Why We Should STOP Our Obsession With Bike Weight
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06-28-21, 03:50 AM
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I have no such obsession, so THERE!
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06-28-21, 05:33 AM
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Who’s this “we” you’re speaking of?
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06-28-21, 05:35 AM
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Bicycle Weight Matters
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06-28-21, 05:54 AM
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Originally Posted by Koyote
Who’s this “we” you’re speaking of?
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06-28-21, 06:26 AM
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I have steel frames on my road bikes, gravel bike, and touring/commute bike. There is no weight obsession happening.
...even still, I do enjoy trying to hit an arbitrary weight for some builds. That arbitrary goal has been 20# and 22# on my most recent two bikes. I was over by 4 or 5 oz for each...oh well.
...even still, I do enjoy trying to hit an arbitrary weight for some builds. That arbitrary goal has been 20# and 22# on my most recent two bikes. I was over by 4 or 5 oz for each...oh well.
06-28-21, 06:29 AM
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Originally Posted by Koyote
Who’s this “we” you’re speaking of?
06-28-21, 06:29 AM
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Originally Posted by shelbyfv
Yeah, I'd have thought bike weight would be far down the list of OP's obsessions.
Can't wait for the frame material thread. Or maybe disc brakes vs. rim brakes.
Last edited by indyfabz; 06-28-21 at 06:33 AM.
06-28-21, 06:36 AM
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I'm not obsessed with what other people are obsessed with.
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06-28-21, 06:41 AM
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certain lubes weigh less than others.
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06-28-21, 06:43 AM
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I ride old bikes. 21-23 lbs for an old racing bike isn't bad and that's heavy by today's standards.
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06-28-21, 06:44 AM
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Originally Posted by Troul
certain lubes weigh less than others.
06-28-21, 06:45 AM
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Originally Posted by mstateglfr
I have steel frames on my road bikes, gravel bike, and touring/commute bike. There is no weight obsession happening.
...even still, I do enjoy trying to hit an arbitrary weight for some builds. That arbitrary goal has been 20# and 22# on my most recent two bikes. I was over by 4 or 5 oz for each...oh well.
...even still, I do enjoy trying to hit an arbitrary weight for some builds. That arbitrary goal has been 20# and 22# on my most recent two bikes. I was over by 4 or 5 oz for each...oh well.
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06-28-21, 07:03 AM
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Marketing departments love to focus on weight, despite its dubious real-world significance, because it is such an easily quantifiable and easily compared metric.
06-28-21, 07:12 AM
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I like all my bikes regardless of weight. Personality is what matters.
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06-28-21, 09:01 AM
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Originally Posted by BikingViking793
I like all my bikes regardless of weight. Personality is what matters.
06-28-21, 09:15 AM
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If all the bikes I'm considering for purchase are for the most part equal in every other way, then I'm picking the lighter bike. Assuming of course that I like the color.
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06-28-21, 09:22 AM
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Originally Posted by Iride01
If all the bikes I'm considering for purchase are for the most part equal in every other way, then I'm picking the lighter bike. Assuming of course that I like the color.
Agreed, I think that's a "well, duh" kind of calculation. The real questions come in on what you're willing to trade off for what size differences in weight.
I think these discussions are really about whether or not anyone should care that there's a few people out there who will spend many thousands of dollars to lower their bike weight from 17 pounds to 16. I wouldn't spend that way, but I really don't care if anyone else does.
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06-28-21, 09:30 AM
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Originally Posted by kahn
How do your bikes feel about you?
06-28-21, 09:32 AM
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It's not an obsession.
It's not an obsession.
It's not an obsession.
It's not an obsession.
It's not an obsession.
It's not an obsession.
It's not an obsession.
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06-28-21, 09:38 AM
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I agree that differences in bike weight make very little difference in speed in the real world, that the difference in speed objectively matters not at all to non-racers, and very little to non-pro racers. I agree that other factors (esp. rider position and other aero considerations, and rider weight) have a much greater effect on speed than bike weight over the course of a real ride.
However, a lighter bike can feel faster, even if it isn't really faster, or only marginally faster. That can have some value, the magnitude of which is defined by the buyer/user (and can even be a negative value - some people prefer a "solid/slow" feel to a "racy/twitchy" feel).
However, a lighter bike can feel faster, even if it isn't really faster, or only marginally faster. That can have some value, the magnitude of which is defined by the buyer/user (and can even be a negative value - some people prefer a "solid/slow" feel to a "racy/twitchy" feel).
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06-28-21, 09:44 AM
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That video is stupid.
Pedaling a 20 lb bike up hill takes less effort and physical exertion than a 28 lb bike. When going on a long distance ride this is the difference between burning out earlier or later in the day.
Pedaling a 20 lb bike up hill takes less effort and physical exertion than a 28 lb bike. When going on a long distance ride this is the difference between burning out earlier or later in the day.
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06-28-21, 09:53 AM
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Originally Posted by prj71
That video is stupid.
Pedaling a 20 lb bike up hill takes less effort and physical exertion than a 28 lb bike. When going on a long distance ride this is the difference between burning out earlier or later in the day.
Pedaling a 20 lb bike up hill takes less effort and physical exertion than a 28 lb bike. When going on a long distance ride this is the difference between burning out earlier or later in the day.
It wouldn't be for me, it's just not a big enough difference in exertion to exhaust me much faster. I'm just going to take a little longer to cover the same distance with the heavier bike. Since I'm not racing, I really don't care about that.
And yes, this is actually something I've done. A lot. Ask me about my 90 mile ride on a Walmart Huffy beach cruiser.
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