New cassette weighs a ton

[ny biker]

I just had the cassette replaced on my road bike. When I was in the LBS having the chain replaced last month, they said I needed a new cassette, but I waited until after the Livestrong ride.

I don't actually know what brand/model cassette was on the bike before today, since it's been replaced several times already. But I do have the original bike specs. So last week I called the shop and asked them if they had one in stock. I told him was a 9-speed and I read the model number that originally came on the bike. I think it was an HR-50. They said they had an Ultegra in stock and that a Shimano like the one that came on the bike was backordered for a long time. So we ordered a Sram PG-950 that he said was comparable to the original cassette (and $60 less than the Ultegra). It came in yesterday.

This morning while carrying the bike down to the car, I noticed how nice and light it felt, since it was stripped down (no water bottles, lights etc.). But after the new cassette was put on, as I was carrying the bike up the parking garage stairs back to the car, it felt much heavier in back. Hmmmmm.

So the lesson learned here is that next time, I need to do some research upfront to see what cassette I want, since difference in weight does seem noticeable to me. And if I notice it when carrying the bike up and down stairs, I'll notice it when I'm hauling my butt up steep hills. Not to mention, now that I'm looking all this up online, I see that the HR-50 is a Tiagra, whereas the rest of my bike is 105, and I'd like to keep things in that family.

In the meantime, I guess I'll just have to lose another pound off my butt to make up for it...

[OakLeaf]

according to the specs I saw, the SRAM cassette weighs 38 g more than the Shimano with 11-32 - less if your gears are shorter. That's the equivalent weight of 2.5 tbsp of water in your bottle. Are you sure you got the chain you wanted?

[ny biker]

The chain was changed last month, so that's the same. All they did was change the cassette.

I'm the kind of person who takes all the loose change out of my wallet before I go shopping to lighten my purse...

[OakLeaf]

I'm the kind of person who takes all the loose change out of my wallet before I go shopping to lighten my purse...

Well so do I, but that sh*t's heavy! :p

[KnottedYet]

You don't need to lose a pound off your butt to make up the difference. You just need to pee 38 g = 0.083775 lb. That takes the average woman 1 and a quarter seconds.

Who needs upgrades when we have toilets?

ETA: or you could spit 5 times
I can't even tell a tinker's dam difference when my bike has a full bottle vs when it's empty, so I bow to anyone who notices a money-shot difference in their bike's weight. Although, I do feel my bike is ALWAYS heavier going up a set of stairs than it was going DOWN the same set of stairs.

[jusdooit]

You don't need to lose a pound off your butt to make up the difference. You just need to pee 38 g = 0.083775 lb. That takes the average woman 1 and a quarter seconds.

I'm afraid to ask how you know those stats. :rolleyes:

[KnottedYet]

I'm afraid to ask how you know those stats. :rolleyes:

I work in pelvic rehab. I know maaaaany things.... ;)

[Trek420]

Knott is a veritable font of useful trivia. :cool: I would not be surprised if there's a medical study done somewhere on that very subject.

[ny biker]

I was kidding about losing a pound. I do like the spitting idea though. Cause sometimes you just can't squeeze out any more pee. :eek:

I should explain that I work out with a trainer who is a weight weenie. I'm not as bad as he is (he took the reflectors off his bike because they weigh too much), but I did get into the habit of carefully considering everything I carry on a ride and whether or not I really need it. Even if it really doesn't measurably affect my physical effort, given the way I struggle up hills it helps me psychologically to know that I'm not carrying anything unnecessary when I start to feel like my tires are glued to the pavement.

Meanwhile during today's ride (metric century) I did notice an improvement in shifting, which is what really matters. Except there was always a delay when shifting into the one of the middle gears, which I'll have to have checked out...