Taking the light weight thing too far
12-23-09, 02:17 PM
#1
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Taking the light weight thing too far
Swung by the LBS today to say hi to some guys. While there one of the mechanics said, "Hey you gotta come back here and see Tom's* bike" Now, Tom* is a local rider who has recently gotten into racing and also become a bit obsessive about weight. At first it was getting some light wheels, but now he's gone full-on Weight Weenie. Nothing wrong with that. So, we go into the back and there is his Madone with some trick parts and wheels. Lew Racing wheels, AX Lightness parts, carbon fiber chainrings, the works. Had it down to 11 lbs and change. But here's the amazing part. He freaking drilled out his seat mast. Wonder how long until that thing snaps off and impales his leg. And to top it off, his AX Lightness carbon seat's rails were a bit to thick to fit in the Madone's seatmast's clamps. So he sanded them down until they fit.
*Riders name changed.
*Riders name changed.
12-23-09, 02:22 PM
#3
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Swung by the LBS today to say hi to some guys. While there one of the mechanics said, "Hey you gotta come back here and see Tom's* bike" Now, Tom* is a local rider who has recently gotten into racing and also become a bit obsessive about weight. At first it was getting some light wheels, but now he's gone full-on Weight Weenie. Nothing wrong with that. So, we go into the back and there is his Madone with some trick parts and wheels. Lew Racing wheels, AX Lightness parts, carbon fiber chainrings, the works. Had it down to 11 lbs and change. But here's the amazing part. He freaking drilled out his seat mast. Wonder how long until that thing snaps off and impales his leg. And to top it off, his AX Lightness carbon seat's rails were a bit to thick to fit in the Madone's seatmast's clamps. So he sanded them down until they fit.
*Riders name changed.
*Riders name changed.
so he's a what? a CAT5.5?
wow.
12-23-09, 02:23 PM
#4
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thats gonna hurt
12-23-09, 02:24 PM
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Remember, it's always about the bike. And the wheels. Most importantly the wheels. You cannot race unless you have 'race wheels.'
12-23-09, 02:24 PM
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How much does Tom weigh?
Be honest now...
Be honest now...
12-23-09, 02:27 PM
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The point of extreme "weight weenie-ism" is to be able to brag about simple things (things that are inconsequential).
12-23-09, 02:28 PM
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I'm waiting until all the "engineers", physics students, and quasi-wannabe-intellectuals, all come out of the woodwork to discuss stress fractures in carbon fiber seat-masts and create a debate about the most efficient drilling patterns in carbon fiber until I comment further...
12-23-09, 02:33 PM
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I'm waiting until all the "engineers", physics students, and quasi-wannabe-intellectuals, all come out of the woodwork to discuss stress fractures in carbon fiber seat-masts and create a debate about the most efficient drilling patterns in carbon fiber until I comment further...
That's still insane. And if for some reason not from a structural standpoint...it's still insane from an aesthetic standpoint.
12-23-09, 02:34 PM
#14
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+1 - if you're going to drill out carbon at least take the time to do some basic layout. geez.
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12-23-09, 02:42 PM
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I call it stupidity taken to far. 
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12-23-09, 02:50 PM
#19
Making a kilometer blurry
I'm waiting until all the "engineers", physics students, and quasi-wannabe-intellectuals, all come out of the woodwork to discuss stress fractures in carbon fiber seat-masts and create a debate about the most efficient drilling patterns in carbon fiber until I comment further...
The owner of the bike is an idiot.
12-23-09, 02:53 PM
#20
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The drilling pattern "efficiency" can not be known without knowing the layup patern in the mast.
Let's not forget aerodynamics either. There's a reason that seat mast isn't round. Drilling holes in it is ********. Think about the higher air velocity through there as it is diverted around the upper leg.
The owner of the bike is an idiot.
Let's not forget aerodynamics either. There's a reason that seat mast isn't round. Drilling holes in it is ********. Think about the higher air velocity through there as it is diverted around the upper leg.
The owner of the bike is an idiot.
Oh, and your last point is dead on.
12-23-09, 02:54 PM
#21
Making a kilometer blurry
12-23-09, 03:40 PM
#22
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Anyone been in it long enough to remember the TA / Campy "drillium" parts?
Some worthy or being called art, some not so much.
-Z
Some worthy or being called art, some not so much.
-Z
12-23-09, 03:52 PM
#25
Making a kilometer blurry
I remember that stuff. Bugged the hell out of me, though I joined the sport when drillium was already pretty old. Of course, it has merit.
