exwhyzed

We banish marketing hype and logos, and put components through their toughest trials. We are clydesdales, and we seek light bikes that won't leave us limping home (due to breakage) after a long ride. If you're a 200lb+ clydesdale, please post your ultra light road builds that haven't failed you. And also, please share your experiences with equipment that didn't hold up.

I'll start. I don't have an ultra light bike, I'm riding a stock Diamondback Haanjo Comp and it weighs 21lbs 11oz, the wheels hold up to everything but that's because DB EquationCX wheels weigh 2.1 kg (4.6lbs). They have 28h. 32C Bontrager AW2 hardcase light also really help with the comfort. I pump them up to 100psi on monday, and they seem to reduce and hold at 80psi for the rest of the week which is convenient. I'm looking to eventually build a comfortable endurance bike at 15lbs and don't want to snap any parts and will appreciate any input here.

The 2017 and 2018 Specialized Roubaix (higher end models) have a suspension seatpost and headset shock, and weighs approx. 18lbs.

The 2018 Trek Domane has elastomer tech associated with the seatpost and headset, and SLR models can weigh around 17lbs.

These are two very expensive options for a light and comfortable endurance bike. I was thinking of using a chinese carbon frame, Cane Creek Thudbuster short travel seatpost, and Redshift Shockstop suspension stem for the comfort, and i really need help with the rest of the components.

Clydesdales unite and let us know what light components work for you! Light bikes are for us too!

Wileyrat

I weigh in at around 215, and I'm riding a Ridley Fenix equipped with Sram Force 22... 50-34 up front, 11-28 in back. The wheels are Hed Ardennes Plus Lt with Conti Gp4000sII 25's mounted on them (max recommended weight on the wheels is 225)

It's my regular roadie, and as I have it set up, it probably weighs high 15's. I haven't had anything resembling a weight issue after two years, and I've been as high as 240 on it.

exwhyzed

Wow Wileyrat, how in the world did you get your bike so light!! Can you share some more details of your build if possible? high 15's is an extremely low weight and 2+ years is an excellent amount of time to have enjoyed your investment.

Wileyrat

It's a Competitive Cyclist shop build that started stock in a med frame at 16.4lbs, mine is a small so it was probably a couple of ounces lighter. The upgrade to the Hed wheels from Mavic Aksium's, along with the Conti's instead of the Mavic Aksiun tires are saving around a pound (the Hed's are stronger too).

I'm riding on Shimano 5800 pedals pushing it back up close to 16, and then I shaved off close to three ounces swapping from a Fizik Aliente r5 to a Serfas Phantom carbon saddle.

Of course this is all based on Competitive Cyclist being accurate in their weight claim (and they pretty much are on everything I get from them).

DrIsotope

Step one: be short. I'm 6'2" with long legs and orangutan arms, so I get a 58cm frame, 8-9" of seatpost showing, a 110mm stem and 44cm bars. My Cervelo is positively spritely at a hair above 17lbs. Meanwhile my wife rides a 51cm KHS alloy frame, without a single lightweight part on it-- no-name crankset, even-- and it's barely 17lbs. Her bike could be under 15lbs easily, but she'd never know the difference.

You don't need a suspension seatpost or a shockstop stem. They'll just add weight without doing a whole lot. Spend that money on good wheels and tires. They provide real benefits, and can drop a lot of weight. Lightweight is way expensive, so be ready to spend. For instance, my "bulky" 242g saddle (Fabric Scoop Flat Elite) was $50. They have a full carbon version of the exact same model (Fabric Scoop Flat Pro) which drops to 176g... for about $170.

Who am I kidding. I'll end up buying that carbon saddle eventually.

Wileyrat

It was probably in the same neighborhood as a similarly equipped Roubaix or a Domane, but when the frames sold out the deal was done.
The wheels were a build upgrade and were a few hundred extra, the saddle was a closeout and cost a whoppin $32.50.

Wildwood 

Lightweight, durable, affordable

Pick 2, you only get 2, chuck the 3rd.

gilpi

Not to throw a wrench in the mix here but shouldn't weight be relative?
What I mean, I'm also 6'2" and close to a Clydesdale with long arms and legs with frames 58 and 60. Not that I'm a weight freak but simply the bigger frame the more the weight. If we're talking speed, is it possible for a strong rider at 6'2" 190lbs riding a 58 frame to be faster than a lighter 5'4" riding a 49 frame that is also lighter?

