How much does your bike weigh?

[Bike Writer]

Couldn't find a thread with that subject so I figured I'd start one. Just curious. According to what I can find online my bike weighs 42 pounds. I got on my scale and picked up my bike and the scale added about 39 pounds, it was kind of hard to get the little weight gizmo to balance correctly for the correct weight because I had to keep lifing my bike up and putting it down to move the indicator on the weight beam. (it's the kind of scale you used to find in a Dr. office)

Anyway I'm not sure how accurate it is with the bike swaying around a bit, I am certain that the scale is accurate and is calibrated because I put stuff with known weight on it and it's right on. For example a 10# dumbell weighs in at #10 exactly.

So in the end, I am going to claim my bike weighs 39 pounds.

:confused:

[pumpkinpony]

My FS mountain bike weighs 38 lbs. It was 39.5 prior to changing the tires... Haven't weighed the road bike.

[Aggie_Ama]

I am not a weight weenie so I honestly don't care, but I think the LBS has a scale. My mountain bike is probably about 27-28 and my roadie around 20-21 maybe. I get the benefit of having tiny frames (47 cm road, 15.5 inch mountain) which sheds some weight. I could benefit most though by lightening up my weight. :o

[Aggie_Ama]

My FS mountain bike weighs 38 lbs. It was 39.5 prior to changing the tires... Haven't weighed the road bike.

Did you have the shop weigh your bike? I got the weight of mine based on the Bicycling review of the previous year model and then probably a pound or two more for pedals. I can't imagine it weighs 10 lbs less than yours when component for component they were pretty equal when I was shopping!

[GLC1968]

My road bike is listed as something like 16.7 lbs without pedals, but once you put on pedals, bike pump, saddle wedge and water bottles full of water, it's quite a bit heavier. I've never bothered to weigh it loaded up because for as long as I've been riding, the biggest weight factor is the extra fat on my rear end anyway! :p

[warneral]

My trek 1000wsd 48cm (aluminum with carbon fork) is about 20lbs.

My navigator is way more!

[MtnBikerChk]

my mtb weighs about 29lbs but my roadie....purrrrr is 14lbs!

[warneral]

my mtb weighs about 29lbs but my roadie....purrrrr is 14lbs!

Wow! What is it? I seem to remember via search you had a Madone which was totalled due to a crash that was not your fault. Was that you? Did you get a replacement?

[Cataboo]

My one road bike is 16 lbs (compact double), the other is 18 lbs (triple). My mountain bike is 21 lbs (hardtail), and my surly is 25 lbs.

[XMcShiftersonX]

My road bike is 17, with everything on it, 20. I'm working on getting new wheels to replace my current dead weights. My husband's bike is 13.7 though! :) It's the bike he's looking to sell as well. He's having a custom Ti frame made for him that will be around 14 pounds as well.

[Jiffer]

I believe my SuperSix is about 15.8. I'm a total weight weenie and used to know exactly, but it's been a while. I know it's under 16 with pedals, but no bike bag or bottles. It's a 54 frame, so if I were shorter, my bike would weigh even less. :)

[Bliss]

I have a 47cm carbon that weighs about 14 lbs. It feels lighter than my purse when I pick it up.

[MtnBikerChk]

Wow! What is it? I seem to remember via search you had a Madone which was totalled due to a crash that was not your fault. Was that you? Did you get a replacement?

yep! I replaced it with the exact same thing - different color!

and to be fair, like Bliss it is also a 47 :D

[Bike Chick]

My Luna is about 18 with pedals, cages and bag; the QR is closer to 20 and the Salsa with rack and panniers is about 35.

[tzvia]

My 44cm Ruby weighs 16.2 lbs with pedals and bottle cages (compact double). I guess I could shave a lb with lighter wheels (serious $$) and brakes (has 7700 dura-Ace, not light but good feel).

The commuter I ride to work, a Fuji Newest 3 (XS) frame with my parts (compact double) and rear rack weighs 27.6 lbs (without the trunk bag).

