Bike weights.....

[Dogtrousers]

I think this has been posted here before: How much time does extra weight cost on Alpe d’Huez?
A guy rode up Alpe d'Huez on different weight bikes, including one with water-filled tyres, and one with soft tyres. He took different amounts of time. Unfortunately he also recorded different average power outputs too, which makes the results a bit hard to read.
The results: he went a bit slower on heavier bikes, but he also returned higher wattage on the light bike. Conclusion? A light bike makes you try harder

 

[huwsparky]

A light bike makes you try harder

Quite possibly correct. After spending a lot of money buying a bike that makes the completed weight 1 - 2% lower in sure one would find an extra watt or two somewhere!

GCN also done similar test, the only way to prove the theory fairly would be to fit a say 300w motor to bikes of different specs and let them go up a hill. Anything short of this wouldn't really be meaningful/accurate.

 

[winjim]

So my bike that is a quarter of my body weight is just as easy to get up hills as my bike that weighs half that, and I really should be concentrating on increasing that proportion by making myself dangerously underweight? I'm confused

 

[Puddles]

Bertha weighs lots.

She weighs less than she used to as Eldest now has panniers so spurious amount of child crap they pile onto my bike has mostly tranfered to his bike. If we are going on a picnic or crabbing type trip then do we include trailer in weight?

I also weigh lots

My basket which doubles has a handbag probably weighs loads too as I don't think I have seen the bottom of it nor it emptied since it arrived.... that also contains spurious random items....

 

[Ajax Bay]

So my bike that is a quarter of my body weight is just as easy to get up hills as my bike that weighs half that, and I really should be concentrating on increasing that proportion by making myself dangerously underweight? I'm confused

Don't think anyone above has suggested that a heavier bike is equally easy to get up the hills (though may depend on gearing). But your bike is not 1/4 of your body weight, in the context of bikes designed to 'get up hills', it's more likely 1/7 or less. So rather than concentrating on reducing the weight of a bike by 1kg, better to lose a kilo of body (or say 1/50 of whatever your mass is now, if greater ). Not that you personally need to, of course.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I don't know anyone who carries anything on their bike that doesn't need to be there anyway.

Hi, pleased to meet you
That was before I discovered BIG panniers, hehehehe ... and trailers!

 

[mjr]

But your bike is not 1/4 of your body weight, in the context of bikes designed to 'get up hills', it's more likely 1/7 or less.

Aren't all bikes designed to get up hills? My usual bike is 18kg and I usually weigh less than 72kg.

And like Pat, I've a rather bad habit of just leaving stuff in the 13litre saddlebag...

 

[clid61]

While we're on the subject of " bike weights" , I once had a tandem with a pair of dumb bells on it Suffice to say it didn't last !

 

[Ajax Bay]

This is the Nov 15 - Jan 16 version of this thread:
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/bike-weight.191695/

 

[winjim]

This is the Nov 15 - Jan 16 version of this thread:
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/bike-weight.191695/

This has been discussed before? Whodathunk?

 

[Ajax Bay]

And the 2014 version:
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/bike-weight.149976/
And a 2013 version (focussing more on body mass):
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/dont-believe-what-they-all-say-about-weight.129574/

 

[Dogtrousers]

And the 2014 version:
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/bike-weight.149976/
And a 2013 version (focussing more on body mass):
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/dont-believe-what-they-all-say-about-weight.129574/

And your point is what?

 

[Ajax Bay]

My point is that if this thread is worth reading for interest and information, then so are the others which covered similar ground but I thought had some GPWM.
I'd like to think that people search for information before starting up a new thread (gear ratios comes to mind), but I think you'd agree that we'd be disappointed.

 

[Dogtrousers]

My point is that if this thread is worth reading for interest and information, then so are the others which covered similar ground but I thought had some GPWM.
I'd like to think that people search for information before starting up a new thread (gear ratios comes to mind), but I think you'd agree that we'd be disappointed.

I would indeed agree.

IMO it's an interesting-ish subject, that gets chewed over now and again, sometimes throwing up new info, sometimes with new participants. And it's generally not particularly acrimonious so I personally am happy to go with the flow.

And just to show willing I've just weighed my (large frame) Spa Steel Audax - without tools, lights, lock, handlebar bag or (crucially) me. It was a smidge over 11kg.

It does have a thin coating of mud from yesterday's ride (that's a job for today)

 

[Ajax Bay]

@RegG asked (on a similar thread): ↑
"How are you guys weighing your bikes? Yes, I know scales come in handy but what sort are you using?"
Best answer:

I put various weights on my left palm, so say I put 8kg in total. Then lift my bike with my right palm, depending which arm goes up or down I know whether its lighter/heavier than 8kg or not. Adjust the weights until you get a balance.