Does Bike Weight Matter for Daily Riding?

[@anotheryoutuber_]

you know what matters more than the weight or component specs, if your bike makes you want to ride it more often.

[@Patricio711]

Light wheels though… can really transform the way your bike handles/feels. Especially with the heavy wheels most cheap fixed gears are fitted from the factory.

[@johnnyregs2378]

Absolutely, rotating mass has the biggest effect on feel IMO. I can even tell when i switch to lighter tubes.

[@MangoJim90]

I remember experimenting with rim weight on my SS road bike. Instead of 450 gr/rim I put 850gr/rim. After switching both of rims to heavier ones I rode 200km in one ride and...nothing noticeable)) That was strange and cool at the same time 😅

[@event4216]

@@MangoJim90 Road cycling usually is start and go so heavier rims once they are spun up to speed shouldn't feel much different, right? Especially on flat roads, climbing steep and long hills could be different...to a degree (maybe small). In city with many accelerations and slowdowns rotating wheel weight _could_ matter more. I don't know, I still ride deep-v wheelset.

[@MangoJim90]

@@event4216 I don't know either )) it felt ok even after weeks of riding in my city with lots of traffic lights 🤤

[@Aubreykun]

@@event4216 I have a heavy fatbike and live in a hilly area. The difference doesn't feel that bad until it gets pretty steep. On some shallower uphills I can even coast uphill, somehow. On the downhills the acceleration is nuts.

[@ThePhiliposophy]

I've missed the Wabi Special and am happy to see that you built it up again! Also thanks for spitting them facts about weight, just what I needed to combat my compulsive weight weenie tendencies! Now focusing on losing weight on my own body, not the bike. Thanks, Zach!

[@williamdejeffrio9701]

As a non-competitive daily rider, I found this video to be not only illuminating, but reassuring. Excellent job!

[@hclyrics]

My fat ass has never worried about bike weight. I've never had an issue.

[@kevinchen1788]

Something I noticed about really light weight bikes is that they don't carry a lot of momentum- though they feel snappy at the start, they also feel like trying to throw an uncrumpled napkin when trying to maintain speed. That being said, I feel like there's a sweet spot between 20-27 lb. (Road bikes and fixed gears) 27 lb and over just feel sluggish to me.

[@kevinchen1788]

When I say bike, I mean bare bike, with nothing else that adds functionality like wide tires, lights, fenders, water bottles, etc. It's a given that adding functionality often comes with weight. Though whenever I ride with a backpack I always put my bottle in my bag to make the bike feel lighter lol

[@MangoJim90]

​​@@kevinchen1788I remember a couple years ago I discovered that if I put 3 bottles (900ml each) full of water on bike it eats all the cracks etc on the road like never before 🤩😁👍

[@B_COOPER]

Spot on. An average cyclist will not ride faster on a light bike if they do not possess the power that is necessary. The definition of momentum will explain why.

[@kevinchen1788]

@@MangoJim90 lol that is true, another youtuber UltraRomance made a point like that too

[@Aubreykun]

I have one bike that weighs about that much and two bikes that are over 40lbs. All feel nice in their own ways.

[@iRusiko]

I think that bike weight is most important characteristic still. Less weight makes every bike feels better!

[@eddiekogawa]

One of the best videos you posted so far. Thanks. Most people do not prioritize the 'fun' part of cycling which should be the whole point. Anyway, have an excellent life, dude!

[@sandrosell8233]

Glad someone keeps saying this. I just ordered a steel frame for a gravel bike I wanna build up, really dont care about 500-1000g when im not racing at all and got a belly anyway. My friends all go for Carbon & Aluminum and i hope their bikes will last long but i really doubt it.

[@B_COOPER]

I will never understand carbon outside of racing. I mean, if you want a carbon bottle cage or carbon headset spacers… I get that because bling, but carbon rims, frame, saddle??? Why? Unless you see racing off course

[@user-ep6iw9he7e]

@@B_COOPER personally I was simply curious how does carbon perform. Adding like 1-2 km/h to an average speed doesn't seem like a lot, but since i ride a lot for fun it adds that little extra fun part on sprints or descends. For the question if is it worth the money - it's one of my most time consuming hobby and carbon bike can easly perform for the next 5-10 years if it's properly taken care of, so why should i try so hard on saving money when the relative cost/usage time is so low it's even hard to notice.