Steve B.

I'm 225, 5'10.

Bike is Flyxii Chinese carbon and not a light frame (which is why I chose it), frame weight is somewhere around 1500 - 1600 grams. Group is 105. Wheels are Mavic CXP33 rims, 105 hubs, 32 spoke, DT DB. Bike weighs 16.8 and that's as light as I would want to go and is light enough.

I tried a set of Mavic Ksyrium SE wheels from Performance, 20/24 spokes. They lasted 300 miles, developed a completely loose spoke in rear non-drive side, so back they went. I'll stick to hand built wheels, 32 spokes until my weight comes down to under 200.

Wildwood 

Yeah, your size and ride 59 - 62cm frames. Only one in my fleet barely under 18lbs. Dispensation for big bikes!!! A frame weight of 800gms is not my goal, and a beefy fork inspires stability&confidence.

DrIsotope

It's absolutely possible. But the smaller rider needs significantly less power to move at the same speed. Up a 5% grade @ 12mph takes the little guy just 230W or so, while the big guy needs about 330W. The difference at 20mph on the flats is much less, only about 20%, but the little guy still has pretty much all the advantages. He's smaller and lighter, the bike is smaller and lighter. Even if the 5'4" guy and the 6'2" guy weighed the same and rode bikes of the same weight, the short guy's smaller frontal area means the same flat land speed for 5-7% less output.

BUT, we can reach stuff on the top shelf.

cyclist2000

My carbon bike is close to the 15 lbs, it weighs in at 16 lbs on a luggage scale. It is a Giant TRC size xl. it has campy record 10 speed drive train, alloy stem and bars, carbon seat post and zero gravity brake calipers. the wheels are 32 spoke 3 cross Mavic Open Pro rims and campy record hubs. It could be lighter but the weight to cost ratio is counter productive. I don't think that it cost me too much, I built the wheels and got the frame off ebay and most the components were on sale. It made a fun winter project.

Drew Eckhardt 

Something's wrong when a bigger rider isn't faster than a smaller one on flat ground or down-hill because power increases faster with size than drag.

7up

This is very interesting since I'm 240/245 @5'9". I want to shed the weight where ever I can within reason.

dagray

I ride a 2013 Orbea Orca in 60cm frame with a Selle Italia "Flite" saddle, Rolf Prima "Vigor RS (OEM)" wheelset, Deda 35mm diameter carbon bars in 46mm with Deda 100mm stem, 11 speed Ultegra (except the 50/34 crank which is 105), Stages Power meter, Cateye cadence sensor, and Maxxis Padrone 700x25 tubeless tires. With the under saddle bag that has spare tube, levers, and Co2 I am at 21 pounds.

Keep in mind I also am 6'3" and 350 pounds, and this bike has over 2500 miles on it as I bought the bike in Jan 2015 new, and have since upgraded wheels, saddle, tires, bars, and stem.

dmanders

Frame size matters. My 59.5 Pinarello is never going to be the lightest bike.

I will say this though, my Zipp 202s are the best wheels I have ever owned and I have bent/broken a few other rims in my day.

Erwin8r

My Chinese carbon build bike (well, it was an Element6 frame/fork), equipped with Campy Record 10, and a set of custom wheels (24/28) was just under 16 lbs. My SuperSix Evo with Campy 11 was about the same. My new SuperSix disc is probably around 18lbs...

I commuted on the Element6 for a year with no issues (switched between that and my Single Speed). 5'10, 235 - 255 lbs (currently at 248). As someone mentioned above, if you want light and durable, it's going to cost some $$

youcoming

My main road ride is a 2013 Parlee Z5i, it has Dura Ace 9000, I run it on Mavic Carbone Ultimate tubulars with Vittoria 320tpi CX Tires. With bottle cages it sits exactly at 14.9lbs. It is a size large and I could get it lighter if I went with carbon seat post, bars and stem. I have over 40,000km on this bike and nothing has failed me. I'm 6'1" and been anywhere from 250-195 on this bike.