I've got two mtbs, a Giant Anthem-W (S) with a lot of upgraded parts, 27.5 lbs with bottle cages and pedals and my S-Works Safire (S) weighs 25.8 with cages and pedals. It would weigh less but I prefer tires with meat on them over the weight weenie 'Furious Fred' types. This is one place where performance in the rough trumps 200 grams each.

[Crankin]

My Kuota Kebel carbon, x-small, with a triple, weighs 14.7 pounds with the wheels, and obviously, more with the bag on it.
The Jamis Coda Femme 44 cm weighs around 25 lbs., but with the pannier on (it's always on), weighs about 30. I like the feel of steel, but this bike just feels super heavy to me. It has very low gearing, though, so I can basically go up really steep climbs, spinning at 4 miles per hour. I really want that Sweet Pea Mixte that weighs 22 pounds, but if I get that, there will be no touring bike in my future.
I have no idea how much my Norco FS mountain bike weighs. I hardly ever ride it, and when I rode it last month, it felt heavy.
I love the lightness of my road bike and I am very spoiled by it.

[jelee1311]

My hybrid weighed about 30lbs my sweet roadie only weighs 14lbs. Makes me smile just thinking about the first time I got on it and noticed the weight difference.I still don't goas fast as I want to but I'm working on that.

[redrhodie]

My Fuga is a tad under 20 lbs, and Puddin' is around 24, including a handlebar bag. I don't even notice a difference anymore.

[JennK13]

Weighed mine this morning at the LBS - 21.02 lbs with pedals, 2 bottle cages, computer and tail light - I did remove the bottles themselves and seat bag. This is with my Easton EA wheelset, though. I'll have to weigh it tomorrow once I remove my cages and throw the cross wheelset on :)

[Biciclista]

Just weighed mine. With fenders, front and rear rack, schmidt generator hub, front rack full of stuff (gloves, etc, etc, etc) and my Brooks saddle, bottle cages and pump, saddle bag with D lock and cable lock inside, 33 pounds. that's 15 kilos

[Trek420]

Good question :)

Motobecane mixte freewheel ~ 24 lbs
GT Outpost Trail with rear rack and Wald wire basket ~ 29.8
Mondonico Futura Legero Campy Record ~ 22 lbs
Knott's beautiful Giant RSsumthin' with Brooks & wicker basket ~ 26.2

[badgercat]

I chose to weigh mine in an approximation of "as I ride it," not "stripped down." I'm pretty much the opposite of a weight weenie, and basically don't give a rat's heinie about shaving off POUNDS, let alone ounces. ;)

Road bike (51cm Jamis Satellite Femme): 25 lbs.
That includes accessories (computer, Power Grips, frame pump, and seat bag with spare tube, patch kit, multitool, levers). Bottle cages, too, of course, but not filled water bottles, because I don't feel like wasting or drinking two bottles of water right now!

Commuter (17" Trek 7.2FX WSD): 32 lbs.
That includes a Planet Bike EcoRack, two Wald folding baskets, one bottle cage, but again no water. I suppose I could have plunked my school bags into a basket for even more realism, but... it's Saturday evening. I'm not going near that stuff!

Sitting in my living room looking pretty (?" Raleigh Grand Prix Mixte): 28 lbs.
This one is actually pretty naked. It used to carry the rack and baskets before I got my Jamis and made my Trek into the dedicated commuter. I don't seem to have a niche for a semi ill-fitting vintage bike in my life, so I might be selling it. :/

ETA: a couple forgotten accessories.

[KnottedYet]

Good question :)

Motobecane mixte freewheel ~ 24 lbs
GT Outpost Trail with rear rack and Wald wire basket ~ 29.8
Mondonico Futura Legero Campy Record ~ 22 lbs
Knott's beautiful Giant RSsumthin' with Brooks & wicker basket ~ 26.2

All those are steel, btw.

[Catrin]

My LHT with rack, fenders and seat bag weighed in at 33 pounds (and that is without my seat trunk - but I don't always have that with me). I knew Ms. Explorer isn't a light weight but didn't think that she weighed that much.

[Trek420]

All those are steel, btw.

