Hillclimb Bikes

5.2kg

Cycling uphill quickly is simple really; it’s a battle against gravity. Assuming all other things are equal, for a given power output a rider on a lighter bike will go uphill faster. Ye canne change the laws of physics! It’s logical that even 1 gram less will result in a faster time uphill, although it would be imperceptible to the human eye or time keeper’s stop watch. However, when you reach a few hundred grams less we’re talking about a significant difference that can mean winning or losing a race. Adam Kenway and Joe Clarke were separated by only 0.2 seconds at this year's Monsal Hill Climb and in 2005 Ben Greenwood won the National Hill Climb on The Rake by 0.3 seconds!
On The Rake in 2012 my bike was a cumbersome 6.7kg, so over the years I’ve invested little-by-little in light weight items for my bike. I’ve now got a machine that is 5.2kg so it’s in the competitive ‘ball park’ as far as bike weight is concerned and I’ll be using it on Bank Road at the National Hill Climb on 30th October. I love the genial curiosity around bike specs and their weight during the hill climb season so I thought I’d share mine. Here’s the spec…
Frame: Canyon Ultimate CF SLX (7.0), Light and super-stiff, Used by Team Katusha, 780g (m). http://www.bikeradar.com/…/review-canyon-ultimate-cf-slx-7…/ http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/…/canyon-ultimate-cf-slx-7-0…
Wheels: Kindly lent to me by Lee Thortersen, a friend and wheel builder who is currently setting up a wheel building business to be called ZED Bike Wheels. He will be offering a range of services including repairs and custom builds so watch this space! The wheels have AX Lightness High Modulous Carbon, Ax Lightness Ultra 24T tubular rims (195 grams). Using technology from F1. http://www.stradawheels.co.uk/product/ax-lightness-ultra-24/ http://ax-lightness.de/…/laufraeder-rennrad-ultra/ultra-25t/ , Extralite hubs http://www.stradawheels.co.uk/product/extralite-hubs/ Sapim CX-Ray Spokes, Total 795g per pair.
Skewers: Ax lightness titanium and alloy, 41g
Handlebars: Carbon unbranded bars, internal routing, 220g
Stem: Ritchey WCS 4 axis stem, 130g
Shifters: Sram Red 10spd, 285g
Brake Callipers: PX Ultra Light Forged Brake Calipers, 225g (inc bolts and pads)
Rear derailleur: Sram Red Exact Actuation 10spd, 153g
Crankset: Shimano Dura Ace 7900 10spd, 725g (inc BB)
Cassette: Sram Red OG1090 10speed, single forged, CNC guided, 155g
Chain: KMC X10 SL, 253g
Pedals: Look Keo Classic, 280g per pair, could save 60g with Look Keo Blade2 Carbon
Tyres: Vittoria Corsa Graphene Speed, claimed to be fastest in world, Very low rolling resistance, 215g per tyre
Saddle: Unbranded, Carbon, More comfortable than it looks, 95g
Seatpost: Trailbright, 174g