Why do people spend so much to make bikes lighter?

Noodoo · April 2007

so, why do people spend so much money on lighter components?

Surely, riding a heavier bike will just make you fitter/stronger?

Am I missing the point?

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smithy1.0 · April 2007

A heavier bike won't make you fitter/stronger. You will push just as hard on a lighter bike as you will on the heavier one, only the lighter bike will go faster. Racers tend to be more weight concious than your average rider for this reason.

On a mission

ddoogie · April 2007

Make it faster to get up the hills and on the flats. Acceleration is improved as well.

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pete13 · April 2007

and it's cool having a bike that ways as much as a fart!

Andy · April 2007

Indeed it is [;)]

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acid · April 2007

light parts are often the parts that look the best and work the best so its not allways down to weight, but why ride a heavy bike when you can ride a light bike?

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Noodoo · April 2007

mostly because i'm a cheap ass...

I wondered how much of it was down to 'gotta have the latest stuff syndrome' really...

euan_333 · April 2007

I never used to see the point in super lightweight bikes. But when you build up experience, a lighter bike really makes the downs ( and up's) alot more enjoyable.

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iggs · April 2007

Its all to do with how a bike 'feels'

The lighter and stiffer the bike the faster it will feel, ride a light and stiff bike and you'll instantly notice the difference and understand what I'm talking about.

Light stiff bikes are actually a bit faster too and this is, obviously, important to racers.

Each to their own though

xc-andy · April 2007

i agree that decent kit is generally lighter , and that having a fart-weight bike is cool as F. but mostly the trend is to do with xc racing.
" yeah i trashed your arse by almost 2 minutes fella, ha ha ."
"yeah well you would , my bike is at least 43 grams heavier than yours !"

Noodoo · April 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by xcandy

i agree that decent kit is generally lighter , and that having a fart-weight bike is cool as F. but mostly the trend is to do with xc racing.
" yeah i trashed your arse by almost 2 minutes fella, ha ha ."
"yeah well you would , my bike is at least 43 grams heavier than yours !"
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yeah... i guess so...

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Red Lemon · April 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Noodoo
I wondered how much of it was down to 'gotta have the latest stuff syndrome' really...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Probably not that much. I'm sure I speak for a lot of riders when I say that if I was upgrading my bike with light, expensive bits, I'd look for 2006 stock to buy on the cheap, rather than waiting for 2007 stuff to come out. Certainly that's true in the case of non-moving parts like stems and bars.

acid · April 2007

when it doesn't really chang eyeah but the new xtr and crossmax are sweeeeeeeeet
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Red Lemon

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Noodoo
I wondered how much of it was down to 'gotta have the latest stuff syndrome' really...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Probably not that much. I'm sure I speak for a lot of riders when I say that if I was upgrading my bike with light, expensive bits, I'd look for 2006 stock to buy on the cheap, rather than waiting for 2007 stuff to come out. Certainly that's true in the case of non-moving parts like stems and bars.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

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Blundell · April 2007

I think that havin' lighter bikes makes you a better rider in the long run as the lighter bikes tend to make you push harder. I used to have a black trek 6500 or something like that from 2001 it weighed an absolute ton. The main aim was getting up well steep hills o a bike wieghing about 30 pounds. When I got my Klein I had a good fitness but an extra finesse developed in my riding on the lighter bike. Also a proper bonus was being able to get up well steep hills and seeing the lardy arse walkers gawpin'at ya as ya clean a hill they thought was imposs!

El Capitano · April 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Noodoo

so, why do people spend so much money on lighter components?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

1. Because I can.

2. Because a lighter bike can be ridden for longer, faster.

3. Because Ti is sexy.

[:D]

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Andy · May 2007

Carbon is sexier though...

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miggillicuddy · May 2007

I wouldn't mind mine being a bit lighter for ease of chucking it over fences/gates but other than that, as I don't race, I'm not too fussed about weight.

