Bike Weight vs Body Weight ?? - Page 2

I see it pretty much as you. My only issue is when someone buys a light bike/component/thin condom thinking it actually makes a performance difference. When someone chooses to buy something lighter just because they like it or it flips their main bus on, that's great. Cycling is in part about passion, and we should feed that passion, whatever form it takes.

Now, I'm a tech geek, and I built my last bike (bike before my Look 595) as a weight weenie exercise, just to see how light I could make it, within my own imposed limits, and still be everyday rideable. That was fun, albeit expensive, but still fun, but it was still just an exercise, not a hunt for performance advantage.

This religiously imposed weight limit for cyclists--i.e. a cyclist should lose every microgram of fat on their bodies before buying a lighter bike than is approved by the experts--is really ridiculous and kind of pretentious.

I really don't get why so many cyclists are concerned with what someone else is riding, using, or wearing. As Confucius said, "There are 32 officially sanctioned ways to skin a cat."

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Why is riding a bike more efficient than walking or running?

When riding a bike you are not carrying your weight, you are merely propelling yourself and the bike forward. The weight of the bike is a small burden because you are not carrying it.

When walking or running your legs are carrying your weight as well as doing the propelling.

I have no facts or figures to back up the above, but if it is true then losing body weight will have much more effect when walking or running compared to riding a bike.

Agree with your analogy for riding a bike on flat ground. However, as soon as the road tilts up, you are "carrying" your bodyweight up the hill, just like a runner does. Heavy cyclists can do fine on the flats against leaner riders, but when the climbing starts, physics takes over.

Right. So, is it safe to assume that competitive runners/walkers obsess about the weight of their shoes?

So today I did an experiment. I hung a 45lb barbell weight in the middle of a bike frame (older Panasonic DX5000). Went for a ride with some moderate hills. Conclusion: Frame weight is HUGELY different than body weight. I seemed to have much greater difficulty going up several hills than when I weighed 40lbs more and was in worse shape. I usually average about 19.5mph on this loop, today was 14.9. When I was heavier and in worse shape around 16.

Maybe I should track my riding this loop numerous times with and without the weight and then put on 40lbs over the winter (shouldn't be too difficult :-) and then see how those hills are in the spring :-)

Well, I for one am completely sold. I look forward to reading your article in Bicycling magazine next to the ad for the superlight carbon frames. Interestingly, your result does lend credence to the legend that Mercx used to put his water bottles in his pockets on big climbs to lighten his bike.

Just to be sure, though, I think you need to do the ride again with the plate hanging around your neck this time to confirm that you can still do >16 mph for the circuit.

So what did I say to tweek you so?

It is interesting to think that when I weighed 40 lbs more I walked around, biked, climbed, and other stuff with that weight all the time yet the thought of wearing a 40lb pack on my back all day (or 40 lbs of weights round my waist...) seems excruciatingly tiring. I may borrow a weight belt tomorrow and see what the result on the loop is. I wonder what physiological difference there is in the weight as part of someone's body and the weight as a belt hanging on the outside.

'Twas merely sarcasm. Still, moving the weight between being attached to the bike or attached to your body (or in your pockets) should help quantify the huge difference you have discovered. Probably just riding up a particular hill a couple times in each mode would be sufficient.

If you want to buy a lighter bike, go buy one. It may not make you any faster but you'll get the 'feel good' factor from it.

In comparison with what you were riding back in the 70's, you'd be hard pressed to buy something that 'bad' now. If you get a mid range frame with an Ultegra groupset you've got yourself a bike that was unheard of 30 years ago...

From a personal sidepoint, I find that losing weight just doesn't help going uphills you tend to feel better too. Living out here not too far from Sacramento I can attest to the fact that 'fat' acts as a very good heat sink - not good on those 100+F days that we have lots off. I'd take 3lbs off me than the bike any day.

Now I'm thinkin...if the weight is on your body, and you are standing on the pedals, then the extra weight is transferred to forward motion through the pedals on flat ground.

If the weight is on the frame then it is static. If the weight is on the body and you are standing on the pedals then it is dynamic. If you are sitting in the saddle then body weight is static.

Riding uphill means you will be lifting more weight. Riding downhill means you will be getting most of the energy back minus wind resistance/frontal area and applying brakes for those annoying corners and slow drivers.

Ultimately it's the power to weight ratio. Increase power and decrease weight for maximum performance. Decreasing weight is easier than increasing power on a bicycle...one can be bought and the other is very hard! Frontal area and wind resistance may be more inportant in cycling than for gas-powered vehicles.

If your body can stand to lose 3 lbs give it a shot... it's a lot cheaper. Just be careful! When I was racing in college I managed to drop down to ~140 lbs when a normal weight for me would have been around 165-170. I was light and I was quick, but suffered from vertigo a lot because I was under weight and malnurished. People too often think that dropping body weight is the best way to go and for most it is... but there's also another extreme to that spectrum. What good is it to beat everyone to the top of a hill if you pass out once you get there?

So true jarodwinn,

The engine comprises the physical body and the driving force...the mind. The machine is secondary.

A good engine will power any machine. Weight is a distraction until the engine demands the absolute best from the machine.

Thanks to share this information.

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