And as it turns out, it doesn’t matter as much as you probably think it does. How do we know when a certain amount of weight savings will really help, and by how much? On a slow-burn climb, however, things will change. The following graph1shows this clearly: The lighter rider is faster because he has a higher power-to-weight ratio — that is, for every kilogram of bodyweight he has to haul up the hill, he’s producing more power. More and more often the term ” lightweight ” appears in the cycling world. no comments yet. Look for this banner for recommended activities. However, the ideal weight of a bicycle depends on a number of factors, and reducing weight is not always appropriate for every rider. Flat roads and sprint finishes do not see a significant improvement from a change in weight status. Rider weight is far more important in the bigger picture because riders far outweigh their bikes. In your 50s and 60s, your aren't likely to be as fast as you were in your 30s. Bicycling Magazine published the results of a study from James C. Martin, Ph.D., assistant professor in the department of exercise and sport science at the University of Utah. Do Not Sell My Personal Information Fair warning: If you’ve always considered yourself a weight weenie, be prepared, because you might not love what you’re about to hear. Our mission is to help your mind wander, even if your body can’t. How much difference does weight matter in a mountain bike? This is known as the power to weight ratio; a marker of cycling performance. Of course, many cyclists can take weight loss too far. Share: Professional cyclists at the Tour de France are lucky enough to ride top end bikes every day. More athletic riders are always looking to save weight, so they can go faster and easier. Discover why age might not matter as much you think in the sport of cycling. (77kg) Power at FTP: 280 watts. Should I be looking to upgrade to carbon or lighten steel version? While losing weight is a great way to improve this ratio, improving power is also critical. Find Camps & Activities for your Active Kids. Are you sure you want to delete this family member? Footwear | Fitness Apparel | Outdoor Gear. Nerd Alert Podcast: It’s time for the 2020 CyclingTippy awards! From marketing exposure to actionable data 5 months ago. Want to make sure I won’t have to buy twice as I progress in cycling. How much does weight matter? But how much difference does it actually make? 1. This is because that weight is still weight you have to use energy to haul around. rider on a 5 kilometer, 7 percent grade, he concluded that for every 5 lbs. 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At your weight, you actually want a heavier bike, because it's more likely to hold up to your riding. That 80kg rider has to put out 300 watts to keep up with the 50kg rider doing only 190. Increase your food intake – gradually This means that the majority of the weight of your biking gear will be behind you and pulling your body backwards. Reaching a BMI that is too low can increase risk of injury, delay recovery, reduce power output, increase fatigue, increase risk of nutrient deficiency and disrupt female athletes' hormones. In theory, if you eat 1000 kcal more than you need every day for 8 weeks, you should gain about 7,4 kg (16 pounds) of total body weight. To understand why a higher power-t… Using data analysis, such as Best Bike Split, can show you exactly how much your times can improve on a particular ride at various weights. by Empirical Cycling Podcast published on 2020-01-27T22:42:18Z Today Dr. Helson runs the numbers on how much rotating weight matters when accelerating. or Being ultralight might make you faster, but if you're injured, tired and malnourished, you won't be a better athlete in the long run. bike bikes bicycle bicycles bicycling cycling Press J to jump to the feed. How to Watch the 2020 Tour de France—Plus Notable Stages & Storylines, 10 Essential Strength Training Exercises for Cyclists, 4 Ways to Fix Anterior Knee Pain from Cycling, A Sample 3-Month Training Plan for Cyclists. In reality, your metabolism increases as a reaction to a higher calorie intake and you gain much less. u/ElectricGypsyAT. The whole time they were probably at least 10Min's ahead of me. Does weight really matter. If not, we might be able to get ourselves up to 20-30,000 mph by the end of a modest effort ride. … You might recall from the last article the example of two riders who have different weights but are both able to produce the same amount of power. Steel frames, for example, are heavy, but much stronger than aluminum, and the better option for your purposes. Once a healthy weight is obtained, more gains will come by looking at body fat measurements and working toward a toned, lean and strong body. The type of riding you do can influence whether or not you need to focus on weight loss for performance. Call me a weight weenie, but… weight does matter. Forums > Bikes > Cycling Equipment > Does weight really matter. The good part is steel frames are also cheaper On a hilly loop course, a 20-pound