[@jrnamida5470]

I have several Carbon Fiber and Alloy bicycles, that I love riding compared to the one all alloy that i did not enjoy riding. Carbon fiber fork, and seat stays almost eliminate the the road buzz that alloy bicycles seem to always transmit to my shoulders and back. Steel frame with carbon fiber fork, or steel fork does not transmit road buzz. I like a 17-20 pound bicycle it just responds to me as a rider, and the effort to to maintain the speed/momentum in that weigh has never been noticed. I had a 40 pound late 80s mountain bike that was easy to ride downhill, but not fun to ride uphill, nor carry up and down 3 flights of stairs.

[@jepulis6674]

​@@user-ep6iw9he7eYou think the weight gives you 2kmh? Youll need an aeroframe and aerowheels, then you might be 2kmh faster going 37kmh instead of 35kmh. If you commute 25kmh average and racing tyres with latex tubes or tubeless gives you 4x more gains than a 500g saving.

[@user-ep6iw9he7e]

@@jepulis6674 No, weight alone gives you barely anything. The difference comes from everything combined - weight, better power transfer (stiffness and springiness of carbon that gives most of energy back instead of absorbing it under flex as aluminium does) and more aero build - carbon in general can be molded in more variety of shapes than aluminium, therefore it should exceed in aerodynamics by default, unless designer fcked up it's potential.

[@mikerossi4741]

I’m always glad when I ride my lighter weight bike and come to the tracks where a train is sitting,…sometimes for an hour, and instead of going a mile out of the way I can just shoulder the bike and climb between the cars.

[@geoff5623]

Many people do have some extra weight they could lose while getting stronger, but I would very much recommend focusing on the "getting stronger" and not "getting lighter". I was on the slim side of average when I started cycling and gained 10kg, while consistently getting faster, for the first few years before my weight stabilized. If I worried about that weight gain it would have been counterproductive to my performance and health.

[@B_COOPER]

Comfort is arguably the most important factor. The industry is growing out of the weight weenie phase and moving on to aero and/or wider tires.

[@tay-lore]

It's hard to be a weight weenie when I'm hauling 30 lb of groceries up the hill

[@ariffau]

It’s about the overall package of the bike. For instance, some extremely light bikes can be noodly whilst some are just bloody stiff and jarring to ride.

[@mikeritter2979]

I like that sweater

[@mcca555]

It's a cardigan but thanks for asking

[@theymademepickaname1248]

It looks heavy and not aerodynamic.

[@wr0te0ff68]

I like a light weight bike, my city is very hilly and I used to have to take it up/down 2 flights of stairs at least twice a day. I'm also just a fan of minimalism, I dont even keep my lights on the bike unless I'm riding at night. Its fixed gear, front brake and theres nothing else other than the necessary parts on it.

[@BodieOutdoors]

My bike is around 70lbs loaded Today as I'm rolling out the door.

[@miatomi]

What?

[@BodieOutdoors]

@@miatomi Large steel Surly with Steel racks, fully loaded with an extensive tool kit for a self sustained nature photography/camping trip.

[@Aubreykun]

@@BodieOutdoors That's a thicc bike!

[@rainbowhiker]

So true. Weight is over emphasized.

[@dhruva08]

for me having a road bike is not nessassarily to go fast, but to get to hold an average speed with minimun effort (if im commuting) as is sweat very easily

[@TheSpaceBrosShow]

Yup. I have a bunch of bikes and I only know the weight of my first one, my aluminum track bike. Stopped caring afterwards. People always tell me that theyre surprised my carbon gravel bike feels suprisignly heavy; I dont know or care, it just rides nice and so I like it

[@Here2shtpst]

I've argued on Reddit and got reemed, that if you have jiggly bits you don't need carbon accessories.

[@jamesjenkins8373]

Light weight can go too far, lighter weight components and frames weight alot of times mean it’s not as strong. One of my oldest bikes I have owned is a Kona scrap I got new in 2004, it has been ridden and abused as a kid , rebuilt and abused and it continues to survive now into my adult hood because it’s built like a brickshithouse, I have had so much fun jumping and riding it everywhere. If anyone has had a early to mid 2000’s Kona made with the Clump 7005 tubes you know what I’m talking about.

