Weight saving advice

othello
othello Posts: 578
edited March 2011 in Road buying advice
I got my first road bike about 18 months ago now, and while it has been great, I'm wondering about upgrading a few bits. I know the cheapest upgrade is for me to loose some weight (and I do still need to loose weight!!), but I'm a gadget freak at heart. The opportunity to buy some bike kit is calling to me :D

I'm looking for advice for the best weight savings for my ££. I'm expecting that to be wheels, then possibly seatpost, maybe chainset. But I don't really know and would value any advice the forum has.

My bike is a Cinelli Xperience with the following spec:

Full Campagnolo Veloce groupset
Campag Khamsin wheels
Continental 4000 tyes
Cinelli Vai stem, bars and seatpost
Sella Italia XV saddle
Blogging about junior road bikes http://junior-road-bikes.tumblr.com

Comments

  • To be honest, I would probably start gradually saving for a new "good weather bike" and keep this one for the Winter.

    But if you want to upgrade the parts on just this one, start wheels and then groupset (which are expensive to buy individual parts of).
    Summer - Dolan Tuono with Sram Force and Dura-Ace 7850 CL Carbon wheels
    Winter - old faithful Ribble winter bike
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  • dbb
    dbb Posts: 323
    if you really are a gadget freak, then you know that there is only one purchase that can satisfy this urge.

    Garmin 800. you get to play with the data before and after each ride.
    regards,
    dbb
  • othello
    othello Posts: 578
    dbb wrote:
    if you really are a gadget freak, then you know that there is only one purchase that can satisfy this urge.

    Garmin 800. you get to play with the data before and after each ride.

    I have a Garmin 705 already :D

    I load the data into Ascent on my Mac and play with the data to my hearts content!
    Blogging about junior road bikes http://junior-road-bikes.tumblr.com
  • lef
    lef Posts: 728
    Start with lowering revolving weight. Some cheaper options are tyres & inner tubes.

    Its often easy to save weight on skewers too. planet x do some reasonably priced lightweight skewers which I have. Was a little apprehensive about such lightweight skewers at first but no issues.
  • othello
    othello Posts: 578
    To be honest, I would probably start gradually saving for a new "good weather bike" and keep this one for the Winter.

    But if you want to upgrade the parts on just this one, start wheels and then groupset (which are expensive to buy individual parts of).

    You are right. However I bought a cheap second hand cross bike off ebay a few months ago as my winter/turbo bike. I think my other half would go mental if I bought yet another (I have a mountain bike too).

    So wheels first. Any suggestions for something light (and lighter than what I have) yet strong? I'm 6' 1"and about 15 stone.

    Then I guess it is groupset and maybe frame in the far future.

    Would a new seatpost or stem make a difference? I'm thinking ££ for not much weight saving.
    Blogging about junior road bikes http://junior-road-bikes.tumblr.com
  • othello
    othello Posts: 578
    lef wrote:
    Start with lowering revolving weight. Some cheaper options are tyres & inner tubes.

    Its often easy to save weight on skewers too. planet x do some reasonably priced lightweight skewers which I have. Was a little apprehensive about such lightweight skewers at first but no issues.

    I'm pretty happy with my Continental 4000's and they are lighter than what I had on before.

    I'll look at the skewers, thanks!
    Blogging about junior road bikes http://junior-road-bikes.tumblr.com
  • PeterBL
    PeterBL Posts: 209
    Skewers aren't really rotating weight. I'd look into some lighter wheels.
  • drays
    drays Posts: 119
    eat less pie
    2014 Planet X Pro Carbon
    2012 Boardman Hybrid Comp
    2010 Boardman Pro Hardtail
    c1994 Raleigh Outland MTB
  • I think GP4000s are reasonably light anyway so I'd start with wheels & inner tubes - I'm a similar size to you and found Mercury Halos to be light strong and great value. Prolite & Planet X get good reviews but I found Xeros a little too flexy for me.

    Secondly I would get a lighter carbon fork. I'm not sure what weight yours is but you can save a couple of hundred grams for an outlay of £70 - have a look on some ebay shops.

    The rest I'm not sure as you've not listed weights but you may save 100g on your saddle but only about 30g on stem (Planet X or Deda) & 50g on bars (Cinelli Neo) & seatpost realistically without spending megabucks.
    Ribble Gran Fondo
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    Prev: Avanti Corsa, Routens, MBK TT, homemade TT bike, Trek 990, Vitus 979 x 2, Peugeot Roubaix & er..Raleigh Arena!
  • othello
    othello Posts: 578
    drays wrote:
    eat less pie

    I'm working hard at that too :)
    Blogging about junior road bikes http://junior-road-bikes.tumblr.com
  • Chip \'oyler
    Chip \'oyler Posts: 2,323
    othello wrote:
    To be honest, I would probably start gradually saving for a new "good weather bike" and keep this one for the Winter.

    But if you want to upgrade the parts on just this one, start wheels and then groupset (which are expensive to buy individual parts of).

    You are right. However I bought a cheap second hand cross bike off ebay a few months ago as my winter/turbo bike. I think my other half would go mental if I bought yet another (I have a mountain bike too).

    So wheels first. Any suggestions for something light (and lighter than what I have) yet strong? I'm 6' 1"and about 15 stone.

    Then I guess it is groupset and maybe frame in the far future.

    Would a new seatpost or stem make a difference? I'm thinking ££ for not much weight saving.

