How much is down to the bike?

Point is light bikes make things alot easier because they are lighter. However if you are 15 stone my theory is fucked:)

I am 15 stone and your theory is sound. The lighter a bike, the more easy it is to carry it upstairs into my flat.

As for riding, I never got over 22mph on my 17kg aluminium mountain bike, but as well as the ludicrous weight, that's also cos it's got stupid fat tyres, suspension forks and other pointless drag-creating shit, like a front changer, 2 chainrings and maybe 3 sprockets I have never used.

My Harry Quinn is about 8kg and I have got it up to 29mph so far. Never really had the energy+clear road at the same time yet to really push it ;-)

My 20kg Raleigh Superbe feels really fast but I've never had a computer on it. It's rod brakes are crap, so I never try to go that quick, but it gains and carries momentum.

Losing body weight rather than using a lighter bike has more than just the weight advantage.
Your body doesn't need to work as hard to propel itself since it has less tissue to push blood around.
You operate at a lower temperature. You are probably presenting a smaller profile to the wind so you are more aerodynamic. Your legs, if carrying excess fat are moving = more work and there's probably lots more but I'm not a sports scientist or anything so ask one of them instead.

i must say, i've enjoyed reading this thread as its actually stayed on course (well apart from the hippies choice of dining ;) and it has actually been a great read, i think i agree with hippy at least on the loss of weight loss vs the loss of bike weight but believe both weights have to be in harmony with one another to get maximum efficency, dont want too heavier bike if your a smaller frame one would think?

I think what you are saying stringer is: an ultralight frame under a fatty = fail. :)

I had a stock Fuji Track for over a year, and then upgraded all the components considerably (Phil Wood, Campag cranks, etc.) at once.

The difference is enormous in terms of lack of creaks - the silence is brilliant when riding alone at night - and feel - handling is sharper and everything felt tighter. It doesn't feel that much faster, though, although I'm sure that all those little creaks, wobbles and bends used to suck up a little energy.

and then there's the problem of being too light where you bounce around all over the bike on rough roads.

does that happen?

and then there's the problem of being too light where you bounce around all over the bike on rough roads.

I've never experienced that problem...

...sadly

I think what you are saying stringer is: an ultralight frame under a fatty = fail. :)

couldnt have put it better my self dude, you do have tact hippy lol

does that happen?

Essentially that's my life that is.

and then there's the problem of being too light where you bounce around all over the bike on rough roads.

i mainly only have that problem when there are cross winds, when i was riding my charge stove (Pub bike come tractor) it was sturdy as a rock, but since i've been riding my fixed it can be a tad unsturdy as i have have the body fat of a gnat ;)

I'm like clockwork, so I can pretty much always take a dump in the last 10 mins of work - That's 10-12lbs gone, then I can race home.

I'm like clockwork, so I can pretty much always take a dump in the last 10 mins of work - That's 10-12lbs gone, then I can race home.

Really? Are you an elephant?

couldn't agree more.

in fact, i ride so that i can eat.

Me too. But I'm a naturally skinny bastard which seems to make people envious. Especially when they see how much I eat.

and then there's the problem of being too light where you bounce around all over the bike on rough roads.

Me and the roads of Flanders. I was like a drunk navvy with an out of control pneumatic drill. I swear my fillings were coming out on some sections of cobbles.

Really? Are you an elephant?

lbs?

Sorry, I meant 10-12kg

But I'm a naturally skinny bastard which seems to make people envious. Especially when they see how much I eat.

same here 6'1'' 150Ibs climbing hills is easy but I have to eat even on a 30 mile run metabolism like a runaway train
i think that genetics are a major factor in all this

same here 6'1'' 150Ibs climbing hills is easy but I have to eat even on a 30 mile run metabolism like a runaway train
i think that genetics are a major factor in all this

They do, but your not trying hard enough!I am 5'11 75kg but if I cane the lager, and eat really badly I can put weight on no problem. I am like a racing snake:)

On the bikes vs ability debate.

Reckon once u have a decent alloy frame with 105 kit, that about as good as the majority of "weekend warriors" need IMO.

I was throughly embarassed when I went out with the local bike club and got overtaken on the flat by a 79 year roadie with what looked like an ancient steel frame, while I was on my year old specialized allez.

Have a shit racing bike like my ancient orbit (my beater) and it is seriously hard to get up hills and other roadies laugh at you after you have overtaken them on the flat.

Ride with people slower than you ftw!

My tuppence worth: after riding bikes for a while, I absolutely hate riding a bike that doesn't fit me well and can't/won't go fast on one. Don't really care about weight, carbon fibre etc unless I'm racing and then the extra 1/2% or whatever I want desperately so I can hold on for that bit longer!

I wonder if people in wheelchairs ever have a similar discussion to this?

Some of them probably do ^^