Component weight Road bikes

[Allrounder]

Good day Hubland

 

I need some info from the oracles that is in the know. 

 

What components are the heaviest on a bike? 

 

Or what is the biggest weight saving thing that can be replaced? 

 

In my case, I know the biggest weight saving will be a new bike, but please entertain me. 

 

My current setup, Schwinn Fastback 2005/2006 alu frame, 2x8 sora at the back and campy compact crank, hollow bb, and alu handelbars, seatpost etc, and a carbon fork.

 

grand total of 10,9kg. 

 

I looked at a carbon bike the other day, but the price once of, just won't be possible. 

 

I know it is more expensive to buy the parts individually. 

 

[bikebloke]

easy - its you ......

 

the easiest and cheapest part to make lighter and more efficient is you

[Dexter-morgan]

My opinion, wheels, cranks, but do not forget every small bit helps, Good quality tyres also makes a difference.

[Cat2forLife]

Yeah, like you mentioned, a carbon frame would be a good start, but second best would be a nice light set of wheels. That'll make the biggest difference. Groupset will also shave a lot of weight off, but there is no point in buying a groupset that cost more than the bike to save a couple of grams.

[Jurgens Smit]

Wheels are the heaviest (after the frame)

Upgrading your groupset will be nice too

 

Check this link out for groupset weights:

https://thebikelane.com.au/2015/06/2015-road-groupset-weights/

[Eugene Brown]

easy - its you ......

 

the easiest and cheapest part to make lighter and more efficient is you

Not to mention the most rewarding as well

[shaper]

As most say and will say, best for weight saving is wheels... but with wheels, it depends on what you weigh as some have rider weight limits.

 

Then look at groupset

[Allrounder]

Wheels at this stage is the mavic aksium. Also a metal alloy. 

 

I must say I can loose a stone. 

[Cav']

Upgrading such an old bike is a little risky, because even if you do R6k worth of upgrades the value of the bike if you decide to sell one day won't increase much at all.

 

Thus selling the Schwinn and adding 6k to buy a "lighter" bike takes first prize.

[s14phoenix]

I have extensively looked at weights of every part of the bike. And using good tubes and good tyres could save you LOADS as a start. It is also rotational mass so makes a difference on acceleration also.

 

Honestly I will probably cost a pretty penny changing all the heavy stuff on that bike to drop weight. After the tyres and tubes I would save my cash and ride more to lose weight on thy self.

 

Groupset stuff is very expensive to swop and not a lot of weight to be saved.

Carbon frames and forks can save a bit more but also expensive.

Wheels can make a huge difference but could be pricey.

 

The other issue you have is that to change 1 component on your groupo being 8sp you goto almost change all of it.

[JA-Q001]

Ignoring your entire groupset and taking that you want to keep the frame, I always rank it the following order.

 

Wheels (rims, spokes, hubs)

Cranks

Cassette

Tyres/tubes

Stem/handlebar/seatpost

pedals

seat

Groupset (even individual parts)

Frame (If you want to go there)

 

If you want to lighten things up, check the classifieds for individual parts that are nice and light and do upgrades like this. Piece by piece, because if you are looking at buying everything new, then you can rather buy a new bike. 

 

Stems, seatposts and handlebars are easy to change and get for a bargain, just do some research, just because something is expensive, does not mean its light and same applies to the opposite.

[shaper]

Wheels at this stage is the mavic aksium. Also a metal alloy. 

 

I must say I can loose a stone. 

I recently picked up a set of mavic ksyrium for similar price as the askiums are going on the hub, they are considerably lighter.  Askiums I use to have as training wheels.  Keep an eye out !

[Allrounder]

I can afford to loose 2 stone. Which is more than the bike. 

 

But it is interesting to see all the wight saving possibilities to call it that. 

 

The follow-up question is for a more serious weekend warrior, that just want to ride far and fast, will 1kg make a difference? 

[thisismyotherbike]

Wheels at this stage is the mavic aksium. Also a metal alloy. 

 

I must say I can loose a stone. 

 

A stone is 6.35kg, right?  You may even save money while losing that kind of weight (yes healthy food is expensive, but booze isn't and that's usually the reason I'm too heavy), whereas shedding 6.35kg from your bike to get it to 4.55kg will cost in the region of R150k.  The Merida Scultura 9000 Ltd is supposed to weigh about 4.55kg and is claimed to be the world's lightest production bike, but that's not exactly a cheap upgrade.

 

Drop the bierboep, on your 10.9kg bike you'll still destroy the 120kg ooms on their S-Works bikes any day of the week

 

It's the way better value proposition and better for your physical/mental health too

[Veebee]

I can afford to loose 2 stone. Which is more than the bike. 

 

But it is interesting to see all the wight saving possibilities to call it that. 

 

The follow-up question is for a more serious weekend warrior, that just want to ride far and fast, will 1kg make a difference? 

 

you certainly won't feel the difference of a kg. But 5kg or more and you will.

Leave the bike alone and work on the body weight, then reward yourself with a nice new carbon bike after you lose the 2 stones.

[Dexter-morgan]

I can afford to loose 2 stone. Which is more than the bike. 

 

But it is interesting to see all the wight saving possibilities to call it that. 

 

The follow-up question is for a more serious weekend warrior, that just want to ride far and fast, will 1kg make a difference? 

In my opinion - 1kg will not make a difference, unless you weigh 65kg or less.