[@fehrcarlo2381]

I have a (35) pound with full water bottle gravel bike and I won't lie, it is a factor when I go up the mountain roads but on high speed descend it is the most stable and secure bike I have ever had! It will beat any fidgety light weight bike out there!

[@22magnum68]

I was thinking about changing my cassette to get a better climbing gear then realised losing weight would be a heakthier way make climbing easier. Ya, still working on that.

[@ben6089]

Bike weight doesn't matter much, wheel weight really is noticeable, as much as I wish it doesn't because I only ride cheap bikes

[@laurent1732]

Hello zach, que pense tu du fixie traitor cutlass .Merci beaucoup. 👍

[@Gusman27]

Personally, only comfortable bikes are interesting bikes. If I can’t ride it for 10 miles without being comfortable, I’m out.

[@SimplicityForGood]

I got two bikes now.. an old Man Bike as we call it here in Sweden, is 23.7 kilos steel with all bells and whistles and I live on the top of the hill in Stockholm.. and then I got a Genesis Flyer I made into my first Fixed Gear bike... 11.6 kilos aluminium. I can say, that weight Matters!! I felt like I was flying the first month I started with Fixed Gear on my Flyer.. and when I go back to my Man Bike, I wonder how I ever could get back up and home with it 🤣 so, yeah, weight, it matters!

[@theymademepickaname1248]

That's an extreme case.

[@SimplicityForGood]

@@theymademepickaname1248 actually not, is the most common bike the whole of Scandinavia, is built like a tank and you can ride your grandpa's bike here and it is still great, just heavy as most old things are!

[@theymademepickaname1248]

@@SimplicityForGood I meant the weight difference is extreme. Obviously you're going to feel it when one bike weighs more than double another, but if the difference is only a few pounds, components, geometry, etc. matter more than weight.

[@helamanavalos9806]

Hey Zack, what do you think about 26 inch wheels????, would it be a good option?

[@Brokenlies420]

If you have drop bars could you try out pointing them upwards and dropping your seat all the way down? I find it much more comfortable, there's more places to put your hands, and its easier to walk in my experience

[@connornial8237]

Ride for fun, and you’ll never have to worry about stats again

[@ss_whole]

Nice shot at Lance Armstrong

[@mrhenky42]

How about a vintage all solid steel bike with three gears? Those weigh around 75 lbs. Does weight matter then?

[@TheLifeOfJogn]

I have a bicycle like that. Steel bike, steel 28x1 1/2 rims. Weighs 30 kg. The weight in the wheels matter most on stop-and-go, but for maintaining speed on flats, and ascents (provided I get momentum) weight doesnt matter much. Still feels like a dream riding that thing in the mountains.

[@David_a_journeyman_curmudgeon]

0:13 do I hear the intro to Aliens in the background?

[@phoffen3829]

Bike weight depends on the purpose. We like to imagine ourselves riding in the Giro with our bikes, and know the bike won't cut it. Of course, really, it is US that won't cut it, but that part is too hard.

[@WredFawks]

Hate to ruin funny number with my comment, but bike weight for every day riders matters in not the marketing way. An extra light weight race bike built for climbing is great for that, but is beyond the scope of most riders. The thing is though, not every one lives with a garage, or a ground level home, or has an elevator up to their apartment. Where a bikes weight matters every day is lugging that thing up and down the steps getting in and out of your house or job. 9-12 kilos? Perfectly normal weight for a typical daily rider.

[@joaopedrodefreitaslima2936]

Light bikes are not necessarily expensive. My 1981 Caloi 10 Sportissima has 10,4kg (not fixed gear). I payed 150 dollars on it, plus 120 dollars on 2nd hand high quality aluminum parts and made a whole restoration by myself. Awesome bike.

