What is the truth behind bike weight? Does it really help THAT much?

Originally Posted by gemship

Dam good riders, great team on a top bike. Ahh the prestige behind it, makes me so excited to take stock in my new r3sl. So what if it was the riders the bike is awesome. Just out of curiosity what do you ride?

Originally Posted by Felt_Rider

I find that my DA components shift no better than 105 if I let them get dirty so keep your new bike clean.

Yeah 105 looks about the same so I bet your right, I moving up from a shimano 2200 ft. deraileur,tiagra rear, and sora shifters to all ultegra sl

I think it is great that the average joe / josephine can buy the same bikes on the pro tours. I have passed some of those bikes on the way back to the parking lot, but it is still nice to see that they are available for purchase.

(Just kidding with you)

Originally Posted by gemship

whoa, harsh crowd on here. Seems like a few of you are quick to dicredit the benefits of a lighter bike. First of all it's hard to argue against the stats and science that justifies a nearly zero increase in speed given a substanstial wieght decrease, say 5 pounds give or take a couple. So I will agree there to a point. That being said I believe the benefits are a bit more than just a placebo effect. In fact it may be fair to look at the bigger picture. For most consumers when upgrading to lighter wieght there's also the upgrade of better groupo/components.I do believe the shifting does tend to get a bit more slicker at the high end for example. Not to mention the thought toward designing for added stiffness and areo.

If you really like bicycling enough to spend time on a forum or wear skin tight clothing then I believe it's perfectly okay to spend some dough on a nicer, racier ride. Perhaps it won't make you faster then again you may use less power to get up that same hill. Or you may find yourself having a easier time keeping up with your friends. Personally I'm looking forward to my new carbon Cervelo. It's going to be 7 pounds lighter than my Raliegh and an upgrade in everyway, that in it self may be the best part. Plus I think its awesome that one can actually buy the same bike that won Paris Rubaix. I suppose folks on here can be negative as far as freedom of speech goes but I can't help to think that your all just jealous because you just too cheap, eskewed by logical reasoning to treat yourself to that so called placebo effect. To all you that think wieght doesn't matter, good luck riding whatever it is you ride and more importantly maintaining that excitement riding brings you. Fear not for if remember you on the day you decide to step up you game with a lighter bike I won't be the type of poster to rub in a double standard.

Originally Posted by gemship

Absolutely, its what makes bicycling a bit more real vs. sportbike racing. Speaking of real I always thought of myself as the average Joe but I keep defending my right to commute 26 miles round trip on a bike in winter to the average Joe and I still don't own anything with spandax but that will change soon enough.

Originally Posted by gemship

Dam good riders, great team on a top bike. Ahh the prestige behind it, makes me so excited to take stock in my new r3sl. So what if it was the riders the bike is awesome. Just out of curiosity what do you ride?

Originally Posted by dhk2

Expect to see a speed increase of 0.2 mph on your computer, not 2-3 mph, and you won't be disappointed.

Originally Posted by Camilo

Hey, there's absolutely nothing wrong with buying any bicycle you can afford simply because (choose all that apply)
you want to
you think it looks good
you will have more fun riding it
you will go slightly faster and therefore might win or keep up easier on rec. rides
etc.

I repeat: absolutely nothing wrong. We all do the same to varying degrees. In fact, even though I'm slow and weak, I'm thinking at 55, I should buy my "dream bike" simply because I can and if I wait any longer, I might need a tricycle with a grocery basket on the front. Why not own a $5000 bike sometime in your life even if you only go 15 mph?

The only point I was making is that it is simply false when people claim their better bike and / or wheels made a 1-2 mph difference (or the extreme 3+ mph claim). Just won't happen, except due to "new bike" or "placebo" affect (which might indeed increase speed - but it's not because of the bike).

Hey have fun with your new bike. Yes, I'm jealous! It sounds NICE. I'll bet it will be a kick to ride.

Originally Posted by sogood

Damn! My computer only reads in 0.5 km/h steps. No wonder I am not seeing my speed improvements.

Originally Posted by sogood

Truth is, the same rider and team would likely to have won the same race on another bike.

What do I ride? Well, lets just say that I also have a top end bike that has been associated with multiple major race wins. But I recognize that it's just a play toy without the engine power and nothing to brag about.

Originally Posted by gemship

Dam good riders, great team on a top bike. Ahh the prestige behind it, makes me so excited to take stock in my new r3sl. So what if it was the riders the bike is awesome. Just out of curiosity what do you ride?

Originally Posted by gemship

Actually taking money from the sale of my Ninja sportbike to buy it.

Originally Posted by dhk2

sogood, it's obvious you need a better computer. The Garmin GPS unit would be the answer, except that it adds 150 grams and a lump of drag on the handlebars, likely offsetting the savings on that new wheelset that you're trying to measure

Originally Posted by gemship

When you say another bike winning the same could that be anything made of any material so long as the fit was the same as well as geometry. You seem pretty to know more than me but I'd bet that a bike with 531 heck 853 steel tubing would be fast but not have the edge to take the win given the new carbon bikes dominating this race.

Originally Posted by gemship

You seem pretty to know more than me but I'd bet that a bike with 531 heck 853 steel tubing would be fast but not have the edge to take the win given the new carbon bikes dominating this race.