Heavy Bikes

[Mike S]

So I went down to REI to blow my 2007 dividend check. There wasn't much else that I really needed there, so I blew the check on an Ultimate bike scale.

I came home, and of course, had to promptly weigh everything in the bike shop. What I found is that I own some heavy ass'd bikes!

Serotta CDA with OP/DA wheels: 19.0 lbs
Surly Cross Check with OP/DA wheels: 22.9 lbs
Bianchi Reparto Corse Cross bike w/ Mavic Helium : 22.0 lbs
Surly 1x1 : 27.2 lbs
Indy Fab Steel Delux: 26.1 lbs
Homeless bike: 28.9 lbs

Zipp 404 Wheels + Cassette/Tires: 4.50 lbs
Open Pro/Dura Ace + Cassette/Pro2 Race tires: 5.66 lbs
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Reflections:

I think I'm surprised that the 1x1 weighs so much...thought it would be lighter than the IF because it sure feels lighter. I'm a little disappointed that the Homeless bike doesn't weigh over 30 lbs, but hey, that's what it's got a cargo basket for right?

Before I panicked and ran out and bought a MeiVici, an Look 585, or similar wonder-bike, thankfully I did some other calculations:

My weight this morning: 190.2 lbs

Weight of Me + Serotta w/ OP/DA wheels: 209.2
Weight of Me + 15 lb wonder bike: 205 lbs

Percent savings in weight: ~ 2% of system; hardly a valid argument for a new bike. I'd be better off actually training by riding the bikes to get faster
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Interestingly, I did a similar calculation with Sarah's body/bike system. I think I can say that if she had a wonder-bike, her system would loose a full 7.4%! Clearly she needs a wonder bike, with carbon wheels of course.
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Clearly also I need some Ti bolts, a carbon crank, and a full ceramic bearings. Not because they'll make me fast, but because I want them.

[lonniemower]

nice... you will have to bring that thing over a weigh some of my bikes.....well... the few bikes i have now.. the ones that were'nt destroyed in my car wreck on sunday morning. im hoping for under 17 on the fetish, and over 35 on the cruiser!

[Mike S]

lonniemower said:

nice... you will have to bring that thing over a weigh some of my bikes.....well... the few bikes i have now.. the ones that were'nt destroyed in my car wreck on sunday morning. im hoping for under 17 on the fetish, and over 35 on the cruiser!

is the Fetish okay?

[lonniemower]

yeah, the fetish wasnt on the rack.... thank goodness! i would have cried.

[DaleP]

Weight of Me + Serotta w/ OP/DA wheels: 209.2
Weight of Me + 15 lb wonder bike: 205 lbs

Percent savings in weight: ~ 2% of system; hardly a valid argument for a new bike. I'd be better off actually training by riding the bikes to get faster

To shave 4.2# off with high end, light weight components - $4k to $6k.
To shave off 4.2# body weight - Priceless!!!

[aj1152]

One the one hand I think you're all nuts for taking the time to weigh and calculate and ponder this stuff. Complete waste of time. But on the other hand I'm kinda jealous that you know the weight of your bikes, tires, and even your rump to the tenth of a pound.

And don't be too broken up about your homeless bike not cracking the 30 pound mark. My homeless is 42 pounds empty and let me tell you: while it's your friend on the downhills, it's a beast to haul up anything greater than 1%...

Alan

[cooley]

I've actually pondered this quite a bit and plotted out weight savings vs money spent. In economics there is a term called Law of diminishing returns which this illustrates beautifully. There are several mathematical ways to model the amount of weight savings per money spent. Money being on the x-axis, weight on the y axis with some horizontal asymptote somewhere around y = 14. This creates an exponentially decreasing function with the weight approaching 14 a fraction at a time for every increase in amount x.

[aj1152]

And to folks that didn't major in math, what does that mean?...