Just been doing some simple maths

[Sam Kennedy]

Okay so I took the hypothetical situation of a racer who can output 300W and weighs 62kg and uses a 7.5kg bike.

His power to weight ratio would be 4.32 w/kg

Now in this hypothetical situation, he has 2 options, 1: spend £5000 and get a super light 5kg bike, or 2: spend some time in the gym/on the road and increase his power output by 25 watts.

For option 1, his power to weight ratio would become 4.48 w/kg, an increase of 0.16 w/kg
For option 2: his power to weight ratio would become 4.68 w/kg (this is with the 7.5kg bike, not the super light £5k one), an increase of 0.36 w/kg

In order to get the same benefit from buying a light bike, instead of increasing his power by 25 watts, he would need to buy a 2kg (4.5 lbs) bike, which would probably cost tens of thousands of pounds, and would handle horribly in a cross wind.

So the moral of the story is: You are much better off exercising and enjoying the countryside and fresh air, than going into debt to get a £5000 bike!

 

[zimzum42]

Yeah, but you might look cooler on the expensive bike, especially if it has a sexy wheelset!

 

[marzjennings]

What if you just buy the 5000 pound bike for cash? Look, no debt!

 

[MacB]

If I could output 300w then that would be about 2.5w/kg, as it is I reckon I'm probably generating more like 0.8w/kg.

Methinks there is no amount of bike spend that could make a significant dent in my w to kg ratio

 

[jay clock]

A massive pre-ride dump always improves my power to weight ratio no end..... On that basis I should have flown round the triathlon I did last week as I managed four not insignificant ones......

 

[PpPete]

If I could output 300w then that would be about 2.5w/kg, as it is I reckon I'm probably generating more like 0.8w/kg.

Methinks there is no amount of bike spend that could make a significant dent in my w to kg ratio

Going to delete "weight-weenies" from your favorites then? ?

 

[monkeypony]

Okay so I took the hypothetical situation of a racer who can output 300W and weighs 62kg and uses a 7.5kg bike.

His power to weight ratio would be 4.32 w/kg

Now in this hypothetical situation, he has 2 options, 1: spend £5000 and get a super light 5kg bike, or 2: spend some time in the gym/on the road and increase his power output by 25 watts.

For option 1, his power to weight ratio would become 4.48 w/kg, an increase of 0.16 w/kg
For option 2: his power to weight ratio would become 4.68 w/kg (this is with the 7.5kg bike, not the super light £5k one), an increase of 0.36 w/kg

In order to get the same benefit from buying a light bike, instead of increasing his power by 25 watts, he would need to buy a 2kg (4.5 lbs) bike, which would probably cost tens of thousands of pounds, and would handle horribly in a cross wind.

So the moral of the story is: You are much better off exercising and enjoying the countryside and fresh air, than going into debt to get a £5000 bike!

Or, you could do both and end up with a power to weight ratio of 4.85.

The 5kg bike wouldn't be legal of course...

You also didn't take into account the weight of the increased muscle mass required to generate the extra 25 watts....

 

[Sam Kennedy]

Or, you could do both and end up with a power to weight ratio of 4.85.

The 5kg bike wouldn't be legal of course...

You also didn't take into account the weight of the increased muscle mass required to generate the extra 25 watts....

Even with the increased muscle mass, the extra 25 watts will still be beneficial. Also you don't necessarily have to gain muscle mass to increase your strength.