why light weight matters for bike? Human body can easily lose 10 lbs.?

Question

From Steel to carbon fiber for 10 lb reduction, we have to
pay $1000 more. But we as rider can easily lose 10 lbs.
I thought total weight (bike+rider) counts.

Answer 1

The old addage goes: "it ain't the bike, it's the rider"

The ability to perform well on a bike means being physically fit and having at least a moderate amount of competitve ability. The weight of the bike actually comes in pretty far down the equation. For most of us mortals, buying a high-zoot bike made from the latest un-obtain-ium may makes us feel better, and may actually make us a little bit faster, but in the end, if you haven't been riding and training, the bike ain't gonna help you.

Again, for most of us mortals, dropping ten pounds would _certainly_bring far more performance gains than losing a pound off the bike. However, as you reach your ideal fitness level, having a lightweight responsive machine becomes more and more of a factor.

Still, the difference in performance between a $2000 bike and a $3000 bike isn't all that much. That said, if you're talking about dropping _ten_ pounds on a bike, you talking about a whole lot more than just weight. The steel slug will be sluggish to respond, soak up lots of your energy input, and have slower, fatter tires (more rolling resistance means much more work). So the difference between a 30 pound bike and a 20 pound bike will be striking. Even a casual rider would feel the difference and be able to realize big performance gains _just_ from the new bike. Even still, any domestic professional on a walmart bike racing me on a Time VXR would still more than likely kick my *ss.

step 1 lose ten pounds
step 2 get a bike that you'll be able to ride long enough and comfortably enough to lose ten more.

Answer 2

I think that both are important (rider and bike weight).

For a riders that is, let's say, 160 lbs, a 32 lbs bike means it's 20% of their body weight, while for a rider that's 230 lbs, it would be 14%. Overall, for the lighter rider, the bike would be heavier.

The lighter the bike, the less weight you have to carry.

However, how important weight is depends on the type of riding you do. For road biking, weight is very important. But for a freeride or downhill bike, weight comes last, while strenght is more important.

There are several things about the $1,000 bucks difference for 10lbs... In weight, there are several items you can change to noticeable reduce weight while not spend one liver and half a lung.

The more important areas in the bike to reduce weight are rotational stuff.... and guess what? the wheels come into play.

Again, it depends on what type of riding or what you're looking for in a wheels, but some wheels go for 1Kg each, and some go to 300 grams or a bit more. Okay, this is talking mountain bike tires, road tires should be a lot lighter.

So, let's say you have some heavy duty tires that weight 850 grms each. If you change to some 600 grms tires, you loose 300 grms overall just for the tires, and the tires are important in weight. And, tires aren't as expensive as other components. Tires go from 20 to 60 bucks, usually. So, maybe in the example above, you just spent 100 bucks (say you found some 50 buck tires) to save 300 grams.... not a bad place to save weight, right?

Answer 3

I'm an avid cyclist and let me tell you. You get what you pay for. A lighter weight bike is better because you can climb hills with less effort. They also accelerate faster and it takes less effort to ride. Quality is what counts.

Many factors play a role in bicycle costs. Carbon fiber is expensive because it is expensive to produce. However, a carbon frame can be as stiff and light as aluminum, but ride with an almost shock absorbing feel that minimizes road shock- perfect for the longer distance riders. Steel is great and there are some high quality lightweight steel frames, but they aren't cheap either. The higher the quality components and frames, the more you'll spend also. Entry-level bikes have lower-quality components that may function like a higher- level components, but they require more maintenance and have a shorter life. Thanks to trickle down technology, many entry-level components have the quality of a high end component from 10 years ago.

Answer 4

There is not always a $1000 difference between carbon and steel. depending on the quality of materials and components.
Id say the difference is more like $300 to $500. for new bikes. Low weight is not the only advantage of carbon fiber. It is also very stiff, making it more efficient while retaining vibration dampening characteristics. Sometimes losing weight is not an option. Some riders cannot afford to loose any weight seeing as their body fat is as low as 4% or lower.

Answer 5

Competitive riders like those in the Tour de France already have very little body fat. They are already very fit and can't lose any more weight no matter how much they exercise. The only place left where they can cut weight to gain speed is the bike. That's why they ride those super-light cutting-edge carbon fiber bikes.

It doesn't matter for most recreational riders like myself though, so for the most part we stick with our cheap (and heavier) bikes. Those carbon fiber bikes are available for those recreational riders who are more hardcore and have more disposable income and want the bragging rights, I suppose.

Answer 6

True. Until you get to the point where you don't have any more weight to lose. Then it has to come from the bike.

For the average Joe Flabeetz, it doesn't matter. For an elite bike racer, it matters.

Answer 7

For the amount of riding I do, it's not worth the money for a carbon fiber frame. More important to me is lightweight wheels, tires, pedals, and shoes. To increase the speed at which they spin takes energy. The less they weigh, the less energy needed to increase speed. Try this - go for a ride with your normal apparel on and make note of how long you go before you get tired. Another day go for a ride with some heavy boots on and see how long it takes for you to get tired - I bet it's much shorter. Yet another day, add one lb somewhere on the frame and go for a ride with your normal apparel. I bet you don't notice very much difference. The casual rider will benefit much more from reducing centrifugal weight than reducing overall weight.

Answer 8

There are steel frames that weigh well under 10 lbs. Is a carbon fiber frame made of anti-matter?

Answer 9

commerce the whole sodas for nutrition ordinary ones or water shrink juice out of your life whenever you assume hungry and its no longer a mealtime have an important glass of water, starvation can many times be incorrect for thirst. yet do no longer starve your self provided that your physique will have faith there's a famine and might slow your metabolism way down. do no longer forget approximately you burn 1200 energy with the aid of in simple terms being alive so do no longer overdo it pass frequently, whether it incredibly is tapping your arms or bouncing your knees this would guard your metabolism at a speedy, yet consistent %. consume breakfast simply by certainty it gets your metabolism going for the day. for people who do no longer consume breakfast your extra plenty extra probable to snack and you will to come across it harder to burn off power quit eating the plain nutrition including burgers, chips etc and choose slightly extra. working example i lost a pound by utilising way of doing 50 sit down down-americaday for a week and that i wasn't even eating plan or in spite of best do something you experience would be relaxing corresponding to artwork tension workouts or something considering then which you ought to proceed them while your at college too desire this helps impressive luck!

Answer 10

you obviously do not ride,at least not seriously.You really think it is easier to lose ten pounds????.
"weight weenies" can tell the difference in a simple headset caps weight.the weight of the rider does not count,because your body has already adapted itself to carry ing the weight to begin with,Kind of like saying you can build huge muscles by only using your own bodyweight,it's not gonna happen