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>Also, I raced road bikes in the late 80s. I am wondering how much these bikes weigh. Then light weight was what was sought after. The focus on reducing weight
by occz 3y ago
>Also, I raced road bikes in the late 80s. I am wondering how much these bikes weigh. Then light weight was what was sought after.
The focus on reducing weight has largely stopped in favour of optimizing for aerodynamics, which matters more in all instances except for climbing, essentially.
In fact, none of the bicycles in the world tour this year are at the weight limit specified by the UCI - they are all a bit above it for the sake of aerodynamics.
- OJFord 3y agoI imagine we're also at the point with these kinds of bikes where whatever marginal weight shaving you might achieve is lost in the noise of variation in rider weight? I'm just speculating really though, I ride a Dawes tourer that's older than I am.
- michaelt 3y agoAs I understand it, the major competitions all have a minimum allowable weight for the bike - 6.8 kilograms in UCI competitions - to avoid a costly arms race, or dangerously flimsy bikes. And yes, a recreational rider doing a serious distance will often carry 1.5kg of water, so saving 150g with special lightweight paint or whatever is lost in the noise.
- bluGill 3y agoMost recreational riders should lose 10kg or more according to their doctor. However they will instead pay thousands of $$$ to save 150g.
- tiltowait 3y ago> And yes, a recreational rider doing a serious distance will often carry 1.5kg of water, so saving 150g with special lightweight paint or whatever is lost in the noise. But a lighter bike is still a lighter bike. If everyone is carrying 1.5kg of water, then a 150g lighter bike still has as much of an advantage[1] as it always had. [1] Likely unmeasurable. Yes, there's some sarcasm in my comment, but I hear this type of reasoning all the time, e.g. "people say they want thin phones, then put a case on them anyway, so what's the point?" The point is a thin phone plus a case is still thinner than a thick phone plus a case. Similarly, a light bike plus 1.5kg of water is still lighter than a heavy bike plus 1.5kg of water.
- OJFord 3y agoBut it's deep in the noise, 150g is a tiny amount of difference in how much water you drank before you left that morning. It's like when people say they 'lost half a pound', no, you just went to the loo. Or you had one less coffee today. It's not significant.
- jrockway 3y agoI made my bike as light as possible because I had to carry it up several flights of stairs to my apartment. Being lighter makes that easier and applies less friction to deciding whether or not to go out for a ride. (I live on the 1st floor now. So less of an issue.)