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Obsessing over weight

Old 01-09-16, 01:44 PM
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Originally Posted by RedVVing19
Ah the great "lose weight" vs "gain watts" debate, isnt it about watts/kg in that respect?
On paper - yes. In real life you have to throw "timing" into that as well if we're talking about racing.

Originally Posted by datlas
But...but...aero trumps weight, or so I have been told.
I have heard it's everything. I'm pretty sure it's why I have lost every single race I have ever entered.
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Old 01-09-16, 02:12 PM
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What I'm getting at in my post was simply to say that I doubt 4 ounces will make a notable difference. Of course if I ride a 40 lb. bike from A to B, then ride a 22 lbs. bike the same distance I'd likely be notably quicker.

I wasn't trying to be a smart @ss either, but I see people getting, in my opinion, "fixated" on minutiae. Sure, 4 oz. here and 6 oz. there, do add up. I get it. I just believe that the energy one expends worrying/fretting about small weights can be better used improving fitness or whatever.
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Old 01-09-16, 02:17 PM
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weight means **** if ur fat. its only important if you've hit your target body weight and then after that you can start getting weight weeny. But the 10 pounds in your mid section = 30lb carbon bike offset
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Old 01-09-16, 02:24 PM
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Originally Posted by tjk23
So if I decide to feed the addiction, does anyone know where to get a deal on a carbon rail SMP Dynamic?
No but if you want to really drop some weight, Signswise Black Glossy Full Carbon Saddle or TIOGA Spyder TwinTail Saddle (I have one like that). I say if it's light enough, I can HTFU
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Old 01-09-16, 02:25 PM
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I found it's a phase. You spend years obsessing about building a light bike, you finish it, and then it's relatively unimportant after that. If it ends up being a sweet bike you love riding, at least you've accomplished something.
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Old 01-09-16, 02:53 PM
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Originally Posted by Velocivixen
What I'm getting at in my post was simply to say that I doubt 4 ounces will make a notable difference. Of course if I ride a 40 lb. bike from A to B, then ride a 22 lbs. bike the same distance I'd likely be notably quicker.

I wasn't trying to be a smart @ss either, but I see people getting, in my opinion, "fixated" on minutiae. Sure, 4 oz. here and 6 oz. there, do add up. I get it. I just believe that the energy one expends worrying/fretting about small weights can be better used improving fitness or whatever.
+1. Turns out it's about riding bikes....says the guy who sells wheels.

Originally Posted by sbxx1985
I found it's a phase. You spend years obsessing about building a light bike, you finish it, and then it's relatively unimportant after that. If it ends up being a sweet bike you love riding, at least you've accomplished something.
This reminds of of more than one of our past conversations. Agreed. Riding good stuff is fun. Hand-wringing over gear gets old.
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Old 01-09-16, 03:37 PM
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Originally Posted by exime
weight means **** if ur fat. its only important if you've hit your target body weight and then after that you can start getting weight weeny. But the 10 pounds in your mid section = 30lb carbon bike offset
You just don't get it. Lighter bikes are more fun to ride. Forget about speed. No matter how much body weight you lose, you won't change the feel of riding the bike. Do what you want, but please quit telling people that it is about body weight.
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Old 01-09-16, 04:06 PM
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Originally Posted by RedVVing19
Ah the great "lose weight" vs "gain watts" debate, isnt it about watts/kg in that respect?
Absolutely. And the pro that weighs the same as you generates twice the watts. I weigh the same as Mario Cipollini.
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Old 01-09-16, 04:08 PM
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Originally Posted by rpenmanparker
You just don't get it. Lighter bikes are more fun to ride. Forget about speed. No matter how much body weight you lose, you won't change the feel of riding the bike. Do what you want, but please quit telling people that it is about body weight.
I totally agree.
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Old 01-09-16, 04:17 PM
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Originally Posted by tjk23
.... I'm having trouble finding one with carbon rails and they are $130 more to save 60 grams. And to top it off I don't really think it will make a difference in ride quality.
I feel like I've got a disease.
The first step to a cure is an admission of the problem. Intellectually, you know it doesn't make sense to spend that much more for a marginal weigh savings, but emotionally you still want to.

