Effect of weight

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by hwttdz
Ok I've heard many times that bicycle weight really doesn't make that much of a difference. This does raise the interesting question though of how much of a difference does it make? For example I find two bikes, and I really love the way both of them ride. However, the one in the color I like is 2 pounds heavier at 19 compared to 17. If they were the same price and had the same components how much is a given amount of bike weight actually worth? Does a given 16 pound bike ride better than a given 19 pound bike?

For example the raleigh prestige and fuji team seem to be pretty comparable but the raleigh is heavier.

The differences are going to be minimal in the end, of course, but the idea centers around the simple notion that every extra gram or pound is more you've got to haul up a hill, or more you've got to push to a start when sprinting from a rest.

Does any of that matter in real terms to the bulk of us? Not really, but if you're like me, a certified bike enthusiast/geek, you want the very best for yourself -- there's a draw to taking the best technological advantage you can find and pushing it as far as it will go.

It's all in fun, in the end. Climbs are certainly more fun on a 16 lbs bike than on a 23 lbs bike.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by hwttdz
Does a given 16 pound bike ride better than a given 19 pound bike?

Weight within reasonable limits,has nothing to do with ride quality. A 3 pound difference could be a burden on a long climb,especially if the tires and wheels were boat anchors.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by boudreaux
Weight within reasonable limits,has nothing to do with ride quality. A 3 pound difference could be a burden on a long climb,especially if the tires and wheels were boat anchors.

G'day,

all the previous posters are spot on. A goodly part of whether weight matters is WHERE the weight is. Saving grams on pedals, tyres & wheels, (rotating mass), gives you twice the benefit as saving weight on static mass (ie Frame & Fork)......of course if YOU weigh 300lbs..........theres not much point in worry about saving 100 gms here or there!,

cheers,

Hitchy

Should there be reason to be wary of things that weigh significantly less or significantly more without apparent reason? The fuji team is about two pounds lighter than the raleigh prestige. They both have aluminum frames, which are probally pretty similar when all is said and done. They both are nearly full ultegra, not sure about this years model but in any case they're comparable. To me this raises a red flag and asks what's the difference? What has been pegged onto one to make it heavier, or what magic mass free components have been put on the other?

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by hwttdz
Should there be reason to be wary of things that weigh significantly less or significantly more without apparent reason? The fuji team is about two pounds lighter than the raleigh prestige. They both have aluminum frames, which are probally pretty similar when all is said and done. They both are nearly full ultegra, not sure about this years model but in any case they're comparable. To me this raises a red flag and asks what's the difference? What has been pegged onto one to make it heavier, or what magic mass free components have been put on the other?

Don't assume the frames are equal. Weight adds up in samll amounts from everything from tires, tubes,rims,seatpost stem, saddle...............

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by boudreaux
Don't assume the frames are equal. Weight adds up in samll amounts from everything from tires, tubes,rims,seatpost stem, saddle...............

Do remember that some mags and catalogues don´t include things like pedals , bottle carriers in the quoted weight - can make a big difference so CHECK .😕

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by boudreaux
Don't assume the frames are equal. Weight adds up in samll amounts from everything from tires, tubes,rims,seatpost stem, saddle...............

Exactly. This is why folks who make a minor hobby (or major hobby) out of keeping their bikes as light as possible track the small weight differences between even the smallest parts on their rides -- a 135g stem versus a 150g one; a 210g handlebar versus a 225g one.

Lightweight pedals... feathery saddles... if you really want to make a comprehensive project out of it, you can select components that add up to significant savings. Of course, because it holds a premium as far as marketing is concerned, the lighter the stuff, the more it tends to cost. For most of us, leaning towards lightweight options is always nice when all else is equal -- more typically, though, it's just one more fun thing to consider and not recessarily the decisive factor. Durability, price, aesthetics, and effect on ride quality should influence your parts selections as well.

Central command for the light-bike culture is Weight Weenies; these guys compile a considerable database of accurate component weights. It's fun, at least.

I just wanted to interject that, I have a Raleigh Prestige and I wouldn't trade that baby for a Specialized SWorks and a Hershey bar. The extra weight is in places where it just isn't felt. the Mavic Elites that came stock are awesome and the components are so well matched for racing. I would rather lose two more pounds off ME than the bike. Besides, if you put Lance on one of ours and one of his super trick bikes, the finish would come just as fast. It's not the bike, it's the engine.