I'm interested to see what the Giant weighs w/o the wicker basket because it feels light. But it's finally cooled down here enough to clean upstairs, whoopee. :rolleyes:

[pumpkinpony]

Did you have the shop weigh your bike? I got the weight of mine based on the Bicycling review of the previous year model and then probably a pound or two more for pedals. I can't imagine it weighs 10 lbs less than yours when component for component they were pretty equal when I was shopping!

No... After a mountain ride, hanging out in the garage, and someone pulled out a scale and we had an impromptu bike weighing party. :-) Mine was the heaviest, actually. One of the guys trimmed my seat tube down, changed the tires out, and got the weight down some.

Edit - you know what? went back and read my post and your right. I'm off 10lbs. It was 29.5, and down to 28lbs. Jeez...

[Bike Writer]

WOW lotsa #14 pounders in the bunch, MtnBikerChick, Bliss, Crankin, Jelee131 and one with a better half who has a 13.7 pounder. Loads in the 20-22 # range and down also. Point is; of course road bikes are light, that’s a given at least in modern times. But some of the interesting items are the fully loaded bikes that weigh in at 33#, thereabouts or less even.

Mine is a comfort cruising bike loaded with items like fenders, rear rack, big heavy rattan basket, heavy pedals, a lock and small tool kit, etc. So this easily explains why I see people flying up some really big hills and they don’t look like they’re dying doing it. Hills are my nemesis, not the down part that’s a big “wheeeeee” it’s the climbing of them. I’ve read nearly every post on this forum about hill climbing and posts have confirmed the following. Most of the problem with climbing is me. Not conditioned enough yet to tackle much beyond gentle inclines and small hills and me personally carrying around extra weight. Not just the bike, the bike is a fraction of my own weight. But I could see how when a person is better conditioned from training on hills that bike weight would play a role.

The other reason for seeking what other bikes weigh is that last week I was on a get away with my sister along the shores of Lake Michigan, there is a bike route connecting various communities along the shoreline of the big lake like; Grand Haven, Holland, Saugatuck and other communities to the north and south of those mentioned.

Consequently there are some really nice bike shops in those communities and I happened on one in Holland and of course I had to peruse the merchandise and ogle the long shiny rows of bikes. One featured bike stood out because it was the type of bike I have, a commuter made for comfort and running errands. A workhorse bike. The owner told me it was a European bike where bikes aren’t hobby items but transportation. It had an integrated large wire front basket that was painted the same color as the bike so it didn’t look like an add on, fenders, a rear hub that housed the gears in the wheel and a completely enclosed chain guard . It was one sweet bike and then the owner mentioned that it was light.

I picked it up and was astonished! It felt like it weighed ½ of what my bike weighs and I would have thought it heavier by its looks because it looked so big and sturdy and loaded with stuff. It had a name on it "Gary Fisher" and I googled them when I got home but have not been able to find that white and lime green bike anyplace.

Looks can be deceiving and I know I’ll be dreaming of that bike for some time to come. For sure on my next trip out there I’ll be brining my bike and trying out that lakeshore path.

Thanks for all the replies

[hebe]

I don't know how heavy my Marin is, it feels like when I'm riding it fast(ish) and seems to weigh a ton when I'm lifting it over the garage step :o I've added fenders, rear rack, kickstand and pump so far. I'm amazed by these 14lb bikes - lighter than a baby!

That Gary Fisher sounds very pretty, Bike Writer, I'll see if I can track it down on this side of the pond. I hope you and your sister had a good break. I adore many of the Pashleys, but they don't look at all light.

edited to add - this one? (http://campusbicycle.com/product/gary-fisher-womens-simple-city-8-61061-1.htm#reviews)

[Catrin]

To be fair, I must mention that my 33# bike obviously isn't a road racing bike but a touring bike. She is built for all-day comfort and for climbing hills - not speed. She has a full mountain rear cassette and if her engine were up to it, could ride from coast to coast fully loaded :)

[Chicken Little]

My Serotta is right at 20lbs. ready to go. I wouldn't trade that steel frame for Gold.

[Seajay]

13 - 14 lbs? Sure, it's possible...but....I want to weigh MYSELF on some of the scales some of you must be using. :)

[Bike Writer]

Bingo, that's the one Hebe!

