Lose weight from bike or rider, which has most effect?

ai_1

lofty102 wrote:

Hello,

Just a question that has raised its head at work over the past couple of days, which we can't answer!

Where is it more beneficial to lose 1kg from, the bike or the rider? Or is there no difference as the overall weight will be the same wherever the weight is lost from.

Obviously it's easier and much cheaper to lose a kilo from the rider, but if a 80kg rider lost 1kg would they notice a difference, and if the same 80kg person had an 8kg bike and and reduced the bikes weight to 7kg again would they notice it?

Thanks.

It depends what difference you're talking about. Are you talking performance difference or handling, health, feel....?
On the flat 1kg on either the bike or the rider will make virtually no performance difference unless it comes off the lower leg which seems pretty unlikely. Otherwise negligible acceleration difference and that's about it. However if you lose it off the bike it may feel a little different. 1kg off your body weight isn't going to be very noticeable, assuming that doesn't leave you with less muscle or dehydrated.
On climbs neither should be any more important than the other. You're still doing the same amount less work to get up the gradient. Again the feel and handling may be a little different if you lose it off the bike but it shouldn't matter for performance.

neeb

markos1963 wrote:

The very act of losing weight from the rider will give you a bigger gain than the lighter bike. Why, because the training needed to loose that weight means you're a more efficient rider who has worked harder to get there. If it was a question of just using the best, lightest components then why aren't pro riders 100kg?

This is true up to a point, but it gets more difficult when you are at or near your ideal athletic weight, when there's a fine line between losing those extra 2kg of fat and losing power. Then it is more a case of balancing your training with your eating.

ai_1

markos1963 wrote:

The very act of losing weight from the rider will give you a bigger gain than the lighter bike. Why, because the training needed to loose that weight means you're a more efficient rider who has worked harder to get there.

Depends how you lose the weight. In this case I think it's a completely hypothetical question but you don't simply train to lose weight. You presumably are training anyway and will be careful with your nutrition to lose weight. There's no reason to assume static weight equals less training and lower weight equals more training or better general physical condition.

markos1963 wrote:

If it was a question of just using the best, lightest components then why aren't pro riders 100kg?

Well lets see..... perhaps because they want maximum performance so they take the gains whereever they can get them. That means both the bike and the rider, not just one or the other.
Besides I'd love to know how you could save 40kg by using lighter components?
This argument just doesn't hold water.

w00dster

rayjay wrote:

w00dster wrote:

Ive spent a bit too much cash being a weight weenie. New stem, seat post and saddle, also new wheels.
The wheels arent on yet, but I can tell you that the hundred or so grams ive lost on the bike makes absolutely no difference what so ever. The only difference ive noticed is the hole in my bank account.

Hi can you tell me what parts have you bought? I would be interested to know.
cheers

Hi Rayjay,
I have a Trek Madone, I generally get a good discount on Trek and Bontrager gear so tend to stick with these products. My seat post is a Bontrager XXX and the stem is from the same range (XXX). I have a Selle Italia Carbon Saddle (can't recall the exact model).
In winter mode its just running Bontrager Race Lite wheels (stock wheels), but I do have the Ti Skewers in now. I have a set of Mavic Ksyrium Elites to go on, but thinking about them becoming my winter wheels and getting something better, not sure there will be too much of a noticeable improvement between my Race Lite's and the Mavic's. Wasn't overly impressed with the Mavics when they were on my Domane. The Bontrager wheel upgrades are ridiculously expensive for my budget though, £1600 is a bit rich for me so may go for Fulcrum Racing 1's.