Make a decision about which will win out, decide and move on.
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Old 01-09-16, 04:25 PM
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Originally Posted by tjk23
So I know there is a whole other forum devoted to this, but I never really thought I had a problem. I recnetly changed saddles (just a couple days ago) for comfort and all I can think about is the weight difference, 105 grams. I know its nothing, but I find myself searching for a carbon railed version of the current saddle. The one I'm using, Selle SMP Dynamic, is a loaner so I'm going to have to purchase one. I'm having trouble finding one with carbon rails and they are $130 more to save 60 grams. And to top it off I don't really think it will make a difference in ride quality.
I feel like I've got a disease.
There are forums for weightweenies. If it is fun (it is for me), do it. Think of it as art.
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Old 01-09-16, 04:41 PM
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Originally Posted by Doge
There are forums for weightweenies. If it is fun (it is for me), do it. Think of it as art.
It's a total art. The fine line of durability and minimalism merge into this razor thin horizon.

The beauty of this liaison, is that there is no standard, so an aluminum cassette might be acceptable if your standard for longevity is one TT, but if you demand a stage race...........................it's a very cool pursuit.
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Old 01-09-16, 05:02 PM
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"total art" to me has no function. I see this as functional art. The stuff does matter, but not so much.

I was with a client yesterday and they have some very cool composite parts (the kind that go on fighters). They found a way to medal plate composite. I commented I wish I could have that done with all the carbon fibre stuff for cycling. Anyway later in the parking lot the chief engineer comes by, gets called over to see the bike stuff I happened to have in the trunk and back seat (from a bike fitting). He calls over the product manager over and VP sales. I showed them the Extralite stem (they have $50M in CNC machines) and they just passed it around each seeing how they did that. I told them about the one piece RECON cassettes and they want to see it next visit. So parts got me several C level guys chit chatting about cycling and cool parts, and me more business.
Anyway - parts matter, especially light ones.
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Old 01-09-16, 05:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Erzulis Boat
... so an aluminum cassette might be acceptable if your standard for longevity is one TT, but if you demand a stage race......
A RECON cassette (one piece alloy) will last a season or two or racing - at 120g (vs our alternative 280g) worth the money. They will go about 1.5-2 chain lifes.
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Old 01-09-16, 05:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Doge
"total art" to me has no function. I see this as functional art. The stuff does matter, but not so much.

I was with a client yesterday and they have some very cool composite parts (the kind that go on fighters). They found a way to medal plate composite. I commented I wish I could have that done with all the carbon fibre stuff for cycling. Anyway later in the parking lot the chief engineer comes by, gets called over to see the bike stuff I happened to have in the trunk and back seat (from a bike fitting). He calls over the product manager over and VP sales. I showed them the Extralite stem (they have $50M in CNC machines) and they just passed it around each seeing how they did that. I told them about the one piece RECON cassettes and they want to see it next visit. So parts got me several C level guys chit chatting about cycling and cool parts, and me more business.
Anyway - parts matter, especially light ones.
My company designs and manufactures high end stuff for military applications, and our biggest hurdle is the end users capability to install/use the part properly. We can go as light as we want, but have to make this concession that the end user doesn't screw it up by over tightening fasteners etc. Currently, that is our biggest design concern. Ironic.
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Old 01-09-16, 05:43 PM
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Not on weight topic but my old tandem partner loved the Brian Baylis paint jobs so much she bought a frame for the purpose of hanging it in her office. And I think that is where it is 30 years later.
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Old 01-09-16, 05:45 PM
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When I obsess over weight it's usually my own.
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Old 01-09-16, 05:55 PM
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Originally Posted by Stratocaster
I've been going through some "weight consciousness" lately. Bought a VERY light helmet to compensate for the slightly heavier pedals I bought. Light-ish bottle cage, small, lighter pump...
Eh, sure it all counts.

