djb

whenever this article and chart comes up, I personally find the pressures too low. A friend sent me this chart a few years ago and it made me relook at what pressures I run. That said, when I ride, I dont like the feeling of the tire moving around in a corner at the pressures he suggests---plus I feel his chart doesnt take into account crappy roads and/or taking a corner really fast, but this is my personal feeling from a fair amount of fast riding on two wheels around corners, so I tend to go with my gut.

plus as I mentioned, from one day to another I can add 10-15lbs to my bike at a moments notice, so I hesitate to have my tires at their lowest pressure for a naked bike., as I know Ill forget sometime.

OldsCOOL

Something rather heavy for those unexpected crosswind gusts.

Bandera

Please see BQ Vol. 12 #3 for a Correction: Tire Pressure Recommendation

"We've been experiencing the same issues with weight shift during braking, and now run our front tires at about 90% of the rears."

For a 90Lb rear that's 81LB front, quite a difference from 55LB which made no sense to me after >40 years of riding badly surfaced roads at pace.

-Bandera

djb

that fits exactly into my experience as well, motorcycling also, and why I was always distrustful of their chart.
As you say, their numbers made no real life sense. Someone looking only at numbers on paper and disregarding real life experience of cornering.

Bandera

Onto the subject of "What equipment for Light Riders"?

There used to be a real difference that doesn't really exist anymore w/ modern kit for sub-150 riders.
Case in point my '92 race bike build w/ thought for every component when I was barely 150Lbs on a bad day:

The pic is of the '92 Vitus's re-build to 10 speed spec in '13, but you'll get the point (maybe).

979 55cm Vitus frameset, not for Brutes
Topline 172.5 cranks came w/ a "max weight" of 160lbs
Turbo saddle w/ alloy rails, not for the Barge of Butt
American Classic seat post, see above
Back when 28Fr/32Rr Ambrosio Chrono/Vittoria CX tubulars, not for the Pave'
DA DT controls, STI too heavy
13-21 7 speed, who needs anything else?
19 lbs ready to race.

My teammate, who shall be referred to as "The Pixie From Hell" had a 49cm Vitus rigged out at barely 17lbs and dead stone reliable "back when".

And now?
Any good quality machine works for any size rider, pick a color.

-Bandera

wphamilton

Drats, that's the way I do it and no reason to try something different after what you just wrote ...

Bandera

People seem to be looking for an answer to a question that no one asked.
My 1st coach told us to inflate rear road tubulars tires to 100Lb, 90 front, and so it has been for >40 years w/ no drama.

-Bandera

Niloc

I don't think of Clyde as a nice PC term for "fat". I think of it as hey, you're just a big boned and large kinda guy. Probably never be an elite level cyclist, but hey those ideal bodied elite cyclists were never cut out to be linebackers etc. I'm not saying that anybody can't be a good cyclist it's just that somebody who's naturally 6'4" and 225lbs is not likely to become a pro cyclist and race the TdF or whatever. But if you're naturally 5'8" and 145 lbs and now you weigh 250+, I'm sorry, you're not a Clydesdale, you're just grossly overweight.

OP, sounds like you have cyclist's physique, you should be killing everybody on the hills like Pantani! (just don't do all the coke though). Basically a lot of high end lightweight racing stuff was made for you. You can get away with lightweight tubing, low count spoke patterns, etc. "Normal" stuff will be burly for you.

New Yorker

Duly noted. Thanks for pointing that out!

New Yorker

Thanks, I'm coming back from a sledding incident/head trauma/concussion in February, so finally clawing my way back to full strength.

But yeah, for many years I suspected I had some kind of advantage 'cause I would get up hills way faster than others even though I never did hill repeats (never raced; never wanted to). Turns out being 5' 6.5", 138 lbs with a 32.5" PBH really helps; I'm mostly leg. (On the other hand, I was mildly uncomfortable on stock frames nearly all my life. I need a 55-ish frame with a short 54-ish top tube, and finally got one. What a difference!)

wphamilton

Maybe so Old-timer but I'm not convinced that there aren't potentially differences in equipment that would be uniquely advantageous for the light-weight high-powered cyclists.

Bandera

There are: build a bike like Contador's if one has the physique/talent/budget and proceed.
Nice ride.

But it's not about the hardware and never has been.
Without the miles, the technique, the tactics and plain boring hard work "light/advanced" kit matters not at all.

-Bandera

djb

Speaking of wheels, again from a touring angle, my tricross's 32 spokers seem just as good as the 36h wheels on my first touring bike with the same load I rode with 25 yrs ago. I suspect these rims are stronger than the 1990 ones also but nonetheless, weighing in at the most of 140 must make things easier on these 32h wheels than someone who weighs x lbs more. There's just less weight on the wheels to begin with and I'm certainly not putting out the same torque as a guy with legs twice the size of mine.

wphamilton

I don't put much emphasis on light or expensive equipment, but that's not what I was talking about. I guess we'll just disagree about this.

Jakedatc

5'7 125... this is a constant source of discomfort on windy days!

roadandmountain

I never thought of BBW as a nice, PC term for fat women. I think of it as hey, you're just a big boned and large kinda gal.

OldsCOOL

I'm 5'9 175 and got tossed a bit today.