weight saving

chilievans · 2015-04-04T00:05:36+01:00

I've done a few quick sums and worked out that I can drop my bike weight by around 300g by swapping saddle tubes and tyres and a further 200g by changing shifters and mechs to sram all for around £200. The question is will it be worth it? It's always nice to have a light bike but how much difference will it really make.?

This topic has 27 replies, 16 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 3 months ago by chilievans.

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April 4, 2015 at 12:05 am #23654

chilievans

I’ve done a few quick sums and worked out that I can drop my bike weight by around 300g by swapping saddle tubes and tyres and a further 200g by changing shifters and mechs to sram all for around £200.
The question is will it be worth it? It’s always nice to have a light bike but how much difference will it really make.?
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April 12, 2015 at 7:25 pm #840121
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chilievans

Well I couldn’t resist
Well I couldn’t resist anymore.
just ordered a new saddle

April 5, 2015 at 6:40 pm #840119
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edster99

what is the difference in
what is the difference in weight between shifters + brakes compared to integrated brakes and shifters I wonder? And the aero benefit of no downtube shifters to take into consideration of course. Suddenly I feel all nostalgic for a 105 indexed downtube shifter…

April 5, 2015 at 5:42 pm #840117
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crikey

Quote:Personally, I wouldn’t
Personally, I wouldn’t change components like shifters etc for the weight saving alone, but a better groupset which functions better will probably have an additional benefit of reducing overall weight of the package (albeit only sightly)

A case in point:

April 5, 2015 at 5:37 pm #840115
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700c

olic wrote:700c wrote:IMO
olic wrote:
700c wrote:
IMO it’s worth it to save weight (and improve quality) on wheels and tyres..

As for changing other components for weight alone, it’s best considered as part of the whole package (ie weight of rider + bike!)

I would ignore comments along the lines of ‘no point if you’re not a CAT 2/ semi pro / with 1% body fat’ or whatever – some people on here are just very against their fellow amateur enthusiasts spending money on equipment, and I do find these kind of comments a little presumptuous and patronising, but perhaps that’s just me..

Surely it’s worth pointing out to people that weight saving really is insignificant for most riders? If you’re really worried about marginal gains there’s usually a load of aero savings you can make first. Unless you’re regularly going up big 6%+ gradient climbs, the £/s for saving weight off a bike is usually v poor value.

I did point this out! albeit more tactfully than others did when talking about rider weight.

I don’t think upgrading components precludes useful improvements in body weight & fitness, or vice versa. I think both can have a beneficial effect.

Personally, I wouldn’t change components like shifters etc for the weight saving alone, but a better groupset which functions better will probably have an additional benefit of reducing overall weight of the package (albeit only sightly)

April 5, 2015 at 3:25 pm #840113
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mtbtomo

Lighter bikes just feel
Lighter bikes just feel better. My race bikes feel way more sprightly at 16lb ish than the “winter” bike at 22lb. Its not a big proportion of the overall weight but it is noticeable.

April 5, 2015 at 12:25 am #840111
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dastott

Over 90kgs is quite a lot to
Over 90kgs is quite a lot to be hauling up and down climbs (albeit quite short ones though?). As a reference, I am 185cms and 68kgs presently, love riding hills and am slowly lowering the weight of my bike. Told myself it isn’t really worth it until I can keep my body weight at 66-67kgs. The best performance gains will come from getting lean, no question. You will feel the benefits 24 hours a day too, not just on the bike. I notice quite a difference in everyday life just going from 70kgs to 68kgs. Good luck!

Obviously fixies are not a safe option riding gradients over 5%.

April 4, 2015 at 7:33 pm #840109
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chilievans

Tbh I haven’t got enough fat
Tbh I haven’t got enough fat on me to drop down to 10 stone and a fixie is not on the list atm.

April 4, 2015 at 7:12 pm #840107
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chilievans

When my pedals wear out I
When my pedals wear out I will definitely be changing to the 6’s. In fact I’m probably better off doing this with all the parts.
Cheers guys 😀

April 4, 2015 at 7:12 pm #840105
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chilievans

When my pedals wear out I
When my pedals wear out I will definitely be changing to the 6’s. In fact I’m probably better off doing this with all the parts.
Cheers guys 😀

April 4, 2015 at 7:01 pm #840103
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PonteD

If you’re truly desperate,
If you’re truly desperate, switch to a fixie, just think of all the weight saved by just having a single sprocket and chainring and dumping your front and rear derailleur.

April 4, 2015 at 6:41 pm #840101
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Mrmiik

Defo consider swapping to
Defo consider swapping to some decent summer tires. I recommend Schwalbe Ones. Other than that sounds like you are really facing the law of diminishing returns with your build as it is now.

You have xpreso 2s? I have xpresso 2s and 6s – the 6s are much much better. Switching up to better xpressos can save you 20-40g and really improve power transfer and comfort.

I’m sure you can drop under 13stone. I’m around 10.

April 4, 2015 at 6:13 pm #840099
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chilievans

crikey wrote:Not to labour
crikey wrote:
Not to labour the point, but it is a useful exercise to view any weight savings or gains in view of your all up weight of 90 + kg. By doing so, you can see the way that weight savings as sold to us by the bike industry have a small actual real world effect.
Physics applies to bicycles…

I see your point mate. Shedding some lard is the best way forward and any weight saving upgrades would be purely “just for the sake of it”.
The problem I now has is that I’m now currently torn between my head and heart as I do love spending cash on my bike.

April 4, 2015 at 5:31 pm #840097
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crikey

Not to labour the point, but
Not to labour the point, but it is a useful exercise to view any weight savings or gains in view of your all up weight of 90 + kg. By doing so, you can see the way that weight savings as sold to us by the bike industry have a small actual real world effect.
Physics applies to bicycles…

April 4, 2015 at 5:19 pm #840095
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chilievans

Thanks for the response
Thanks for the response guys
Let me answer a few questions
Bike spec is:
Merlin Evolution carbon frame, fork and seatpost
105 shifters, front and rear mech
Planet X brakes
SRAM force carbon chainset 50/34
Ultergra cassette 11/28
ulterga wheelset
Michelin Lithion 25mm tyres
ISM Adamo peloton saddle
Time Expresso 2 pedals
Garmin 500
8kg

I’m a regluar rider who has been biking for around 17 years. I started on MTB and around 1.5 years ago decided to try the road. The MTB has left the shed 4 times since LOL.
I ride on average 3 times a week and have had a few local KOM but am nowhere near a racer or have any aspirations to be.
Changing my rear cassette is not really an option as I live in S.Wales and do a lot of quality climbing. Hard to find a flat road in these parts.
I’m in the process of shifting 7lb which will bring me down too 13 stone. Don’t really want to go much lower TBH

April 4, 2015 at 5:05 pm #840093
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olic

700c wrote:IMO it’s worth it
700c wrote:
IMO it’s worth it to save weight (and improve quality) on wheels and tyres..

As for changing other components for weight alone, it’s best considered as part of the whole package (ie weight of rider + bike!)

I would ignore comments along the lines of ‘no point if you’re not a CAT 2/ semi pro / with 1% body fat’ or whatever – some people on here are just very against their fellow amateur enthusiasts spending money on equipment, and I do find these kind of comments a little presumptuous and patronising, but perhaps that’s just me..

Surely it’s worth pointing out to people that weight saving really is insignificant for most riders? If you’re really worried about marginal gains there’s usually a load of aero savings you can make first. Unless you’re regularly going up big 6%+ gradient climbs, the £/s for saving weight off a bike is usually v poor value.
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