trobinson017

I have a 2010 Spec. Secteur Elite with SRAM Apex. It's a pretty light aluminum bike with only carbon forks (not seatstays) and in all honestly feels lighter than almost every CF bike I've lifted. A couple CF owners agreed that mine felt lighter. Why would this be? I thought one of the big draws to CF was for it's reduced weight. I've noticed, too, that most of the CFs I've lifted to compare weight have had Shimano groupos, mostly 105 and Ultegra. Are those that much heavier than SRAM Apex groupo? I'm just really curious about this. It's certainly got me thinking of saving my money rather than splurge on a CF bike.

Trob

jeebusaurousrex

I'm having the same problem with this pound of bricks and pound of feathers. I thought feathers were supposed to be lighter? What the hell??? THE BRICKS AND FEATHERS WEIGH EXACTLY THE SAME. THE FEATHERS ARE A TOTAL RIP OFF.

Jaymadd

picking something up is not a very accurate way of determining the weight.

novacoke

Are you weighting the bike or just lifting it? Depending on where you lift the bike, it will 'feel' heavier or lighter due to weight distribution of the object.

Accordion

I know that from my college bar-hopping days....

bonz50

weight is weight of course, but weight distribution can affect feel in a significant way... put it on a scale and compare... also, its been said a few times around here, a nice AL bike can weigh less than a low end cheap carbon bike... so without an accurate measure of what bike 1 and bike 2 actually weigh, well, the carbon bike may actually be heavier...

tagaproject6

Use a scale. The "lifting with the hands" method of weight measurement has not been calibrated properly.

dayday82

this

Cpt.America

Carbon frames ARE lighter than Alu frames. But a fully assembled Carbon bike isn't NECESSARILY lighter than a fully aseembled Alu bike. If you put the heaviest gear onto a carbon bike, and the lightest gear on an Alu bike, considering there is usually only a pound or two difference between frame weight, what do you think you will feel?

Matt Gaunt

And no, OP, 105 / Ultegra is not "that much heavier" than Apex.

1) I doubt you could feel the difference in weight between groupsets in your hands and

2) Ultegra is generally going to be lighter than Apex with respect to most comparable components, but particularly RD. 105 will be a closer match on weight.

waynesworld

pallen

the frame difference is only like a pound. If the lighter bike has a full water bottle, it could feel heavier. There's a pretty wide range of weight of CF bikes as well. A really light AL bike could very well be lighter than some CF bikes.

Seattle Forrest

Depending on where you lifted the bikes, they can feel heavier than they really are. It's like how that Ritchey torque key feels like you're about to crush your bars, but that's because the "arms" you twist are so short, and don't give you any leverage; it's really just 5 Newton meters. Same general sort of thing can happen depending how you lift the bikes. Use a scale.

Also, some bikes come stock with heavy wheels, because most people buying the bike already have wheels they plan to use, and the few who don't want to ride the bike out of the store. If you compare a CF bike with heavy wheels against an alu bike with racing wheels...

ColinL

Depending on the size, your Specialized Secteur Apex weighed between 20.5 and 22 pounds brand-new. My dad has a 56cm. My wife rides a Dolce Apex. I've actually weighed them both.

They don't feel lighter than most CF bikes to me.

pgjackson

Check the advertised weight of an entry level CF bike and a high-end AL bike...say, about $1500. There might be a 1lb difference (18/19lbs). A high end CF bike would be in the 15-17lb range. You wouldn't be able to tell the difference in one pound just by picking them up. By simply replacing the wheels on the AL bike you can easily knock a pound off and make it weigh less than a CF bike.

Mithrandir

Wheels maybe? Do you have especially light wheels/tires, and do they have especially heavy ones?

ravenmore

14.9 pounds:



15.6 pounds

John_V 

Unless the scale was broken when I weighed my Defy at the LBS when I bought it, it weighed in at 18.6 lbs without pedals. It's most likely over 20 with the pedals, bike bag and ring guard. There are quite a few carbon bikes that are heavier than that.

Also, when comparing CF to AL, you also need to know what grade of CF is used to make the bike you are comparing. With CF, as with AL, there are different grades of the weaved mesh. The tighter the weave, the stronger the material, therefore, less wraps and epoxy are needed to build a component of the bike. The looser the weave, the more wraps and epoxy are required and thus, a heavier bike. Just because the bike is CF, it doesn't mean the frame is going to be super light weight.

ravenmore

Ooops - just noticed the S-works has the Volants in the pic. With my other wheels it's 14.9. Like that it's just a hair over 15.

Accordion

What's a few ounces here or there. Especially in California or Austin.

ravenmore

Practical difference - none. Just wanted to be accurate. The S-Works is just a flat out lighter bike. That frame was pretty much a hand made high end aluminum frame for its day, so its comparing top of the line aluminum to an extremely competent mid-range frame from Giant.

Yes, aluminum can be lighter than carbon, but the high end top of the line carbon frames being made today will almost always be lighter than anything aluminum (that I'm aware of).

Camilo

What did those bikes weigh? Why would you even ask this question unless you know what they actually weigh, and if you did, please post the weights.

Paul Y.

Thats what it is, that Shimano stuff weighs a ton.

zigmeister

Is the carbon bike a Cervelo? Badump paa...

You answered half the question yourself, you said the forks on your aluminum are carbon?!?! So, that leaves the frame. But I'm guessing there is really several hundred grams difference at least, unless it is some lower end/middle of the road carbon bike.

trevor_ash

A carbon fiber bike is not always lighter than an aluminum bike. The end.