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Why are components counted in grams while the total bike is counted in lb?

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Why are components counted in grams while the total bike is counted in lb?

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Old 03-26-13, 11:58 AM
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hyhuu
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Why are components counted in grams while the total bike is counted in lb?

I think bike industry should team up witth the food labeling industry.
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Old 03-26-13, 12:03 PM
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Because chain pitch is measured in inches. Duh.
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Old 03-26-13, 12:03 PM
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Just because.
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Old 03-26-13, 12:13 PM
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Ohh another thing, except for the fork steerer 1" vs. 11/8", everything else about the bike is in metric right? Handlebar wide, rake/trail, headtube, seattube, top tube, BB drop, etc.
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Old 03-26-13, 12:16 PM
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Because calling a 17lb bike 7,711g is insane, and nobody in the US knows what a kg is.

Everyone wants units to be consistently metric or imperial, but unless you are doing algebra, it really doesn't matter. 450g is about a pound, 5km is kind of like 3 miles, and 2.5cm is about an inch, which is all anyone really needs to know to get by.
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Old 03-26-13, 12:16 PM
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Because Americans think they rule the world?

How come they can't make pedals screw on the same direction from both sides?
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Old 03-26-13, 12:18 PM
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Originally Posted by gc3
Because Americans think they rule the world?

How come they can't make pedals screw on the same direction from both sides?
Because then one would be falling off all the time.
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Old 03-26-13, 12:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Brian Ratliff
Because then one would be falling off all the time.
What if you're in the southern hemishpere?
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Old 03-26-13, 12:21 PM
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Americans, though proud of their independence, secretly lust for a return to (ancient) British rule.
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Old 03-26-13, 12:23 PM
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Because measuring/adding/working with weights smaller than 1 pound is awkward in the imperial system and when it gets less than 1 ounce it is even worse. Metric is easier.
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Old 03-26-13, 12:23 PM
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Originally Posted by WhyFi
What if you're in the southern hemishpere?
Are you telling me they pedal backwards in the south? Makes sense... I mean... if it's summer in December and the water swirls wrong in the drain...
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Old 03-26-13, 12:25 PM
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Originally Posted by gc3
Because Americans think they rule the world?

How come they can't make pedals screw on the same direction from both sides?
Italians did it with bottom brackets. Did that help?
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Old 03-26-13, 12:25 PM
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I think it just be the USA that does that?

If i go to my LBS and ask about weights they all tell me in kilograms. But because the USA doesn't embrace the metric system it gets converted into lbs so an 8.65kg bike isn't confusing people.
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Old 03-26-13, 12:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Dean V
Because measuring/adding/working with weights smaller than 1 pound is awkward in the imperial system and when it gets less than 1 ounce it is even worse. Metric is easier.
It's a good point. Measurements less than an inch are awkward in imperial, as are measures between a foot and a meter are awkward in metric. I think people don't enjoy thinking in terms of fractions; it is easier to use measures that give you something in the whole number area between 1 and 49.
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Old 03-26-13, 12:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Ferrous Bueller
Americans, though proud of their independence, secretly lust for a return to (ancient) British rule.
wut...then we would be measuring our height in cubits and our bike weights in stones.

Eff that action.
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Old 03-26-13, 12:31 PM
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I always tell people my speed and mileage in kilometers cuz it's a bigger number that way. I rule.
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Old 03-26-13, 12:37 PM
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a gram is smaller in weight then when compared to a pound.
so when you are looking at components, they are smaller in size then the complete bike itself.
some parts my not even be a lb in weight, hence measured in grams, to give you a better idea.
it also plays its part on ppl who freeak out about their goal to have the lightest bike, gives them something to attach on.

the whole bike weight is then rounded up to the biggest unit in weight, so the unintelligent American mind can compensate how heavy the bike is when compared to a dumbbell.
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Old 03-26-13, 12:37 PM
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Originally Posted by datlas
wut...then we would be measuring our height in cubits and our bike weights in stones.

Eff that action.
Wow. It is a deep, dark secret. I promise not to tell anyone.
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Old 03-26-13, 12:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Dean V
Italians did it with bottom brackets. Did that help?
Probably because the Mafia controls the Loctite market.
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Old 03-26-13, 12:43 PM
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Originally Posted by road2you
a gram is smaller in weight
A gram is a unit of mass, not weight.
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Old 03-26-13, 12:47 PM
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Originally Posted by canam73
I always tell people my speed and mileage in kilometers cuz it's a bigger number that way. I rue.
fixed
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Old 03-26-13, 12:50 PM
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Originally Posted by hyhuu
[h=2]Why are components counted in grams while the total bike is counted in lb?[/h]I think bike industry should team up witth the food labeling industry.
My skewers weigh about 0.15 pounds?
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Old 03-26-13, 12:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Ferrous Bueller
Americans, though proud of their independence, secretly lust for a return to (ancient) British rule.
The metric system was created in France...
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Old 03-26-13, 12:55 PM
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I love how road races & TTs are labeled in miles (well at least most of them in Texas), yet the final 200 meters are marked. Stay consistent!
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Old 03-26-13, 12:59 PM
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Originally Posted by gc3
Because Americans think they rule the world?
We made Knight Rider didn't we? Damn right. When another country tops that, we will bow to their greatness.
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