Lightening the weight of my bike?
- Thread starter umberto
- Start date
When I used to race I would put on a light set of tubes and tires. Reducing rotating mass is the greatest performance/$$ benefit.
The cogs make a difference too. The Ti cogs weigh half that of a cheap set.
The cogs make a difference too. The Ti cogs weigh half that of a cheap set.
Bike weight is only one factor in climbing. Apart from others such as training on hills, which has already been mentioned in this thread, one thing that is not super expensive & helps greatly in climbing is clipless pedals and shoes. Once you get the hang of 'spinning' them properly you will notice a significant improvement in climbing speed.NubBiker said:
First Post... Hi Everybody!
Weight is only one part of the "performance equation." I believe that the most important thing is bike fit. Getting your riding position right can really change how well you do. I built up a really light bike last year, it felt terrible to ride.. I bought a different $9 stem to change the position and bingo, I was riding much better.
I recently bought an older cannondale frameset (2002) to replace a frame/manitou combo. It feels like it tracks so much better that my speeds have definately gone up. So bike quality has an issue.
Just going to bed on time and getting your sleep will change your ride...
Like others have said, diet is important..
Just remember that at any non-pro race, there will be riders on $5000 bikes at the back and somebody duking it out near the front on a department store bike...
Weight is only one part of the "performance equation." I believe that the most important thing is bike fit. Getting your riding position right can really change how well you do. I built up a really light bike last year, it felt terrible to ride.. I bought a different $9 stem to change the position and bingo, I was riding much better.
I recently bought an older cannondale frameset (2002) to replace a frame/manitou combo. It feels like it tracks so much better that my speeds have definately gone up. So bike quality has an issue.
Just going to bed on time and getting your sleep will change your ride...
Like others have said, diet is important..
Just remember that at any non-pro race, there will be riders on $5000 bikes at the back and somebody duking it out near the front on a department store bike...
.....maybe not so much a department store bike, but yeah.
For me personally, the best time I did for my MTB riding, is commute on a single speed. With the sort of discipline I’ve developed(ing) having to do inclines/obsticals with only one gear, it helps heaps when I jump onto my Specialised Stumpjumer 27speed.
For me personally, the best time I did for my MTB riding, is commute on a single speed. With the sort of discipline I’ve developed(ing) having to do inclines/obsticals with only one gear, it helps heaps when I jump onto my Specialised Stumpjumer 27speed.
I gotta go with the diet and training, too.
BUT. When i got my bike it had been turned into a 35lbs+ porker that some dude bought his girl friend and turned it into a comfort bike. Fat dude saddle, riser stem, kick stand, the whole nine yards. A Few hundred dollars and a new lx/ xt drive train later, minus fat saddle, kickstand, and risers, it comes in at 27lbs. Lighter than my buddy's Tassajara.
Its doable. But make sure you can keep up with the bike first.
BUT. When i got my bike it had been turned into a 35lbs+ porker that some dude bought his girl friend and turned it into a comfort bike. Fat dude saddle, riser stem, kick stand, the whole nine yards. A Few hundred dollars and a new lx/ xt drive train later, minus fat saddle, kickstand, and risers, it comes in at 27lbs. Lighter than my buddy's Tassajara.
Its doable. But make sure you can keep up with the bike first.