[@teckendrums]

my 16 years old cervelo p3 aero carbon bike i rode about 50km today for fun on everything from nice streets to pure mud is about 8 kg. as a normal rider i would not do this distance on a 20kg citybike or something. even my daily comutes took way longer when i did them on a heavy bike. in a big city where you have a lot stop and go it matters. also you clearly get the difference when you carry it up in your 4th floor apartment or because of a flat tire or it hits you in a crash. but yes i talk about 10 kg difference not 100 grams.

[@not-fishing4730]

Being a Clydesdale bike weight doesn't matter, bike strength does. Light wheels that potato chip if you jump on them make for a really bad day.

[@puregsr]

20 lbs!? That bikes is light. My nice aluminum bike is at least 22 lbs

[@edwardarkwright7116]

I mean, the difference between a light bike and a heavy bike is only a few pounds. Imagine two big water bottles. If you bike enough you get stronger and counter that weight pretty fast. Not completely counteract but enough

[@SedatedGhostwriter]

As long as you're not doing cyclocross on your daily ride, bike weight shouldn't be an issue.

[@Buddhakingpen]

As a bike courier, theres a limit to how heavy a bike can comfortably be. Having a 35 pound bike that you gotta lug up and down stairs and escalators and throw on trains and buses is super inconvenient, and uncomfortable. I could lose 100 pounds and that 35 pound tank will still hurt a bit when i have to toss the bike on my shoulder to run and catch the train

[@tay-lore]

I'm always concerned about my bikes being stolen. I don't care about the loss of their monetary value, they all have so much sentimental value

[@runawaytrain9794]

Wabi Bikes look like they ship FULLY assembled bikes, is that right? The wording on their site isn't crystal clear. That would AWESOME if they did!

[@rajendrabareto8065]

Where are the brakes?

[@MangoJim90]

I was searching for nitto noodle 48cm copy handlebar....but it is hard to find)

[@joshuachandra6677]

Zack, you're forgetting one thing. What about stopping slowing down? The heavier a bike is the harder It is to slow down. You put up a math equation about momentum. The more momentum you carry, the harder it is to slow down. Heavy bikes lack that response

[@B_COOPER]

Zackie, did you change your straps? Did your toshi’s finally wear?

[@ThePhiliposophy]

I noticed that too. He went from cages to straps. Curious for the reason and how they compare. So far I have only been riding with cages.

[@XNihili]

Hello, here some nitpicking : - you can shave weight on the rider up to the point where the performance (and health) of the rider is affected - weight of a bike matters for daily ride when you have to carry it in your appartment in the 5th floor - improving your bike is also a source of enjoyment (just watch the subreddit) and shaving its weigth is improvment. Thank you for the video.

[@bigjohn2811]

It's funny to see someone overweight willing to spend a extra thousand dollars or more to shave a little weight off the bike

[@cheesesandwich1236]

Weight does matter. Hills are he number one obstacle to people riding bikes.

[@joshuavirgo6957]

Zack gallardo wabi thunder

[@erdemeebilgee3584]

My mtb is like 49lbs its a 26 xc. Trust me, bike weight MATTERS.

[@TBrownProductions]

Can we get fixie points back yet?

[@k_e_e_z]

what seat and handlebar are you running bro??

[@IamSpiders]

Looks like a brooks swift and nitto noodle

[@k_e_e_z]

@@IamSpiders u da man 😎

[@3wbasie]

After you get your bike around 25 pounds I don’t notice it

[@colemccorkle1608]

Zach with straps and no toe hooks 😍

[@sarge_on_wheels]

Adding carbon components to your bike does not make it less safe, and the bike industry is making heavier bikes than 10 years ago because of disc brakes, aerodynamics, and larger tires.

[@johngorgis]

Train on a heavy bike race on a light bike

[@michaelhughes511]

Bring back the faux hawk 2024

[@supremo7860]

hi fello filipino here! I just wanna ask what is your drop bar? is that kinda pista bar? TYIA

[@zeddman]

its a nitto noodle something dropbar

[@bearclaw10]

Love me steel frames 'Ate that carbon shite Simple as

[@seymour2113]

Hey Zach, recently got hit by a car while on my bike and broke my collar bone. Pretty unfortunate. Always remember to raise your kids with Christ Jesus.

[@radiocontrolled9181]

Jesus Christ was an avid cyclist. He was a weight weenie too.