Does weight really matter?

I7 Extreme

So I need more grip on my kona manomano, I think the front end might be a bit too light compared with the back According to reviews. I think that may be true but for me the issues not with the climbing and doing wheelies but with grip going down the trail. Obviously tires and the preasure make alot of difference but does the rim width make much difference and what about the weight? I'm thinking about swapping my front mavic 223 rim for a mach 1 etrto (around 200g heavier) Would It be a good swap? I've got bomber exr's if that makes much difference and my bike weighs about 30.3 pounds

cooldad

You don't get grip by adding weight.

bluechair84

Probably better aiming to spend the money loosing weight, but you can address balance issues by changing the stem length. A longer stem will shift your weight over the front end which will change the handling - not for better or worse, but you might have a preference one way or the other. Rim width will change the tyre profile, which effects grip. But it's nit-picking. The choice in tyre will have a much bigger effect, and also the tyre width.

LeeJay

I've gone the other way when changing my wheels, from the standard bontrager wheels to magic ex721's. yeah I've noticed the weight added,but the bike feels a lot more stable and stiffer going downhill! Also charged from the standard tyres to HAns dampf, and am more in love with my bike now. Regardless of the weight, it feels so much better!

Jay76

bluechair84 wrote:

Probably better aiming to spend the money loosing weight, but you can address balance issues by changing the stem length. A longer stem will shift your weight over the front end which will change the handling - not for better or worse, but you might have a preference one way or the other. Rim width will change the tyre profile, which effects grip. But it's nit-picking. The choice in tyre will have a much bigger effect, and also the tyre width.

So true.. I was getting back ache after short ish rides of 2 hours or so plus I was a little apprehensive on the decents so I put my seat back as far as it will go on its rails and bought a longer stem due to feeling quite cramped (went from a 90mm no rise to a 110mm 6deg rise) and now no back ache, hills are a little easier and I am more confident downhill and when cornering. Less twitchy handling and the balance feels just right.

danlightbulb

As good a place as any to raise this, but given that 29er tyres are circa 20% heavier than 26ers, and with the wheels being heavier too, how does that contrast with wheel weight being the important bit, or the fact that 29ers are being used more for XC duties?

The Rookie

Because rolling resistance is anothe factor in speed round a course
Effects
1/Inertia (acceleration mostly, much smaller effect on braking)
2/ Weight (acceleration, cranking it uphills, no effect on braking for XC)
3/ Rolling resistance
4/ Aero which is greater than rolling resistance on an MTB on tarmac over somewhere between 15 and 20mph (lots of variables!), off road is unpredictable as different surfaces have a massive effect.