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saintadolf · May 2007

i dont see the point in buying really expensive parts to make a bike lighter
my mate spend 2 grand making his spec enduro lighter and faster
and i can still go faster on the flat with my œ500 stock kona blast(22)so its a big un and not that light

today's lesson: trees hurt dont ride into them

El Capitano · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by saintadolf

i dont see the point in buying really expensive parts to make a bike lighter
my mate spend 2 grand making his spec enduro lighter and faster
and i can still go faster on the flat with my œ500 stock kona blast(22)so its a big un and not that light
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

But how much slower would your friend be on a heavier bike?

I dread to think how much I've spendt lightening my XTC, but it's my choice and I really like how it handles now. [:D]

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dave_ginge_bristol · May 2007

As much as all this is true and I like having a light bike underneath me, how many riders out there pay as much attention to lightening themselves as well as their rides?

Dave

acid · May 2007

well i am only 9 3/4stone and can't really loose any weight heathly

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ahsatb · May 2007

I've just lost 8lb in bike weight in my upgrade to Spes Rockhopper Pro and its just so much more enjoyable to ride. You feel you can go longer and further. And thats after only 15 miles on it so far (awaiting faulty part to be mended).

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Bike now bought (Rockhopper Pro). Decent signature on its way!

ddoogie · May 2007

I can't afford to spend any more money making my bike lighter. I can save money and eat less though and lose weight that way! At 11st 5lbs I have lots to lose as well!

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dunnnooo · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dave_ginge_bristol

As much as all this is true and I like having a light bike underneath me, how many riders out there pay as much attention to lightening themselves as well as their rides?

Dave
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Me, but 9 1/2 stone at 5'10 is starting to get stupid. And on the subject of bikes, I used to be rather keen on getting it lighter, until I got it to where it was now, which at 23 lbs (ish) is.... just nice, actually. Light enought to ride for hours on end, but doesn't get squirelly on the way down.

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KeelKlein · May 2007

I think the key is to make the bike lighter over a period of time, as bits wear out, break or are broken you can then spend that little bit extra on a lighter part, or even just buying the model range up because you can (ok that's more bling than light). I think the only things that are original on my bike are the stem and seat post, both of which will be changed by the winter for Hope and USE parts respectively. This months purchase will be some Easton flats (I've had a few falls and the bars are about 2 years old don't want them breaking on me) and a Panaracer rear tyre for the summer months, kevlar bead of course!

ashleymp777 · May 2007

I'm going to be very interested to see how much difference changing my current wheelset (717's on Hope hubs) to the Mavic Crossmax SLR wheels in a couple of weeks is going to make on an already reasonably light bike.

I'll laugh (and cry possibly!) if it doesn't! [:D]

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breezer · May 2007

Save a lot more changing your tyres and tubes for lighter ones

2005 Azonic Propulsion
1998 DMR Trailstar
1992 Breezer Lightning Pro

ashleymp777 · May 2007

That was my plan Breezer! What do you have in mind? I'm not too keen on going tubeless just yet though!

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breezer · May 2007

I just swapped my 2.1" Kevlar Nevegal and 2.1" Kevlar Fire XC Pro (both quite light) for a pair of 2.3" Conti Speedkings and put in some lightweight (125gram ish) inner tubes and saved almost half a pound plus they will roll quicker for the summer but still have decent tread compared to some summer tyres

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2005 Azonic Propulsion
1998 DMR Trailstar
1992 Breezer Lightning Pro

paulf2007 · May 2007

you tart, dont you bunny hop gates and fences?<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by miggillicuddy

I wouldn't mind mine being a bit lighter for ease of chucking it over fences/gates but other than that, as I don't race, I'm not too fussed about weight.

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<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

ride_whenever · May 2007

I really like my ss, it weight about as much as a fart. My scott is very light considering the frame, but i want a proper am bike now, can't afford it atm, so i'll just loose weight instead.

The only issue is, i don't get lighter, i get heavier and thinner. This is annoying.

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Why do people spend so much to make bikes lighter?

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