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#1
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How much weight is worth saving?
I have been trying to come up with some ways of saving a bit of weight
on my hybrid. I have thought of several ways which ways should I try? (1) Seat post - currently a suspension model (stock) weights 530 grams. New / better rigid weights about 250 grams. Easy to change. (2) Saddle - Currently stock Avenir sport type. Weight 668 grams. New / better between 200 - 300 grams. Easy to change. (3) Fork - Currently Suntour suspension model (stock). Weight ?? - heavy. New / better steel / rigid weight - 1335 grams uncut. Harder to change must change headset and stem. What is your opinion? Ken -- Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride. ~John F. Kennedy |
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#2
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How much weight is worth saving?
Ken M wrote:
I have been trying to come up with some ways of saving a bit of weight on my hybrid. I have thought of several ways which ways should I try? (1) Seat post - currently a suspension model (stock) weights 530 grams. New / better rigid weights about 250 grams. Easy to change. (2) Saddle - Currently stock Avenir sport type. Weight 668 grams. New / better between 200 - 300 grams. Easy to change. (3) Fork - Currently Suntour suspension model (stock). Weight ?? - heavy. New / better steel / rigid weight - 1335 grams uncut. Harder to change must change headset and stem. What is your opinion? Keep the hybrid as a hybrid and buy a nice light road bike as a nice light road bike. Bill "two cents please" S. |
#4
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How much weight is worth saving?
Ken M wrote:
I have been trying to come up with some ways of saving a bit of weight on my hybrid. I have thought of several ways which ways should I try? (1) Seat post - currently a suspension model (stock) weights 530 grams. New / better rigid weights about 250 grams. Easy to change. (2) Saddle - Currently stock Avenir sport type. Weight 668 grams. New / better between 200 - 300 grams. Easy to change. (3) Fork - Currently Suntour suspension model (stock). Weight ?? - heavy. New / better steel / rigid weight - 1335 grams uncut. Harder to change must change headset and stem. What is your opinion? Ken Counting grams on a hybrid seems silly. If you were talking about a racing bike and your body fat was so low that you couldn't stand to lose any more, then counting grams would make sense. Even if your current fork weighed 3000 grams, you are looking at a total savings of about 2,313 grams which is about 5 pounds. You can easily lose that much weight in water on a long, hot ride. Spend your money on making your bike more comfortable, not lighter. You are more likely to lose more weight over a shorter period of time from the overall package (you and the bicycle) if the bicycle is slightly heavier and you have to work a bit harder. Oh yeah, don't forget that you will save a bit of money in the process as well. Wait until you are at a performance level that demands something besides a hybrid before you focus on issues of bicycle weight. You will spend a lot of money, gain little in weight savings, gain even less in overall performance, and even may lose some durability. -Buck |
#5
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How much weight is worth saving?
Chris Zacho "The Wheelman" wrote: I would change out the suspension seatpost for the lighter riged and go for a sprung Brooks saddle. You will still shave off around 200 grams yet keep some semblence of suspension. As an owner of a Brooks flyer, I'll disagree. The springs are mainly ornamental, and the saddle's not really more comfy than a leather covered plastic saddle of good design. Now, it does look awesome, and takes the edge off a few nastier bumps, but not enough to warrant the weight. Makes the bike feel nasty and top heavy when climbing as well. Good saddles for "tootlin'" though. :P I say, go for a rigid post and fork, but don't drop the bank on it. Nashbar's got their steel 700c fork on sale for $50 at the moment, so I'd grab one of those, a discount seatpost, and some (on sale) 32mm smooth tread tires to speed up that ride. Around $100 worth of parts isn't something to get upset about. I'd get those things for reasons other than weight: heavy saddles/posts feel nasty when climbing out of the saddle compared to weight on the frame or some place more central. Same goes for suspension forks on the road: they make the bike "feel" slower and less responsive, even though the weight isn't the hugest issue. Get whatever saddle's the comfiest for you, be it Brooks or Flite, that's the last place to even think about weight savings. Dropping five pounds for $100 is a steal, dropping 500g for $1000 ain't. :P |
#6
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How much weight is worth saving?
