bike weight is the sum of parts?
09-15-10, 03:46 PM
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bike weight is the sum of parts?
picked up sons cannondale caad9 r5 the other day. man is that light. i suppose the light weight is a function of many light parts? perhaps not so much the frame. my rigid mtn bike has an alum frame. my fork is steel. caad has carbon. caad seat is the size of a nail clipper. my seat is off a tractor. his wheels/tires are rubber bands. mine are off a 4wheeler. its a 08 model but has rh-550 wheels? that was not stock was it?
09-15-10, 04:18 PM
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The frame and fork are the big items, but all the little stuff does indeed add up. I just saved 110g by switching from one aluminum seatpost to another. Couldn't believe it until I weighed them. That's 1/4 pound right there. Other places where it is easy to save 1/4 pound each component are pedals, saddles, bars, brakes, derailleurs, shifters. Wheels and tires can easily save 1/2 lb. to 1.5 lbs.
09-15-10, 04:39 PM
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09-18-10, 12:27 PM
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comparing apples and oranges. If you were comparing two road bikes, weights would be closer.
09-19-10, 09:04 AM
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Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
Aluminum does not necessarily equal aluminum. People joke that Cannondale's aluminum frames are as thin-walled as soda cans. It's not really true, but they're definitely thinner than most common, cheaper aluminum frames.
But, yes, beyond that, all the little weight savings add up. In car racing, they say that it's easier to shave 1 pound from a hundred places on the car than it is to cut 100 pounds from one spot.
Same for bikes. The guys who go out of their way to build as light as possible look for a lighter stem, saddle, seatpost, fork, crankset, crankset bearings, cassette,... shoot, even the little bolts that hold parts to the frame are fair game for weight savings.
But, yes, beyond that, all the little weight savings add up. In car racing, they say that it's easier to shave 1 pound from a hundred places on the car than it is to cut 100 pounds from one spot.
Same for bikes. The guys who go out of their way to build as light as possible look for a lighter stem, saddle, seatpost, fork, crankset, crankset bearings, cassette,... shoot, even the little bolts that hold parts to the frame are fair game for weight savings.
09-19-10, 09:39 AM
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Usually the best place to shave weight in on the engine. Outside of top shelf racers, most I have seen are packing several pounds more than they need... 
Also with extreme light weigh components comes expense and durability issues.
Aaron
Also with extreme light weigh components comes expense and durability issues.
Aaron
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ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
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