Originally Posted by ypsetihw (Post 18758383)

I carry the exact same thing except only 1 tube and 2 levers, and it all fits neatly in a small square old makeup bag I recycled from my GF, which in turn fits neatly in my jersey pocket. If it is a long unsupported ride out of range of an LBS or my GF, I carry 2 tubes AND a backup minipump, and it STILL fits in my jersey pockets, with food! I'm no weight weenie, and my bike is not the lightest thing around, and neither am I. I'm just sayin, if you are sweating the grams, why a saddle bag?!

Originally Posted by mcours2006 (Post 18758149)

Cognitive dissonance? Spare me your amateur psycho jumble.:rolleyes:

Originally Posted by Carbonfiberboy (Post 18759455)

Ah, you're right: I forgot the spare RD cable. PITA to replace but more fun for the rest of the ride than jamming it with a stick. Also forgot the spare brake shoes we carry on the tandem. It had a bad habit of shedding them. I've used everything on that list several times. That's the reason it's on the list. I put it down to 20 years of doing/leading group rides in the mountains and other backcountry. The object is to be self-reliant and self-contained. I was never one to depend on the kindness of strangers.

You could easily carry your spare saddle in a Carradice. You just haven't looked around is all. I was on a ride with a fellow who broke his saddle rails. He tried to continue standing, but got too tired and had to bag it and wait for someone to some get him. I've also broken a stem in the middle of a ride. However I've never carried a spare saddle or stem. That's a little too much. The weight of the rest of my stuff is negligible. 5 seconds/1000' of climbing maybe? Hard to say - it seems to be too small an amount of weight change for the bike calculators to pick it up.

Originally Posted by rmfnla (Post 18759539)

That's psycho babble... ;)

Originally Posted by Seattle Forrest (Post 18753151)

Every ride I do starts with me carrying my bike down a flight of stairs and ends with me carrying it up those same stairs on my shoulder. Doesn't matter if I was training, racing, solo or with a group, I still have to pick the bike up and carry it up the stairs.

Originally Posted by Camilo (Post 18760167)

Riding a nice, light bike is great - I love it. But to be honest, it's also worth it for the lifting and carrying. I put mine in and out of my car every day and/or lift it up onto the roof, or onto the ceiling hooks in my garage. Lighter is better always, and especially when you're in your 60s and have shoulder and back issues.

Originally Posted by AlmostTrick (Post 18760643)

I can relate to what you are saying Stratocaster, and I'm even lighter than you. Last year I bought a cheap 23 pound FG bike to see if I liked the fixed thing. I did. So this year I bought a more expensive 725 Reynolds steel FG that's about 18 pounds. Both bikes are set up similarly. The lighter bike does feel less sturdy, especially when jumping train tracks or going downhill at 140 RPM crank speed.

Originally Posted by mcours2006 (Post 18759749)

You know [what] I mean.

Originally Posted by oldnslow2 (Post 18762506)

Last week i purchased a cyclocross bike which is 20#, I also have a 13# road bike. While the CX has 35mm tires the road has 25mm. It's night and day, while the CX feels like a branch, the road feels like a twig. The CX is a great bike but the road just accelerates quicker, climbs easier and the handling is superb. The CX feels solid and it awesome on descents.

Each is a tool for a slightly different job... which is why i purchased the CX bike.

Originally Posted by American Euchre (Post 18762592)

I'd be willing to bet that if you replaced your cx wheels with the road wheels, your performance might be darn near identical. Even swapping out the tires might be enough to equalize performance on road.

Originally Posted by oldnslow2 (Post 18762626)

True... but over the winter I purchased a second hand Scott CR1 full carbon with Sram Rival. It was 17# and I was rather unimpressed.. .so i sold it and got what i paid for it.

Its safe to assume that lighter bikes cost more. And that the parts are of a higher quality.

But all that matters is they you are happy with what you can afford.

I've been asked if I found a bike I enjoyed more than my current at half the price, what would i do. My answer is, i'd sell my current bike, buy the new bike and pocket the cash.

Originally Posted by American Euchre (Post 18762651)

That's all that matters: that you enjoy riding, and perhaps getting fit in the process.

What do you think of this article's claim? It asserts that a bike's handling gets sketchy at 15 lbs or less. I'm assuming you disagree?

Bike Weight - Smart Cycles - Norwalk, CT

Originally Posted by American Euchre (Post 18762651)

It asserts that a bike's handling gets sketchy at 15 lbs or less. I'm assuming you disagree?

Originally Posted by American Euchre (Post 18762651)

That's all that matters: that you enjoy riding, and perhaps getting fit in the process.

What do you think of this article's claim? It asserts that a bike's handling gets sketchy at 15 lbs or less. I'm assuming you disagree?

Bike Weight - Smart Cycles - Norwalk, CT

Originally Posted by rpenmanparker (Post 18762716)

That sketchy handling thing is total foolishness. And forget UCI. We are talking about 7-10 lb differences. The climbing gains are potentially huge. Not that I care about all that. I just like light bikes.

Originally Posted by alexaschwanden (Post 18775892)

my road bike is now 50lbs with all the touring gear on it, it rides alot better and makes you stronger with hill training.

Originally Posted by FullGas (Post 18753288)

lighter bikes, younger women, older whiskey...

Originally Posted by link0 (Post 18775939)

+1

It's always better.

Unless you like to use your bike to ram your enemies, there is zero advantage to a heavier bike. Even for training, a lighter bike doesn't make it easier, it just makes you faster.

Originally Posted by Stratocaster (Post 18777361)

My original post suggests heavier "feels" better to ME. Again, the advantage is that I like riding a bike that has a weightier feel without being a complete beast of a bike.

The training/racing aspect is interesting though, as I've heard/read that sprinters (runners) practice running down hill so that their muscles know what it feels like to move faster.
I imagine it's the same with cycling. So I would say in that context lighter is "better".