tires, rack, two bags, lunch, it does add up. On the other hand I have lost 32 pounds in 4800 miles so if fat has the same energy value as gasoline I may be getting 1200 miles per gallon.
12-02-05, 01:53 AM
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My bike is just under 18 lbs. (fixie, front brake, beefy wheels), I'm around 165 lbs, my bag, according to the bathroom scale, is roughly 20 lbs.
That doesn't include the weight of shoes, helmet, lunch, which I didn't have when I stepped on the scale in my street clothes, with and without my bag.
-Trevor
That doesn't include the weight of shoes, helmet, lunch, which I didn't have when I stepped on the scale in my street clothes, with and without my bag.
-Trevor
