What a difference 4,085 grams make.

[PaloAltoCougar]

I've read about gram shavers, and how serious cyclists spend hundreds of dollars on components that reduce weight by a few dozen grams. Well yesterday my wife and I picked up our new bikes and weighed them vs. our old hybrids. We have each shaved over 4 kilos off of our steeds. We took them out for a quick spin this morning, and reduced our fastest times on our morning loop from 51 minutes to 45. I wasn't pushing it as hard as when I set my personal best on the old bike. The trip includes a short climb that was noticeably faster.

We're still getting used to the gearing and somewhat different riding position, but this is going to be fun. I've mentioned it before be we're each riding a Look 566, with all carbon frame and posts and SRAM Rival componentry. I'm really looking forward to Saturday when we'll go for distance.

[Borg]

Awesome...good job!

Another major deal that I have recently discovered myself, is an upgrade in wheelsets.

Better bearings = improved/easier wheel rotation = faster times, less effort.

That might be a significant factor too. I'm stoked that you finally got the new 'steeds' out for a run.

[beelzebabette]

We took them out for a quick spin this morning, and reduced our fastest times on our morning loop from 51 minutes to 45.

I'm gonna be in a lot of trouble in Tahoe.

[Babs]

I'm gonna be in a lot of trouble in Tahoe.

lol. you're very brave. Do send me a postcard. :-)

[I.J. Reilly]

I was disappointed when I read this thread and found out it wasn't about PAC's cocaine habit. I think I am owed an apology.

[Babs]

I was disappointed when I read this thread and found out it wasn't about PAC's cocaine habit. I think I am owed an apology.

4000 grams? holy crap that's one helluva rock.

[I.J. Reilly]

4000 grams? holy crap that's one helluva rock.

Rock? PAC's no Whitney Houston. I'm sure he gets his stuff in fine powder form.

[mtnbiker]

We took them out for a quick spin this morning, and reduced our fastest times on our morning loop from 51 minutes to 45.

Wow, you were doing tons of climbing before (pun somewhat intended). You're going to turn into a mountain goat now.

[mtnbiker]

Awesome...good job!

Another major deal that I have recently discovered myself, is an upgrade in wheelsets.

Better bearings = improved/easier wheel rotation = faster times, less effort.

That might be a significant factor too. I'm stoked that you finally got the new 'steeds' out for a run.

You never did tell us what your old wheels were and what new wheels you went with. What did you decide on, and how much of a difference is there in weight and perceived rolling resistance?

[creekster]

I've read about gram shavers, and how serious cyclists spend hundreds of dollars on components that reduce weight by a few dozen grams. Well yesterday my wife and I picked up our new bikes and weighed them vs. our old hybrids. We have each shaved over 4 kilos off of our steeds. We took them out for a quick spin this morning, and reduced our fastest times on our morning loop from 51 minutes to 45. I wasn't pushing it as hard as when I set my personal best on the old bike. The trip includes a short climb that was noticeably faster.

We're still getting used to the gearing and somewhat different riding position, but this is going to be fun. I've mentioned it before be we're each riding a Look 566, with all carbon frame and posts and SRAM Rival componentry. I'm really looking forward to Saturday when we'll go for distance.

You are going to love the bike and you are going to fly around the lake.

Given th info I have found out about some of you recently, I am thinking about leaving the bikes home and just driving my pick up around the lake as the sag wagon, eating donuts and drinking chocolate milk. Stopping every few miles for a nap. Actually, that sounds pretty good.

[creekster]

Awesome...good job!

Another major deal that I have recently discovered myself, is an upgrade in wheelsets.

Better bearings = improved/easier wheel rotation = faster times, less effort.

That might be a significant factor too. I'm stoked that you finally got the new 'steeds' out for a run.

Not sure its the bearigns that make that much difference. Most of the sealed bearings these days are very simialr if not identical (I know a lot of comapnies brag about their bearings, but it is mostly hoo-hah).

The real issue is rotating mass. The biggest wya to makew a weight loss matter (apart from a strict diet for the engine) is to elimiante weight at the rim and in the spokes. Rotating mass requires lots of energy for acceleration so reducing weight in the rims and spokes makse you faster off the line and in sprints and allows you to stay at speed with less energy. That's why road racers use skinny tubulars instead of clinchers, etc. It's all about reducing rotating mass.

[pellegrino]

Not sure its the bearigns that make that much difference. Most of the sealed bearings these days are very simialr if not identical (I know a lot of comapnies brag about their bearings, but it is mostly hoo-hah).

The real issue is rotating mass. The biggest wya to makew a weight loss matter (apart from a strict diet for the engine) is to elimiante weight at the rim and in the spokes. Rotating mass requires lots of energy for acceleration so reducing weight in the rims and spokes makse you faster off the line and in sprints and allows you to stay at speed with less energy. That's why road racers use skinny tubulars instead of clinchers, etc. It's all about reducing rotating mass.

Ah, come on Creek, it's so simple! Maybe you need a refresher course. It's all ball bearings now a days!

[mtnbiker]

Given th info I have found out about some of you recently, I am thinking about leaving the bikes home and just driving my pick up around the lake as the sag wagon, eating donuts and drinking chocolate milk. Stopping every few miles for a nap. Actually, that sounds pretty good.

mmmm... donuts! Actually, I was planning on taking a bungee cord and hooking it from your seat post to my handle bars so you can drag me around the lake.

[Borg]

Ah, come on Creek, it's so simple! Maybe you need a refresher course. It's all ball bearings now a days!

Ok...I fell for a technology sales pitch. Made sense to me...not knowing the intricacies of the build...

Disregard anything I say....I'm a pushover for a good salesman...er...woman...HEY! No wonder I fell for it!!!

[bluegoose]

"SHOTGUN!!!" I like maple bars, creekster, and if you don't mind I prefer Ovaltine to plain Chocolate milk. TIA.

Very nice, PAC. I was looking for a picture online and couldn't find one. Do you have one that you can post?

You are going to love the new steed. When I went from Steel to Carbon I lost about 5 pounds and noticed an immediate difference. Throw in a minor drop in my body weight, and my Death Ride time dropped almost an hour and a half from the old bike to the new one.

Regarding bearings, I think that they can make a difference, but for most of us the benefit would be completely unnoticeable. I can't imagine that the benefit of having ceramic bearings would be worth near the cost of paying for them.