Calling all weight weenies, read and cry.....all that money for minute gains....suckers!!

[jimmycool]

The real reason we like our bikes to be lighter is because of the effort required to lift it onto the bike carrier at the end of a tough race.

[Christie]

1. Weight is weight, no matter where. Bike, wheels, body - bicycles accelerate soooooo slowly, that inertia almost does not count. Anything else is marketing BS. ( To bring some science into it, but this my perhaps not be a good thing. )

 

2. Uphill, lighter is faster, for the same power. On a downhill, the opposite is true if all else is equal.

 

3. If I get my 11 kg dual to the top 10 or 20 seconds slower than a guy on a hardtail, I may catch up on the downhill, depending how rough it is. Kulharvey won the XC at the Olympics in a dual. Im pretty sure his bike was heavier than a lot of hardtails.

 

4. Heavier wheels use less energy on flat roads than light wheels - it is called the flywheel effect. The question should be "How much faster will these light wheels go on the hills, AND how much slower will they go on the flat parts.

Edited August 8, 2014 by Christie

[Hairy]

This is it! Because if Force equals mass X acceleration (Newton II), then your acceleration is equal to Force divided by mass. Greater mass therefore slower acceleration! I agree, for mtb faster acceleration is key!!

I am just fishing here.....But you certainly are not a "natural" blonde. ...far too smart

[Eugene Oppelt]

[JTG]

It's all in the mind. Whatever works for you.

[jcza]

1. Weight is weight, no matter where. Bike, wheels, body - bicycles accelerate soooooo slowly, that inertia almost does not count. Anything else is marketing BS. ( To bring some science into it, but this my perhaps not be a good thing. )

 

2. Uphill, lighter is faster, for the same power. On a downhill, the opposite is true if all else is equal.

 

3. If I get my 11 kg dual to the top 10 or 20 seconds slower than a guy on a hardtail, I may catch up on the downhill, depending how rough it is. Kulharvey won the XC at the Olympics in a dual. Im pretty sure his bike was heavier than a lot of hardtails.

 

4. Heavier wheels use less energy on flat roads than light wheels - it is called the flywheel effect. The question should be "How much faster will these light wheels go on the hills, AND how much slower will they go on the flat parts.

 

This man knows. Regarding point 4 it's all about rim profile (aero) and not about weight.

[blondeonabike]

I am just fishing here.....But you certainly are not a "natural" blonde. ...far too smart

Have you ever heard of an idiot savant? It means I know lots of complicated stuff, that is quite useless, yet 90% of the time I have no idea where my car keys are!! Edited August 9, 2014 by blondeonabike