Bike Weight

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Weighed my old steel race bike for the first time yesterday, and it came in at 9.4kg.

Is that still competitive in the modern era of carbon, alu and Ti?

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Randy Winkman said:

Get Karter said:

Weighed my old steel race bike for the first time yesterday, and it came in at 9.4kg.

Is that still competitive in the modern era of carbon, alu and Ti?

That's about the same as my old Chas Roberts time trial/triathlon bike (inc tri bars). That bike cost £1300 in 1992 and is about 2kg heavier than my new titanium Van Nicholas road bike.

Very nice.
So, how does the Van Nicholas feel in comparison?

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Parsnip said:

Get Karter said:

Weighed my old steel race bike for the first time yesterday, and it came in at 9.4kg.

Is that still competitive in the modern era of carbon, alu and Ti?

Short answer? No.


Long answer? No. UCI weight limit is 6.8kg - but many modern bikes will be under this - lots(most) pros will have weights added to their bikes to get it over the weight limit. Even low/mid range bikes will be lighter than your 9.4kg bike.

Basically, there is your excuse (not that one is ever needed) to go out and treat yourself to a new bike

Interesting stuff Parsnip.

Does 1kg on a bike hinder more than 1kg on the riders waistline?

A couple of water bottles full of SiS is going to add that sort of weight too. And I can't feel a difference when riding with full bottles versus empty ones.

Just want get an idea of how different a 1.5kg saving on a bike is going to feel???

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Parsnip said:

The difference between my 8.5kg Scott S50 and my 7kg TCR C0 is night and day - granted, not all of it is weight - the TCR frame is stiff as hell and pisses off like a scalded cat when you put the power down, the S50 just feels sluggish in comparison.

It is hard to say what difference weight makes, as it depends where it is on the bike etc.

Well that's partly why I was asking, because I also have my old steel 'hack'/winter bike, and it is 10.5kg.

My 9.4kg bike feels so much lighter and quicker (not mereley 1.1kg). On terrain including moderate climbing, I average approx 2mph faster on the lighter bike for the same effort.

So what I am trying to get at is....would another 1.1kg off my race frame give me a similar benefit.

As you say, I suspect it is more to do with other factors.

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Here's the old thing arriving early for the party - the finish of Pedal for Scotland 2010.

You'll note I upgraded to hood shifters (about 10 years ago)



What I am fancying is a titanium bike that looks like a steely...like this one:-

http://www.enigmabikes.com/esprit.html

Enigma Esprit.
I think its the horizontal top tube that I like. Don't like the slopey look at all. But I am an old git!