I’m in the camp of thought “People put too much weight into.. weight”. Weight is relative and if I recall my high school / college Physics and Calculus classes… I believe that equation that was referenced in this Dust-Up deals with a static object being pushed/moved up a slope. Certainly it feels like we’re dragging a bicycle up a slope sometimes but we’re on wheels that rotate. I *think a closer example of this would be Newton’s Second Law for translational and rotational motion (Google the equations…). With bikes, we tend to get a tad too far into the weeds when a more simple approach is warranted.
I *think* a more simple argument doesn’t deal with percentages and numbers. Numbers and percentages are measurable. Weight is measurable. But I’m weighing in on the relative and as such I’ve started to see weight as a relative metric. It is the last metric I even consider and when I do consider it, its a footnote. Too light of a bike and the rider, depending on the terrain and application, is going to be bounced around more. So that effects to a degree factors that we all have experienced: ride quality, control, traction, and how the bike handles. I put most sub 20 lb mountain bikes into this category (think 22lbs and below). Too heavy of a bike, and hauling that mass uphill begins to become a chore. (I put most bikes in the 35+ lb range into this category). But again, I call these “relative” because a rider can adapt and overcome these factors. And with that adaptation comes a feeling or normalcy relative to that rider, their terrain and use. Its also relative to the riders size, ability and strength.
I’ve begun to see weight of personal bikes (and to some extent client builds) as having “target weights”. So for a hardtail, if you’re in and around a total build weight of about 24-26lbs give or take, that bike sings. All of my personal hardtails all hover around 25 lbs. And I tend to spec parts that work, can take a beating and have proven track records. 9 times out of 10 its not the weight weenie stuff I reach for to round out builds. For most Trail FS, somewhere in the 30-34lb total build weight also sings. 32lbs for me seems to be that “just so” category.
That little extra bit of weight in both cases grounds the bike a bit more, dampens trail chatter and those weights feel more balanced to me out on the trail. Handling, ride quality, control traction: These all are in harmony in these relative weight categories. Too far into “too much” or “too little” and you have some tradeoffs. The bikes are still fun, don’t get me wrong! But again, weight is the last thing I’m measuring and most of the time, I’m weighing a bike because someone actually asked me “Hey, what’s the build weight on that bike??”
PS: The bike pictured above? 26.01 lbs. That’s a Ti singlespeed. I actually added weight to the bike by swapping a 175mm dropper to a 200mm dropper. Ti hardtails always feel a tad fork heavy, and often feel a bit unbalanced when in the air and in some handling situations. It was 25lbs previously – I most likely could get that weight back down to 24 or 25lbs with tire and grip changes but I do love the grip and durability of those WTB tires so… 26 lbs it is!
Weight is Relative
I’m in the camp of thought “People put too much weight into.. weight”. Weight is relative and if I recall my high school / college Physics and Calculus classes… I believe that equation that was referenced in this Dust-Up deals with a static object being pushed/moved up a slope. Certainly it feels like we’re dragging a bicycle up a slope sometimes but we’re on wheels that rotate. I *think a closer example of this would be Newton’s Second Law for translational and rotational motion (Google the equations…). With bikes, we tend to get a tad too far into the weeds when a more simple approach is warranted.
I *think* a more simple argument doesn’t deal with percentages and numbers. Numbers and percentages are measurable. Weight is measurable. But I’m weighing in on the relative and as such I’ve started to see weight as a relative metric. It is the last metric I even consider and when I do consider it, its a footnote. Too light of a bike and the rider, depending on the terrain and application, is going to be bounced around more. So that effects to a degree factors that we all have experienced: ride quality, control, traction, and how the bike handles. I put most sub 20 lb mountain bikes into this category (think 22lbs and below). Too heavy of a bike, and hauling that mass uphill begins to become a chore. (I put most bikes in the 35+ lb range into this category). But again, I call these “relative” because a rider can adapt and overcome these factors. And with that adaptation comes a feeling or normalcy relative to that rider, their terrain and use. Its also relative to the riders size, ability and strength.
I’ve begun to see weight of personal bikes (and to some extent client builds) as having “target weights”. So for a hardtail, if you’re in and around a total build weight of about 24-26lbs give or take, that bike sings. All of my personal hardtails all hover around 25 lbs. And I tend to spec parts that work, can take a beating and have proven track records. 9 times out of 10 its not the weight weenie stuff I reach for to round out builds. For most Trail FS, somewhere in the 30-34lb total build weight also sings. 32lbs for me seems to be that “just so” category.
That little extra bit of weight in both cases grounds the bike a bit more, dampens trail chatter and those weights feel more balanced to me out on the trail. Handling, ride quality, control traction: These all are in harmony in these relative weight categories. Too far into “too much” or “too little” and you have some tradeoffs. The bikes are still fun, don’t get me wrong! But again, weight is the last thing I’m measuring and most of the time, I’m weighing a bike because someone actually asked me “Hey, what’s the build weight on that bike??”
PS: The bike pictured above? 26.01 lbs. That’s a Ti singlespeed. I actually added weight to the bike by swapping a 175mm dropper to a 200mm dropper. Ti hardtails always feel a tad fork heavy, and often feel a bit unbalanced when in the air and in some handling situations. It was 25lbs previously – I most likely could get that weight back down to 24 or 25lbs with tire and grip changes but I do love the grip and durability of those WTB tires so… 26 lbs it is!