Weight Weenies Thread

I'm sure most people are familiar with the shenanigans on the weight weeneis website:

http://weightweenies.starbike.com/

I thought it might be nice to discuss lightweight bikes here. I'm thinking of upgrading my road bike (not to *real *weight weenie extent) and adding a few lighter components.

How are other people getting on with their builds, budget or otherwise and, as a point of interest, how much do you spend to save weight? Is there a £/g cost/saving that you won't exceed or is it whatever gets the weight down?

Lightweight thread

http://www.the-climb.net/2011/09/tuning-dura-ace-7800-brakes.html

Just fitted a 69g saddle.

Noticed that I'd negleted to replace the steel M6x30 bolts in the clamp.

Ordered some Ti ones. Pretty sure there isnt a steel bolt to be seen on my BMC anymore. All alu where possible, if not Ti.

The more you chase the sacred gram, the more each one saved costs! Start with cheapweenies: Conti GP Supersonic tubes @ £20/pair saving 100g on standard tubes, Exustar EPS-R pedals for £20 only weigh 250g, sub-100g Chinese carbon saddles can be had for £35.

Good luck, and bye-bye bank balance.....

Generally I find it's best to work out the cost to gram and make a list - I keep a simple one myself for equipment but not wheels. I'm sure there's plenty of other equipment that could be on the list but I'm not going crazy.

Some of them I've already done through need the replace damaged parts and some through just biding my time saving.

Don't tick the Planet X brakes, a bugger to adjust and limited stopping power. weenieism comes with problems.

PX brakes are shit

and remember not to drill your inner tubes folks =)

^^ I've found the forged ones excellent. Fairly shite in the rain, but then so are most caliper brakes, and they're incredibly easy to set up and adjust

CarbonLite Tools

CarbonLite’s carbon fiber wrenches are the next generation in hand tools made in the USA. Made from 3/8” High Strength Carbon Fiber and Stainless Steel Teeth, these wrenches are durable and strong while being extremely light (6.7 oz per set).

Stainless steel teeth?

Meh, I'll wait for the crabon & ti version

Cut them in half: "Bro do u even metric?"

http://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c6801

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
couldn't he just have said yes or no

http://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c6801

It would be far more interesting if he did this in a MAMIL level race.

This is were carbon race machines with uber deep wheels really have an effect on effort levels. Difficult to hang off the back if you're kitted out like you should be on the front.

I'd be willing to bet you could achieve the same finish time with less energy expenditure riding an old steel roadie.

Of course it would. But spending 5k to knock a few minutes off a sportive time? That's up to the individual to justify and they look pretty silly when some old bloke on a steel clunker rolls past them.

The point was that in a bunch race. The reduction in expectation of the group because you're riding a wreck, leads to more watts saved than a carbon frame and fancy pantswheels can give back.

£80 extra to save 100g non-rotational weight?

Where abouts, Hippy?

If it WAS rotational i'd say 100% yes..

I wouldn't. But I'm slow and could shave 5kg, by cutting down on beer and pies, which would easily save £80.

But life would be intolerable.

Doesn't seem to bad in the scheme of things.

Where is the saving coming from and what is the bike going to be used for?

Brakes.
Racing.

Racing on the flat or hilly?

If there is no penalty in poorer stopping then that is a pretty good weight saving for brakes imo.