Weighing a bike: doesn't add up
#1
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Weighing a bike: doesn't add up
I'm not a weight weenie, honestly. But the other day I got my bike weighed at the LBS, and it came to just about 22 lbs exactly. Thing is, during a spare moment I added everything up, [strike]and it came to just 17.76 lbs. Which can't be right[/strike].
I think I'm missing the steel forks, as they wouldn't be included in the frame weight. But the forks can't be [strike]4 1/2 lbs[/strike] 3 1/2 lbs, can they?
EDIT: Okay, now it comes to 18.33 lbs without the forks.
Here's what I got:
1985 Bianchi Campione d'Italia steel frame (Columbus SL) 1,925
Stronglight A9 Classic headset 89
3T Mutant aluminum handlebar 295
Axiom 26.0 stem 150
Deda Spada quill stem adapter 147
Chorus alloy square taper bottom bracket 220
Chorus alloy crankset 52/39 670
Exustar PR200 pedals (122 g per pedal) 244
Centaur 10-speed alloy shifters 349
Record C9 chain 268
Campagnolo brake cable and housing (59 g per metre) 59
Campagnolo shifter cable and housing (39 g per metre) 39
Classic Campagnolo aero seat post 220
San Marco Regal Racing Team saddle 190
Centaur Skeleton brakes 338
Centaur front derailleur 92
Centaur carbon rear derailleur 227 (doesn't appear in older photo below)
Centaur 10-speed 12-23 cassette (with lockring) 235
1998 Record front hub with skewer 185
1998 Record rear hub with skewer 388
Ambrosio Excellight SSC 32-hole rims (454 g per rim) 908
DT Swiss double-butted spokes 294 mm (208 g per 32 spokes) 416
Nipples for spokes 20
Michelin Pro Race 3 tires (200 g per tire) 400
Tubes (110 g per tube) 220
Rim tape (pair) 40
Total grams 8,334
Conversion from grams to pounds 0.0022
Total lbs 18.33
Am I missing anything else? Or do the forks really make up the difference here? Anybody know how much steel forks weigh?
I think I'm missing the steel forks, as they wouldn't be included in the frame weight. But the forks can't be [strike]4 1/2 lbs[/strike] 3 1/2 lbs, can they?
EDIT: Okay, now it comes to 18.33 lbs without the forks.
Here's what I got:
1985 Bianchi Campione d'Italia steel frame (Columbus SL) 1,925
Stronglight A9 Classic headset 89
3T Mutant aluminum handlebar 295
Axiom 26.0 stem 150
Deda Spada quill stem adapter 147
Chorus alloy square taper bottom bracket 220
Chorus alloy crankset 52/39 670
Exustar PR200 pedals (122 g per pedal) 244
Centaur 10-speed alloy shifters 349
Record C9 chain 268
Campagnolo brake cable and housing (59 g per metre) 59
Campagnolo shifter cable and housing (39 g per metre) 39
Classic Campagnolo aero seat post 220
San Marco Regal Racing Team saddle 190
Centaur Skeleton brakes 338
Centaur front derailleur 92
Centaur carbon rear derailleur 227 (doesn't appear in older photo below)
Centaur 10-speed 12-23 cassette (with lockring) 235
1998 Record front hub with skewer 185
1998 Record rear hub with skewer 388
Ambrosio Excellight SSC 32-hole rims (454 g per rim) 908
DT Swiss double-butted spokes 294 mm (208 g per 32 spokes) 416
Nipples for spokes 20
Michelin Pro Race 3 tires (200 g per tire) 400
Tubes (110 g per tube) 220
Rim tape (pair) 40
Total grams 8,334
Conversion from grams to pounds 0.0022
Total lbs 18.33
Am I missing anything else? Or do the forks really make up the difference here? Anybody know how much steel forks weigh?
Last edited by rousseau; 08-14-11 at 12:19 PM.
#2
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Forks are heavy, they generally aren't counted in frame weight.
Also are you positive those weights you posted are correct? That total seems very low for a steel framed bike with older relatively heavy components.
That ugly mint green paint probably adds a few hundred grams as well.
Also are you positive those weights you posted are correct? That total seems very low for a steel framed bike with older relatively heavy components.
That ugly mint green paint probably adds a few hundred grams as well.
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you are missing lots of little things like tubes and rim strips that add up. You are also using claimed weights which are always low.
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Forks are heavy, they generally aren't counted in frame weight.
Also are you positive those weights you posted are correct? That total seems very low for a steel framed bike with older relatively heavy components.
That ugly mint green paint probably adds a few hundred grams as well.
Also are you positive those weights you posted are correct? That total seems very low for a steel framed bike with older relatively heavy components.
That ugly mint green paint probably adds a few hundred grams as well.
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no but frame weights vary wildly. if they give a weight for a size small(and lightest of tested smalls) then a medium/large/extra large would be much heavier. I would not be surprised at all by an 1300g+ steel fork.
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+1 to claimed weights not being correct. Unless you weighed every part alone, it could be quite a bit off.
Also, I didn't see cables, cable housing, cable ferrules, cable crimps, handlebar tape, bar plugs, crank bolts, stem cap, and did you weigh it with that computer and its mount/wire/sensor/magnet? fwiw a steel fork can easily weigh 2 lb and the rest of those small things can add up and get much closer to your measured weight.
Also, I didn't see cables, cable housing, cable ferrules, cable crimps, handlebar tape, bar plugs, crank bolts, stem cap, and did you weigh it with that computer and its mount/wire/sensor/magnet? fwiw a steel fork can easily weigh 2 lb and the rest of those small things can add up and get much closer to your measured weight.
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#9
Throw the stick!!!!
A lot of times, yes. They will weigh them in the smallest size, no paint, no clamp, no water bottle bosses, no derailleur hanger. Then they will often subract another 100 or so grams just for the heck of it.
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Most of the claimed weights I see from frame makers state that they are for a 52, 53, or 54 size.
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#12
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Aren't crank bolts included in the weight of the crankset?
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Whats the actual scale weight? We are dying to know. Vintage steel can be very light weight. I had a 58CM bike with Record components/suntour cyclone front and rear derailleurs, campy hubs/fiamme sew ups. The bike was right about 18LBS even.
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My guess on the forks is 3.67 lb, give or take an ounce or two.
Don't forget the bottle cages and the valve stem caps.
Oh, and that block of concrete attached to your left pedal looks heavy.
Don't forget the bottle cages and the valve stem caps.
Oh, and that block of concrete attached to your left pedal looks heavy.
#16
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I'm surprised that sled doesn't weigh 30 lbs.
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Scales vary. Parts weights given by manufacturerers is average weight. They vary allover the place. An average weight is all they can give you.
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Hell if I know. I don't stress out over adding up the weight of every part of my bike and comparing it with the actual weight.
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I do. I took my handlebars off because they weighed too much. Now I just steer with my balance and hold the shifters and brake levers in my hands.
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I remember a post, and I think it was member rollin, who took about 5 grams of decals off a wheelset.