But it leads me to wonder if the 8 gears are enough for hill climbing. I currently have 7 speeds and somehow the bike does not go as low as I'd like. Most of my cruising is on flat the gently rolling and I only use one or two gears. For hills I feel like I'm left wanting more. But, again, it might just be a matter of conditioning and training. Off to practice...

[Cataboo]

Bingo, that's the one Hebe!

But it leads me to wonder if the 8 gears are enough for hill climbing. I currently have 7 speeds and somehow the bike does not go as low as I'd like. Most of my cruising is on flat the gently rolling and I only use one or two gears. For hills I feel like I'm left wanting more. But, again, it might just be a matter of conditioning and training. Off to practice...


Honestly - this is one case where i'd say it's the bike. You need more gears for hills You especially need more gears to pull a 40 lb bike up a hill. And you need more gears to make it gentler on your knees - pushing big gears to carry a heavy bike and yourself up a hill is not gentle on your knees. I'm not saying that it's not possible to get up hills with it or to get in that sort of condition, but that's a pretty big handicap.

Almost all of the sub 14 or 14-20 lb road bikes that people have posted on here probably have 20-30 gears. The 25-35 lb fully loaded mountain bikes or touring bikes like catrins probably have about 27 gears with an ultra low range to compensate for the weight of the bike, the steepness of the hills they'll encounter, and possibly the weight of everything they'll be touring with.

I haven'tread your blog - but if you're doing a lot of miles and if you can afford it, you might want to consider upgrading to a flat bar road bike (trek fx series or something similar ) or a road bike - disclaimer that we are a bunch of enablers on here and most of us have several bikes.

[Aggie_Ama]

I just peeked in your blog, good for you to find a low impact activity to improve your health. Given your health concerns I think more gears would help, you can learn to spin up hills and not put as much strain on your body. If you like the feel of flat bars you have a lot of options or you can even convert a road bike to different bars. Something to think about so you don't have quite as difficult time on hills. Of course some people ride with one gear so with time, patience and practice your gears will serve you fine if you cannot afford a different bike or simply do not want one.

Also, you should have the bike shop teach you how to change a flat. It was very empowering when I learned because it can temporarily ruin a ride but once it is fixed I can keep moving. I won't lie it is a pain in the butt to change one but it is some times part of cycling. Keep riding and tell us about your journey, we love to hear it! :)

[warneral]

Bike Writer, I noticed on Hebe's link that the GF bike review says it is heavy. I'm wondering if it is really that light to begin with?

[malkin]

I'm pretty sure the tandem weighs a ton, once we load it up with everything anyone could possibly need in the trunk bag and the two of us on it.

It's a great ride and we're ready for (almost) anything!

[Bike Writer]

Cataboo and Aggie Ama, thank you for offering up your suggestions. I have had total knee replacement on my left knee and need to have the other one done also. I am trying to get more physically fit before the surgery so that the rehab will go better, as well as better overall health in addition to that.

When I read about the rate of spin that people can achieve going uphills I find that amazing, but with your comments about 20-30 gears I can see how that could be achieved. Since I have been pushing myself and training for hills my knee has started hurting again. Since I started biking most of my pain has been aleviated, the stiffnes of joints and the arthritis has been in remission. I also had two bouts of pneumonia this summer and it has had an affect on getting winded. But the biking has helped all that also, I would never have imagined that I could condition myself to cycling at all let alone these longer rides and steeper hills and inclines.

New bike right now? Not in the budget at the moment, but something to strive for, I'd really like to see how my biking will evolve and what kind of biking I am going to end up liking the best and will purchase a better bike that fits that style. Right now, I believe that I will continue to commute (it's a very short commute, just over a mile), run errands, ride on paths because there are a lot of them around where I live and within short driving distances, and jaunts around town and an occasional road trip.

So far I do not like driving on roads as much as paths, anything other than the small sidestreets are very high speed roads and that small 18-24" bike shoulder isn't very comforting when cars are whizzing past at 60+ mph.

Maybe I am expecting too much out of one bike? What is a "flat bar" bike?

