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Date: 24 Jul 2007 11:34:49
From: bicycle_disciple
Subject: Front/Rear bike weight
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I have a 3.5 pound alu frame on my road bike. it came with budget parts, stems, handlebars etc. I recently discovered these parts weigh like boulders, so i got myself lightweight carbon stem and handlebars. I mean, LIGHTWEIGHT...really. I ride HED aero wheels during races, with the front wheel considerably lighter than the rear. Now im a little worried about the whole front and rear weight balance. Does anyone feel lightening the front portion of the bike considerably as opposed to rear will make a poor climber than before, although it sounds counter-intuitive since I'm lessening the total weight of the bike anyway? Yet I can conjure up an image of me dragging a lot of weight on my rear side up a climb in a situation like that. How about control, probably having a lighter front end can make it easier to bob the bike while climbing? Opinions are appreciated. -BD
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Date: 25 Jul 2007 12:03:32
From: Qui si parla Campagnolo
Subject: Re: Front/Rear bike weight
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bicycle_disciple wrote: > I have a 3.5 pound alu frame on my road bike. it came with budget > parts, stems, handlebars etc. I recently discovered these parts weigh > like boulders, so i got myself lightweight carbon stem and handlebars. > I mean, LIGHTWEIGHT...really. > > I ride HED aero wheels during races, with the front wheel considerably > lighter than the rear. > > Now im a little worried about the whole front and rear weight > balance. > > Does anyone feel lightening the front portion of the bike considerably > as opposed to rear will make a poor climber than before, although it > sounds counter-intuitive since I'm lessening the total weight of the > bike anyway? Yet I can conjure up an image of me dragging a lot of > weight on my rear side up a climb in a situation like that. > > How about control, probably having a lighter front end can make it > easier to bob the bike while climbing? > > Opinions are appreciated. > > -BD Weight bias of the bicycle pales in comparison of weight bias when you put a rider onto the bike. Whether the front wheel weighs 500 grams(light) or 1000 grams(way heavy), it is only about a pound on a 175-200 pound 'package'. Most front wheel differences are much less than that..don't worry-just ride.
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Date: 24 Jul 2007 21:09:22
From: Tim McNamara
Subject: Re: Front/Rear bike weight
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In article <1185302089.677077.157890@o61g2000hsh.googlegroups.com >, bicycle_disciple <1.crazyboy.only@gmail.com > wrote: > I have a 3.5 pound alu frame on my road bike. it came with budget > parts, stems, handlebars etc. I recently discovered these parts weigh > like boulders, so i got myself lightweight carbon stem and > handlebars. I mean, LIGHTWEIGHT...really. Check those babies for cracks before every ride. > I ride HED aero wheels during races, with the front wheel > considerably lighter than the rear. > > Now im a little worried about the whole front and rear weight > balance. > > Does anyone feel lightening the front portion of the bike > considerably as opposed to rear will make a poor climber than before, Yes, if you can take about 20 pounds off the front end of the bike. > How about control, probably having a lighter front end can make it > easier to bob the bike while climbing? The problem with gram counting is that it makes you think grams actually count. The big problem causing poor climbing bikes is stupid geometry. Too-short chainstays and too long top tubes- basically the normal configuration for racing bikes these days- result in too much of the rider's weight over the back wheel and too little on the front wheel. The front wheel pops up off the road when climbing a steep pitch seated. This affects tall riders more than short riders for geometric reasons.
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Date: 25 Jul 2007 01:33:49
From:
Subject: Re: Front/Rear bike weight
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On Jul 24, 3:15 pm, Lou Holtman <lholremovet...@planet.nl > wrote: > bicycle_disciple wrote: > > I have a 3.5 pound alu frame on my road bike. it came with budget > > parts, stems, handlebars etc. I recently discovered these parts weigh > > like boulders, so i got myself lightweight carbon stem and handlebars. > > I mean, LIGHTWEIGHT...really. > > > I ride HED aero wheels during races, with the front wheel considerably > > lighter than the rear. > > > Now im a little worried about the whole front and rear weight > > balance. > > > Does anyone feel lightening the front portion of the bike considerably > > as opposed to rear will make a poor climber than before, although it > > sounds counter-intuitive since I'm lessening the total weight of the > > bike anyway? Yet I can conjure up an image of me dragging a lot of > > weight on my rear side up a climb in a situation like that. > > > How about control, probably having a lighter front end can make it > > easier to bob the bike while climbing? > > > Opinions are appreciated. > > > -BD > > How much do you weigh yourselve? > > Lou > -- > Posted by news://news.nb.nu (http://www.nb.nu)- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - The last time I checked, fasting weight was 144. Thanks. BD
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Date: 24 Jul 2007 21:15:51
From: Lou Holtman
Subject: Re: Front/Rear bike weight
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bicycle_disciple wrote: > I have a 3.5 pound alu frame on my road bike. it came with budget > parts, stems, handlebars etc. I recently discovered these parts weigh > like boulders, so i got myself lightweight carbon stem and handlebars. > I mean, LIGHTWEIGHT...really. > > I ride HED aero wheels during races, with the front wheel considerably > lighter than the rear. > > Now im a little worried about the whole front and rear weight > balance. > > Does anyone feel lightening the front portion of the bike considerably > as opposed to rear will make a poor climber than before, although it > sounds counter-intuitive since I'm lessening the total weight of the > bike anyway? Yet I can conjure up an image of me dragging a lot of > weight on my rear side up a climb in a situation like that. > > How about control, probably having a lighter front end can make it > easier to bob the bike while climbing? > > Opinions are appreciated. > > -BD > How much do you weigh yourselve? Lou -- Posted by news://news.nb.nu (http://www.nb.nu)
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Date: 24 Jul 2007 14:08:51
From: A Muzi
Subject: Re: Front/Rear bike weight
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bicycle_disciple wrote: > I have a 3.5 pound alu frame on my road bike. it came with budget > parts, stems, handlebars etc. I recently discovered these parts weigh > like boulders, so i got myself lightweight carbon stem and handlebars. > I mean, LIGHTWEIGHT...really. > > I ride HED aero wheels during races, with the front wheel considerably > lighter than the rear. > > Now im a little worried about the whole front and rear weight > balance. > > Does anyone feel lightening the front portion of the bike considerably > as opposed to rear will make a poor climber than before, although it > sounds counter-intuitive since I'm lessening the total weight of the > bike anyway? Yet I can conjure up an image of me dragging a lot of > weight on my rear side up a climb in a situation like that. > > How about control, probably having a lighter front end can make it > easier to bob the bike while climbing? I've ridden the same bike with and without a front GH6 Dynohub ("boat anchor"). There's no real problem much though some riders may imagine/discuss/obsess over one. -- Andrew Muzi www.yellowjersey.org Open every day since 1 April, 1971
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