How much does your bike weigh?

[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 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?

[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.

[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]

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.

[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.

[malkin]

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