Aggie Ama, change a flat...I asked at the LBS if they had classes and they will be starting them up and I am now on their emailing list when they begin I'll be notified! I love to be self sufficient. Not afraid of wrenches or a little grease either, I didn't like the angle of my seat and fixed that, then it seemed like the handle bars were too low so I figured out how to raise them. Yes, it is greatly empowering not to be dependant on someone else.:cool:

[Bike Writer]

Warneral, I don't have a lot to compare with because I only recently got back into biking after a long absence, but I lifted it in the store and it was lighter than mine (significantly) and it looked like it was going to be a lot heavier.

Maybe from what I am reading a second bike is a better choice for road and big hill riding? Or I need to find a comfort bike with lots and lots of gears.

[malkin]

Flat bar means the handle bar is more or less flat. Drop bars are the ones that curl down.

[warneral]

I think you have a beautiful crusin' bike! I have a trek Navigator that I'd like to set up the way you have yours. Nice for putsin' around town and riding low grade trails. I would guess that a bike with more gears would probably be a good choice for your next bike.

My Navigator is heavy and we have some killer hills in this area. By the time I get up one of my local hills on my Navigator, I'm ready to go home (only 3 miles away). I can now get up that hill quite easily on my lighteweight roadbike. My Navigator was weighed today - 33lb without basket, etc. My Roadie is 20lb. Makes a big difference. Not just because of the weight, but because of the way I'm sitting on the bike. Sitting upright is comfy, but doesn't get you too far up hills!

At least these thoughts can help you be easier on yourself when you're puffing up hills! The bike makes a BIG difference!

The whole reason I started getting into Road biking is because of the hills where I lived. Earlier in the spring we were planning a move to be closer to bike paths which are rails-to-trails (aka flat). Now I'm trying to embrace the hills where I live and get the bike to help me up them :D

[arielmoon]

My Madone weighed 16.8lbs before I bought lighter wheels. I would guess it is under a little over 15 now.

I have not weighed the mtn bike but I would guess that it is pretty heavy.

[Bike Writer]

Malkin, thanks for the clarification. I know exactly what you mean by bars that curl down and when I was a teenager I had a bike like that. Not ruling it out of my future but I don't picture me on that type of bike or that style of riding. I admire those who can and do ride like that. Different spokes for different folks, huh :)

But never say never because we don't know what the future holds in store for us...

[Bike Writer]

I think you have a beautiful crusin' bike! I have a trek Navigator that I'd like to set up the way you have yours. Nice for putsin' around town and riding low grade trails. I would guess that a bike with more gears would probably be a good choice for your next bike.

My Navigator is heavy and we have some killer hills in this area. By the time I get up one of my local hills on my Navigator, I'm ready to go home (only 3 miles away). I can now get up that hill quite easily on my lighteweight roadbike. My Navigator was weighed today - 33lb without basket, etc. My Roadie is 20lb. Makes a big difference. Not just because of the weight, but because of the way I'm sitting on the bike. Sitting upright is comfy, but doesn't get you too far up hills!

At least these thoughts can help you be easier on yourself when you're puffing up hills! The bike makes a BIG difference!

The whole reason I started getting into Road biking is because of the hills where I lived. Earlier in the spring we were planning a move to be closer to bike paths which are rails-to-trails (aka flat). Now I'm trying to embrace the hills where I live and get the bike to help me up them :D

Thanks Warneal, that gives me encouragement AND a reminder to follow my own advice and that would be to "listen to your body" and be kind to it, even when you are pushing yourself.

[invsblwmn]

My Lightning R 84 is 19 pounds with everything on it-suspension system, blah, blah, blah, the frame alone weighs less than 3 pounds. I am in love.... :)

[Owlie]

I have no idea how much my bike weighs. I don't really care: I can still get it in and out of my apartment and on and off the bike rack. There's more extra weight on me than there ever will be on that bike.

[Catrin]

I have no idea how much my bike weighs. I don't really care: I can still get it in and out of my apartment and on and off the bike rack. There's more extra weight on me than there ever will be on that bike.