Bill Sornson wrote:
Ken M wrote: I have been trying to come up with some ways of saving a bit of weight on my hybrid. I have thought of several ways which ways should I try? (1) Seat post - currently a suspension model (stock) weights 530 grams. New / better rigid weights about 250 grams. Easy to change. (2) Saddle - Currently stock Avenir sport type. Weight 668 grams. New / better between 200 - 300 grams. Easy to change. (3) Fork - Currently Suntour suspension model (stock). Weight ?? - heavy. New / better steel / rigid weight - 1335 grams uncut. Harder to change must change headset and stem. What is your opinion? Keep the hybrid as a hybrid and buy a nice light road bike as a nice light road bike. Bill "two cents please" S. Yeah a nice light road bike is nice but I have a storage issue, I really only room to store ONE bike. And the last time I was on a road bike I still had issues with my back pains. Ken -- Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride. ~John F. Kennedy |
#7
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How much weight is worth saving?
Buck wrote:
Spend your money on making your bike more comfortable, not lighter. You are more likely to lose more weight over a shorter period of time from the overall package (you and the bicycle) if the bicycle is slightly heavier and you have to work a bit harder. Oh yeah, don't forget that you will save a bit of money in the process as well. The bike is plenty comfortable. I road it 1100+ miles on tour. Wait until you are at a performance level that demands something besides a hybrid before you focus on issues of bicycle weight. You will spend a lot of money, gain little in weight savings, gain even less in overall performance, and even may lose some durability. I found when I bought the lighter bike my fitness rides picked up in intensity, so I figure dropping more weight would let me pick up intensity again. Ken -- Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride. ~John F. Kennedy |
#8
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How much weight is worth saving?
Chris Zacho The Wheelman wrote:
Do you do any off-roading with your rig? If all you come up against is periodic rough pavement, I would dump the MTB forks fand grab a riged MTB or a touring fork. You may even be able to find one of these that will work with your present headset. No just on-road riding, around town, commuting, and fitness (training) rides. Ken -- Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride. ~John F. Kennedy |
#9
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How much weight is worth saving?
maxo wrote:
I say, go for a rigid post and fork, but don't drop the bank on it. Nashbar's got their steel 700c fork on sale for $50 at the moment, so I'd grab one of those, a discount seatpost, and some (on sale) 32mm smooth tread tires to speed up that ride. Around $100 worth of parts isn't something to get upset about. Yeah that nashbar fork was the one I was looking at, but I don't know anything about threadless headsets and stems, thats why I am a little hesitant about swapping the fork. I'd get those things for reasons other than weight: heavy saddles/posts feel nasty when climbing out of the saddle compared to weight on the frame or some place more central. Same goes for suspension forks on the road: they make the bike "feel" slower and less responsive, even though the weight isn't the hugest issue. True I don't like the way the forks feel while climbing "out of the saddle" feels spongy. Get whatever saddle's the comfiest for you, be it Brooks or Flite, that's the last place to even think about weight savings. Dropping five pounds for $100 is a steal, dropping 500g for $1000 ain't. :P Well the seatpost and saddle can be had for under $50 to $75 and if my calculations are correct I could save about 1&1/4 to 1&1/2 pounds. Ken -- Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride. ~John F. Kennedy |
#10
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How much weight is worth saving?
Ken M wrote:
Bill Sornson wrote: Ken M wrote: I have been trying to come up with some ways of saving a bit of weight on my hybrid. I have thought of several ways which ways should I try? (1) Seat post - currently a suspension model (stock) weights 530 grams. New / better rigid weights about 250 grams. Easy to change. (2) Saddle - Currently stock Avenir sport type. Weight 668 grams. New / better between 200 - 300 grams. Easy to change. (3) Fork - Currently Suntour suspension model (stock). Weight ?? - heavy. New / better steel / rigid weight - 1335 grams uncut. Harder to change must change headset and stem. What is your opinion? Keep the hybrid as a hybrid and buy a nice light road bike as a nice light road bike. Bill "two cents please" S. Yeah a nice light road bike is nice but I have a storage issue, I really only room to store ONE bike. And the last time I was on a road bike I still had issues with my back pains. Ah. (Also read your other replies.) Well, the changes you're considering aren't THAT expensive -- and WILL shave off quite a bit of weight -- so either go for it (you might need an LBS's help with the fork swap) or sell your current bike as is and buy a lighter, nicer "comfort bike" (hybrid or whatever). If you have back pain issues, how about KEEPING the sus seatpost but get a rigid fork and lighter saddle? Just a thought (depending on what issues you have). Strangely enough, I just put a new saddle on my bike, and my back is killing me (and I haven't even ridden it yet!). I must have bent over funny while removing/installing. SIGH... Bill "old age sucks raw donkey protuberances" S. |
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