Originally Posted by
cyccommute
Without a fork change, installing a rim brake isn’t an option. Nor is using a rim brake on the current wheels. Disc rims don ‘t use thinner metal for the sidewalls, they use shorter sidewalls. There’s just no place for the brake pads to get a purchase on the rim during braking. The pads are likely to dive into the spokes if you try.
There are some things you can do to lighten the bike but none of them are going to be cheap. I would have started with the frame and not bought a steel frame. Aluminum is durable enough for a lighter rider. Aluminum is durable enough for a heavy weight like me. But that is water under the bridge.
The easy changes are handlebar, seatpost, stem, and saddle. Go for a carbon bar and seatpost. Look at weight of stems and get one that is lighter. Swap the saddle for one with titanium rails or perhaps carbon ones. You are probably looking at $200 to $300 to save around a pound.
You could change the brakes but the Spyre C is pretty light at about 160 g each. Spyre SLC are about 150 g. 10g isn’t enough of a weight change to even consider.
Probably the best thing you could do would be lighter wheels. I wouldn’t necessarily go carbon...it’s just too expensive...but there are lots of options out there that would be lighter than the OEM wheels. I’d build a set using White Industries XMR or CLD hubs with a titanium freehub, a Velocity A23 rim (around 450g), and DT Swiss Alpine III spokes. The spokes are a little heavier than double butted...about 7 g per wheel...but much stronger. You could probably build with 28 spokes and have the equivalent of at least a 32 spoke wheel and perhaps a 36. Reducing the number of spokes won’t make that much of a difference on weight but it shaves a little.
As she received the bike from the previous owner, it had been set up with a model of Brooks saddle using springs that was surprisingly heavy. The previous owner had also added a cheap set of fenders which the girlfriend did not want on there and the racks that were installed had numerous ladder sections (so to speak) that I felt were unnecessary for our use so I did a little removal of some sections which probably did not amount to a lot of weight, but I’m of the opinion that it all adds up.
We replaced the pedals with aluminum Race Face flat pedals as that is her preference for this bike rather than clipping in, the original pedals were a no-name that were a bit heavy. I did change the stem to a 60mm with a greater rise and cut off about 4” of the seat post as it was far longer than needed.
Looking at Marins spec sheet, the rims are also a no-name with considerable (relative) weight but they also offered an upgraded WTB wheelset for this bike so that might be the easiest option.
As for now we are going to get the 35” Panracers on it with some bags and bottles and take a substantial test ride before thinking about wheels. She’s a strong (very!) rider but of course is always looking for ways to improve her bike.
Great advice so far from all