While I did weigh my bike, this is pretty much how I feel. Sure I would likely be a little faster on a lighter bike - and eventually I will have a second bike in my stable that will be - but I am more concerned about having a bike that I can ride all day long for days on end if I want to - and my touring bike is made for that :) At this stage I doubt that I would be much faster anyway.

[KnottedYet]

Sure I would likely be a little faster on a lighter bike -

Not necessarily.

Do you notice a speed difference on days you wear only shorts and t-shirt vs days when you wear tights and a heavy sweater?

How about a difference when your bag is loaded vs when it isn't?

Don't kick yourself over the weight of your bike. In the grand scheme of things, it's not that significant.

[Catrin]

Not necessarily.

Do you notice a speed difference on days you wear only shorts and t-shirt vs days when you wear tights and a heavy sweater?

How about a difference when your bag is loaded vs when it isn't?

Don't kick yourself over the weight of your bike. In the grand scheme of things, it's not that significant.

Thanks for this Knotted - I neglected to mention that my loaded Ms. Explorer feels far more solid and stable when going downhill and cornering than my lighter (and too large) Trek 7.6 ever did - but of course that is not comparing apples and apples :) Increased fitness, and much more time on the bike will help my speed far more than the weight of my bike!

[laura*]

My newish Dahon folder weighs 30 pounds. That includes racks front and rear, and a dyno hub powering a headlight.

Adding on the weight of what quite literaly may be the world's heaviest mini U-lock, it's a bit heavy to carry on and off a transit bus.

[Cataboo]

Not necessarily.

Do you notice a speed difference on days you wear only shorts and t-shirt vs days when you wear tights and a heavy sweater?

How about a difference when your bag is loaded vs when it isn't?

Don't kick yourself over the weight of your bike. In the grand scheme of things, it's not that significant.

I'm not a weight weenie by any stretch, but when I'm lifting a bike up onto the roof of my car, I really appreciate my 16 lb bike. When I'm climbing a hill, I really appreciate the lighter bike. When I'm mountain biking and I need to get off and carry my bike over some obstacle in uncertain terrain, I really appreciate a lighter bike. Yes, I could stand to lose a lot of pounds in cellulite, and if I ever do, I'm really gonna appreciate it. I don't sit and quibble over whether I've got a heavy frame pump or tools hanging on my bike or lightweight saddles vs. what's comfortable, but when I can afford to make it easier on myself, it's nice and my aging body appreciates it...

Just like I can paddle a gazillion miles with about any old paddle in a kayak, but I really really appreciate my carbon fiber super lightweight ergonomic wing paddle because I can paddle those miles with a lot less wrist issues. And it was totally worth every dollar I spent on that paddle. And I totally appreciate a lighter kayak that doesn't tire me out carrying it back and forth to the car or water. Even 5 lbs makes a huge difference.

[invsblwmn]

[Just like I can paddle a gazillion miles with about any old paddle in a kayak, but I really really appreciate my carbon fiber super lightweight ergonomic wing paddle because I can paddle those miles with a lot less wrist issues. And it was totally worth every dollar I spent on that paddle. And I totally appreciate a lighter kayak that doesn't tire me out carrying it back and forth to the car or water. Even 5 lbs makes a huge difference.[/QUOTE]

Another Kayaker!!! Whoo Hoo!! My kayak is a a pacboat and weighs 25 lbs in the bag with my life preserver and paddle. I am no weight weenie. Just have a bad back and those extra pounds off really help. It is kinda fun that I can throw the whole boat in the trunk of a Miata if I want to and it is strong enough to hit the rapids! http://www.pakboats.com/

[MomOnBike]

I'm afraid to find out how much my 'bent weighs. I tend to use that bike to carry me & my Stuff around, so with the fenders, racks, long cable, kickstand and the various bags I hang off the seat, I'm pushing a lot of weight up hills.

I think of it as training for tours, though, so it's all good.

. . . and furthermore, I could afford to lose the entire weight of the loaded bike. Would the bike be weightless then? Hmmm??

My old Raleigh, OTOH, I took off everything that I don't need on it, and boy, is it a different ride.

Some day, I'll weigh them, maybe.