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Am I too light for a steel bike?

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  • December 1, 2020 at 8:04 pm #31295
    SwissTony

    I am the lucky owner of a Fairlight Strael 2.0. I like it, but don’t quite love it. I was drawn to steel by the promise of a comfortable ride. I’ve had an old steel frame in the past, and loved the feel, but the Fairlight has always seemed a little bumpy, barely smoother than my alu racer. 

    That was until last week, when I loaded up with a heavy rucksack which I had to deliver to a friend. Suddenly the road buzz was gone, smooth as butter. Once I dropped the bag off, the buzz was back.

    Am I imagining this, or is this a thing? I’m hoping someone might be able to give an explanation.

    What I think is this… the tolerances in the frame (as all bikes) are calculated with the rider weight in mind. I’m relatively light (but not that light – 65kg), and the bag was probably 7-8kg. Being temporarily heavier meant the tension in the frame was just so.

    If that’s the case, presumably that’s true of all bikes, not just steel. Is there a solution other than putting on some weight?

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Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 18 total)
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  • December 6, 2020 at 10:51 pm #973931
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    TheBillder

    Is your mass being increased
    Is your mass being increased by your velocity because it’s approaching the speed of light, special relativity and all that stuff?

    December 6, 2020 at 7:24 pm #973929
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    Nikolai

    I’ve noticed that my steel

    I’ve noticed that my steel framed Condor only starts behaving like hallowed steel at speed on descents. It just seems to absorb bumps then spring back as if the whole frame is a suspension unit. This fits with what you say if we imagine the velocity increasing my mass. 

    December 6, 2020 at 12:29 am #973927
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    wycombewheeler

    i weigh 80kg, I run 25s at

    i weigh 80kg, I run 25s at 100psi, I would expect at 46kg 25s should be ok at 70psi or lower with no risk of pinch flats . I don’t wonder that you feel every bump.

    December 5, 2020 at 9:01 pm #973925
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    Simon E

    IME manufacturers’

    IME manufacturers’ recommendations err on the side of caution (too much rather than too little pressure). I’d suggest that 100 psi is far too high for your weight.

    I have tried different pressures over the years and my starting point now for 25mm tyres is to put rider weight (kg) in the back and 5 psi less in the front.

    Start with 50 front and 55 rear for 25mm, 5 to 10 psi more for 23mm.

    The only time I had a snakebite puncture was last year, when I hit a sharp stone while braking on a steep descent on a back lane. The front tyre was a bit softer than usual, probably about 40 psi, and I was putting considerably more weight on the front tyre than normal. I’m confident that it wouldn’t have punctured if the pressure had been what I usually use (~55 psi).

    December 5, 2020 at 7:26 pm #973923
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    Anonymous

    Is it possible to get
    Is it possible to get punctures dye to low tyre pressure when you weigh 46kg? I weigh 64kg, inflate to 90psi on 25mm tyres and have never had a pinch flat. I thought michelin recommended about 80psi for your weight from what I remembered on their pro 4 packets

    December 5, 2020 at 7:23 pm #973921
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    Mr Pennington

    I concur with Welsh Boy. And

    I concur with Welsh Boy. And pressure way to low will cause pinch flats. If your hands feel the buzz get thicker padded gloves.

    December 5, 2020 at 6:49 pm #973919
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    Nick T

    Comfort is relative, I don’t

    Comfort is subjective, I don’t find soft, vague feeling tyres more comfortable personally. At 70kg I keep my 23mm pumped up to 110-120

    December 5, 2020 at 6:28 pm #973917
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    Spokesperson

    Have I been doing it wrong

    Have I been doing it wrong all along?

    I weigh 46kg… sorry eek 46.5kg after lockdown… and all my bikes are steel frame. My tyres are 700×23 or x25 and I normally pump them up to 100 or 110 psi. And I feel every bump and pothole, no matter what I carry in my backpack. But I worry about reducing the pressure in my tyres in case of p%$£@res. I don’t like bikes with shock absorbers, as they just absorb energy. I don’t like soggy saddles or handlebars. And don’t get envious everybody, but it’s quite hard for me to put on weight!!

    Is there a sweet spot? Technical solutions please. 

    December 5, 2020 at 5:12 pm #973915
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    Welsh boy

    I couldn’t agree less, those

    I couldn’t agree less, those pressures are way too low, just drop what you are currently riding by about 5psi, you can always drop it a bit more if you want 

    December 5, 2020 at 11:44 am #973913
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    Simon E

    SwissTony wrote:

    SwissTony wrote:
    I’m running 26mm tyres at 85-90psi. Will let some air out and see how it goes, thanks.
    Them’s hard tyres.

    Try 60 front & 65 rear and tweak either way in 5 psi increments.

    Then when they need replacing fit some 28s. 🙂

    December 5, 2020 at 8:58 am #973911
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    Jez Ash

    Well you see, riding a steel
    Well you see, riding a steel bicycle is very much like making love to etc and so on

    December 4, 2020 at 10:56 am #973909
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    Karbon Kev

    What a funny thing to ask.

    What a funny thing to ask. Seroiusly, no you’re not too light for a steel bike imoi. They’re not that heavy.

    December 4, 2020 at 6:26 am #973907
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    SwissTony

    I’m running 26mm tyres at 85
    I’m running 26mm tyres at 85-90psi. Will let some air out and see how it goes, thanks.

    December 4, 2020 at 6:24 am #973905
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    SwissTony

    You’re right, this makes much
    You’re right, this makes much more sense

    December 4, 2020 at 4:48 am #973903
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    VeloUSA

    What size tires and how much

    What size tires and how much PSI F/R do you normally spin on? Your “buzz” could be from too much PSI. Your tires become stiffer and less supple making your ride less compliant. I’m 140lbs/63.5kg. One of my rides is a Cinelli steel frame…zero buzz on 28mm inflated to 80/85 psi.

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