But I think I'm done with this "nickle & diming". After my tires wear out, I might go for some lighter wheels and tires.
Ha, ha. Everything you have lightened I don't even include in the bike weight. I just weigh bikes in showroom condition, no pedals, bottles, cages, computers or computer mounts.
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Old 01-10-16, 12:43 PM
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Don't wear a helmet and you'll save at least 200 grams.
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Old 01-11-16, 05:28 PM
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Get a Brooks.

It will be the most comfy saddle you've ever had and a few grams here or there will no longer matter...
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Old 01-11-16, 05:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Erzulis Boat
There is absolutely nothing wrong with shaving grams, it all adds up.

As to the replies of "lose body weight", I have a counter to that. Change that tired mantra to increase power. Anybody can lose weight, look at the drugged up runway models for instance. Gaining power is the secret. Sorry for the derail.
There is definitely something wrong with shaving grams if it not going to make a real world difference at all in how you ride and more importantly, cost you money that could maybe be better spent elsewhere. If money wasn't at least a small factor I doubt the OP or other people that drank the aero Kool-Aid would ever ask about weight. They would simply go out and buy the most expensive and lightest every couple of years.
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Old 01-11-16, 05:51 PM
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Originally Posted by rpenmanparker
Ha, ha. Everything you have lightened I don't even include in the bike weight. I just weigh bikes in showroom condition, no pedals, bottles, cages, computers or computer mounts.
This cracks me up. If you cannot ride it, it is not a bike, it is a collection of bike parts or a work in progress.

I realize this is the standard, but to me it is a ridiculous standard, done only to publish the lowest possible numbers, even if they don't really relate to bikes but only to PR.

When my scale arrives, I will weigh my bikes in ready-to-ride condition, including seat bags and bottle racks.

I realize that people often replace pedals, use different bottle racks, use different or no computers ... but shoot, why not weigh them without wheels? People often swap wheels. Saddles are one of the first things people change, so why weigh them? I could easily have a 14 lb. bike if I only weighed 14 pounds worth of parts.

When I finally do my Chinese exploding bike, I am hoping for 17-18 pounds---ready to roll down the road. That would be a pretty good build, for me. if I decide to splurge, maybe I could shave a couple pounds ... but weight still includes a seat bag and a multi-tool and tube and mini-pump.

I also hope to lose another several pounds of body weight in the next several months, so maybe the purists will not castigate me for building a light bike as a fat guy.

Bah ... I will still be fat, just less fat. I cannot win.
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Old 01-11-16, 06:36 PM
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Instead of buying that carbon seat, borrow a beach cruiser or a $99 fixie. Do your same normal ride 1 time, and you'll be surprised at how little difference the bike makes at all.
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Old 01-11-16, 06:43 PM
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Originally Posted by tjk23
So I know there is a whole other forum devoted to this, but I never really thought I had a problem. I recnetly changed saddles (just a couple days ago) for comfort and all I can think about is the weight difference, 105 grams. I know its nothing, but I find myself searching for a carbon railed version of the current saddle. The one I'm using, Selle SMP Dynamic, is a loaner so I'm going to have to purchase one. I'm having trouble finding one with carbon rails and they are $130 more to save 60 grams. And to top it off I don't really think it will make a difference in ride quality.
I feel like I've got a disease.
Obsessing over bike weight is fun waste of money that we are all guilty of, but it will not improve your performance.
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Old 01-11-16, 07:42 PM
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Originally Posted by FBinNY
The first step to a cure is an admission of the problem. Intellectually, you know it doesn't make sense to spend that much more for a marginal weigh savings, but emotionally you still want to.

Make a decision about which will win out, decide and move on.

Yes, but there is NOTHING that feels as good as satisfying an OCD obsession. Nothing.
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