A lot of inventory sales are going on and many companies are unloading their excess inventories. The marketing hype is driving bikers crazy and many may be making unwise investments
The bottom line, the objective in upgrading is to make you ride faster and better with less efforts and
body ache
Here are some suggestions based on my readings and experience regarding upgrading.
Efficiency is the key. You must exert less effort in your ride. Your equipment must be efficient. Less friction, less drag in your aerodynamics (the wind resisting your forward motion)
And here LIGHT IS MIGHT.
1. Thus with regards to the bike and your equipment
1. Concentrate on your drive/power train and this includes:
1. Shoes. The only light shoes are carbon fiber soled shoes. If your shoes are heavy. say by
100 grams each vs the carbon fiber soled models, 200 grams x say 10,000 revs in a ride
translates into 2,000,000 grams additional efforts or 2,000 tons. Wow. Thats the
amount of effort you will exert if you wear a modest carbon fiber soled shoes
I have two pairs: a Shimano and Scott. The Shimano cost me P3,500 and Scott 5k
According to Weigh Weenies, some of the light shoes are:
Mavic Huez 210 grams each
Pearl Izumi Tri Fly Carbon 521 grams a pair
Shimano M221 710 grams
SIDI Genius 3 552 grams
Specialized Pro Geometry 542 grams
Vittoria Racer 240 grams (each)
Thus even the lightest shoes are .0.5 kg each. Imagine if you were wearing a 1 kg shoe
2. Pedals
Invest in high quality light pedals
Shimano pedals would be about 200 grams a pair now (a very good development0
Speedplay would be about 180 grams a pair; but Exustar, and I have one carbon fiber tips the scale only 88 grams (176 grams for the pair) with Ti axle (referred to me by
Engr. June.... Budget was P7,000+
3. Cranksets
The Shimano cranks are heavy. But Red of SRAM is very light and so are FSA line of cranks
built from machined alum and carbon fiber. (Both SRAM and FSA are Taiwan producers)
Comparison of crankset from Bike Radar
SRAM Red 594 grams
Ultegra 699 grams
Shimano 105 759 grams
FSA force 567 grams
Durace 636 grams
Campagnolo Athena 650 grams
4. Cogs
The manufacturers are very competitive now with cogs weighing 200 grams on the average for
Shmano SRAM and Campy
Total Cycling - SRAM claims to have produced the first sub 2 kg group set (Durace and Super Record
are just about even
5 Wheelsets
The name brands are not necessarily the best and the lightest. Carbon fiber wheelsets are not
not necessarily light. There are plenty of materials needed for the aero design, hence to be bit
heavier in the long run. But the aero design is supposed to cut and slice through the air and thats
what matters for speeds beyond 30 kph.
So I have an old model wheelset with 36 spokes and my its heavy. It must weigh 2,000 grams
even with Alex 22 rims
So some comparison, and I was lured by marketers to buy:
Fulcrum 7 1,845 grams
Shimano RS 10 and 11 1,845 grams
Fulcrum Quattro Alum 1,700 grams
Light ones:
Am Cla 350 1,396 grams @! P5,500
Novatec Jet Fly 1,435 grams @ 12,500
I acquired both yesterday.
Immediately for my wheelset now, I chopped off 565 grams, nearly half a kg.
vs. Shimano 400 grams or nearly half kg
vs Fulcrum Quattro 265 grams and at even lower price
This makes even more sense and is more effective investment compared to a carbon fiber
purchase of say P20,000 that weighs 1,200 grams weighs same as some alum frames
6. Tires and tubes
Weight Weenies on tires
Even with low weight of wheelsets, after the tires are added, the weight of each wheel
may reach 1 kg.
Many clincher tires with wire beads reach weights of over 400 grams, and tubes in excess of
100 grams. Many tires can weigh 200 or less (Conti Supersonie) and tubes weighing 55
grams each, saving about 250grams for each wheel or 500 grams
What is 500 grams of rotational weight to you"
Some light weight tires:
Continental Grand Prix 3000 185 grams
Continental Grand Prix Supersonic 140 grams
Kenda Kaliente LIte 165 grams
Maxxis Xenith Equipe Legere 180 grams
Schwalbe Ultremo 180 grams
7. Group sets
Group sets require a major investment but the weight savins can be hefty
The only nearly 2 kg groups sets are SRAM Red,, Durace 9000 and Campagnolo Super Record
But only Durace would be within the reach of many affluent costing P68,000. SRAM Red and Campy would be in the P100,000 price range.
Weight Comparison and cost:
Shimano: Estimated Weight Price Price Difference
105 2,500 P17,000
Ultegra 8000 2,200 30,000 13,000
Durace 2,000 68,000 38,000
To save 500 grams for the Shimano group sets, you have to invest P51,000 or P100.00/gram
8. Everything carbon for other components: seat post, saddle, stem, drop bar.
You could use carbon components for your other parts
Seat posts Ritchey, ITM, Fizik (Expect prices of P5,000 to P7,000
and weight savings of about 100 grams
Stem Ritctchey, ITM, SLK about P4,000 to P5,000 and about
100 grams savings
Drop bar ITM, especially the aero that could save you about 50 watts
in power but that would set you back by P12,000
Saddle Selle Italia or San Marco, Fizik have carbon and titanium rails
that can chop off about a hundred grams in weight.
But that would mean P5,000 up to P12,000 more
However you could go to Lazada and get affordable weight reduction measures
Seat post P800.00 Full carbon seat post 200+ grams weight
Saddle 1,200.00 108 grams full carbon saddle
Drop bar 2,200.00 Full Carbon drop bar 230 grams claimed weight
Aero full carbon drop bar
The three parts could save you about 500 grams and for only P4,000
9. Carbon frame sets
Some carbon frame if you are not careful and observant could weigh as much as your current
alum framesets which could be between 1.1 to 1.5kg. Caad 10 would be about 1.1, Mosso
710 weighs 1.4 kg and if you add the alum fork of 500 grams would make the total weight of
frame and fork to be nearly 2.00 kg.
There were advertised carbon frame on sale and retails for P20,000 50% off their published
regular price of P50,000. It weighs 1.2 kg.
The real low weight winnies frame would be:
Ridley Helium - 801 grams
Scott CR 1 and Addict 800 grams
Fuji lite frames 700 grams
But their price would be in the P70,000 pluss range
If you buy a light frame be prepared to invest in other lightweight components
Estimated weight reduced
Say Helium Frame - P50,000 400 grams (vs current 1.2 kg frame)
Ultegra 8000 group set 30,000 300 grams
OEM campy carbon wheelset 25,000 400 grams
Lazada components 4,000 400 grams
Tires 4,000 500 grams
Total P113,000 2.000 grams
cost/gram P56.00
A very cost effective investment
So if you have a bike of 9.00 kg now, you can expect a 7.00 kg bike
Its a mistake a think to buy an expensive carbon frame and then equip with Sora, and Shimano RS 11 wheel set.
9. Other weight reduction measures:
1. Just one water bottle. A water bottle full of water could weigh 1 kg or more consuming about 50 watts of additional power. Save that for the best
2. No paint no decal frame - could easily add up 200 grams in weight. Member of racing team I know
remove paint and merely spray the frame matt black
3. Lighter and less bar tapes Like Deda and Lizard skin. Can add reduce 50 grams in weith
4. Above all less food intake, reduce body weight. You could easily lose 2 to 4 kg. And that is a lot
of weight reduction at less or 0 cost on your part
Weight reduction tips from Good Housekeeping
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