    Wheels? Depends on your budget
    Expertly coached by http://www.vitessecyclecoaching.co.uk/

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  • othello wrote:
    I got my first road bike about 18 months ago now, and while it has been great, I'm wondering about upgrading a few bits. I know the cheapest upgrade is for me to loose some weight (and I do still need to loose weight!!), but I'm a gadget freak at heart. The opportunity to buy some bike kit is calling to me :D

    I'm looking for advice for the best weight savings for my ££. I'm expecting that to be wheels, then possibly seatpost, maybe chainset. But I don't really know and would value any advice the forum has.

    My bike is a Cinelli Xperience with the following spec:

    Full Campagnolo Veloce groupset
    Campag Khamsin wheels
    Continental 4000 tyes
    Cinelli Vai stem, bars and seatpost
    Sella Italia XV saddle

    DON'T EAT- Best way to save weight and money for a new bike
    Racing is life - everything else is just waiting
  • othello
    othello Posts: 578
    othello wrote:
    To be honest, I would probably start gradually saving for a new "good weather bike" and keep this one for the Winter.

    But if you want to upgrade the parts on just this one, start wheels and then groupset (which are expensive to buy individual parts of).

    You are right. However I bought a cheap second hand cross bike off ebay a few months ago as my winter/turbo bike. I think my other half would go mental if I bought yet another (I have a mountain bike too).

    So wheels first. Any suggestions for something light (and lighter than what I have) yet strong? I'm 6' 1"and about 15 stone.

    Then I guess it is groupset and maybe frame in the far future.

    Would a new seatpost or stem make a difference? I'm thinking ££ for not much weight saving.

    Wheels? Depends on your budget

    I'm thinking about £200-£250 max. But then I don't know what that gets me, and maybe that is an unrealistic figure?
    Blogging about junior road bikes http://junior-road-bikes.tumblr.com
  • Lillywhite
    Lillywhite Posts: 742
    othello wrote:
    drays wrote:
    eat less pie

    I'm working hard at that too :)

    And cut out any bread and junk food. :wink:
  • othello
    othello Posts: 578
    Lillywhite wrote:
    othello wrote:
    drays wrote:
    eat less pie

    I'm working hard at that too :)

    And cut out any bread and junk food. :wink:


    I don't eat junk food. But bread is a weakness!
    Blogging about junior road bikes http://junior-road-bikes.tumblr.com
  • Lillywhite
    Lillywhite Posts: 742
    othello wrote:
    But bread is a weakness!

    I agree but have found that by cutting it out you don't get that bloated feeling and I lost a stone from 12 to 11 last summer. Damn sight cheaper than splashing the cash on a lighter set of wheels!
  • EKIMIKE
    EKIMIKE Posts: 2,232
    Wheels are most certainly the way to go. Pro-lite Bracciano's are extremely good value at £200-250 and sub 1500g. Maybe look at Soul wheel's if you're happy buying from Singapore - they're well regarded by many. Around $380-$500 for a sub 1500g wheelset (may or may not incur customs fee's)

    If you want lots of shiny new bits and bobs then there are plenty around for great prices:

    Brakes and Skewers
    Chainring Bolts
    Inner Tubes
    Alloy Cassette Lockrings
    Alloy Jockey Wheels

    e.t.c. e.t.c.

    Don't get too hung up on it though. These are really small savings that you won't really notice in real world terms.
  • pianoman
    pianoman Posts: 706
    That bike you've got is far better than you're giving it credit for - and you'll be kicking yourself if you spend hundreds on new wheels only to find they're no quicker in a straight line because they're no more aero. And fitting a carbon handlebar or stem just to save a few grams of weight; COME ON, get real.

    Instead, push yourself as hard as possible and if you really do have that sort of money lying around, why not join a club, or even buy some coaching? You'll be amazed just how willing people are to help you. Then you'll be getting the TT bug before you know it.......and buying some clip-on aerobars :wink:
  • othello
    othello Posts: 578
    PianoMan wrote:
    That bike you've got is far better than you're giving it credit for - and you'll be kicking yourself if you spend hundreds on new wheels only to find they're no quicker in a straight line because they're no more aero. And fitting a carbon handlebar or stem just to save a few grams of weight; COME ON, get real.

    Instead, push yourself as hard as possible and if you really do have that sort of money lying around, why not join a club, or even buy some coaching? You'll be amazed just how willing people are to help you. Then you'll be getting the TT bug before you know it.......and buying some clip-on aerobars :wink:

    It is not that I have money to burn. If I did, I would be splashing it on a complete new bike! Rather that I enjoy the whole geeky process of shopping for kit and gradually upgrading. It is what I always used to do on my mountain bikes (before I had children!).

    As I said at the start, I love my bike. It is great and certainly is not rubbish.
    Blogging about junior road bikes http://junior-road-bikes.tumblr.com
  • tenor
    tenor Posts: 278
    Campag Neutron wheels.
    Seatpost
    Skewers
  • Squillinossett
    Squillinossett Posts: 1,678
    As said, wheels, paired with light tires will yield the best improvement from my experience. When I swapped from Campag Khamsins to EA90SL's (above your budget, but dont rule out 2nd hand) only "upgrade" i have made that I could tell the difference, my carbon bar/stem was pure bling, and only worth it if you want it for this reason and can justify the cost.

    You can get lighter alu seatposts than carbon (Tompson for exaple)