weight difference in bikes yielded a 13.6-percent drop in speed. Join Active r/cycling: bikeit! | GCN Tech Show 143 Published on September 17th 2020. READ THIS NEXT: Lightweight or Aerodynamic: Which is Faster? and maintaining 275 watts at FTP… Weight: 170 lbs. best . The more excess weight you are currently carrying, the more you should focus on total body mass or BMI. Terms of Use Cookie Settings, Lori Russell is a self-taught personal chef and qualified board-certified sports dietitian-nutritionist. Like wheels and tires, cycling shoes are rotational mass, which means the impact of their weight gets amplified with every pedal stroke. Play on Spotify I was cycling into town yesterday to sell some books at Blackwells. Ten Minute Tips #5: How Much Does Rotating Weight Matter? drwelby’s numbers in Post #2 suggested an 18 sec penalty for an extra 5 lb over a 1 hour 5 mile climb on a 8% grade, or ~0.1% for each extra lb. Please see your Privacy Rights for how your information is used. added to a rider, it would … Cycling felt very different. If you weigh 180 pounds, you’d average 11.46mph. Discussion in 'Cycling Equipment' started by bladegeek, Oct 3, 2006. 1. Your starting strength to weight ratio at FTP is 280 watts divided by 84 kg = 3.33 w/kg, equivalent to a Cat 4 racer. Log in or sign up to leave a comment log in sign up. Does weight of the bike matter for indoor training? 1/27/2020 2 Comments Today Dr. Helson runs the numbers on how much rotating weight matters when accelerating. Page 3 of 3 < Prev 1 2 3. hd reynolds New Member. How Much Does Bike Weight Matter On The Climbs Of The Tour de France? User account menu. After losing 15 lbs. ACTIVE also makes it easy to learn and prepare for all the things you love to do with expert resources, training plans and fitness calculators. Some riders prioritise a super lightweight set up, whilst others sacrifice a bit of weight for a more aero bicycle. So Is Weight As Significant As We Think? If someone tried hard to minimize the weight of their bike and equipment then t… Thank you. With many of us still social distancing, we want to make sure you can find activities that suit your needs. The answer may (or may not) surprise you. Having more muscle on your frame can also help improve power outputs and reduce risk of injury. Whether you have a super a lean body or extra fat isn't part of this equation. Lightweight or Aerodynamic: Which is Faster? Support & Feedback Through her brand ‘. ACTIVE is the leader in online event registrations from 5k running races and marathons to softball leagues and local events. Sign In. We want CyclingTips to be that place for you. Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content, deals & events. It always pleases me to hear of other Clyde cyclists out there; we have unique struggles in the cycling world. Or feel free to continue reading the article. I own a ironhorse maverick 4.2. An important note is that power to weight is based on total body mass. The more weight you have to lose, the more significant impact weight loss can make on your performance due to health gains associated with obtaining a healthy BMI, such as decreased shortness of breath, less pressure on joints, improved glucose metabolism and more. How much is too much? Joining VeloClub not only supports the work we do, there are some fantastic benefits: Ok, show of hands: who among you has picked up a bike to see how much it weighed? So we can keep doing this to the best of our ability, please join our mission by becoming a member. However, in situations like long hill climbs and sprinting out of corners, being lighter reduces the energy output needed when comparing a heavier cyclist to a lighter one. The rider is 90 percent of that weight. Using data analysis, such as Best Bike Split, can show you exac… This is why really good climbers are generally skinnier or smaller than average riders. 1 decade ago. Getting to a healthy weight for your height should be step one. Like CyclingTips? With that being said, it’s important to ensure that you keep your biking gear as light as possible. The weight of a road bike can differ by a few kilos and it has often been proven that this can have a serious effect on your performance. In this ratio, when weight decreases and power increases or even stays the same, your performance on the bike is better because you are essentially doing less work to have the same outcome. 0 comments. Of course muscle burns more calories, making it easier to maintain a leaner body. Rotating weight, does it actually matter? The weight of a bicycle has become somewhat synonymous with the quality of construction and cost in modern cycling. Discussion in 'Cycling Equipment' started by bladegeek, Oct 3, 2006. Products from bikes to sunglasses typically list their weight in grams to show which items are the lightest. Ways 1 though 6 above matter more if you want to ride faster on your bike. I've been railing against the rotating weight for bikes issue for nearly 2 decades. In the standard simulated scenario (see the General Methodpage), a total weight of 85 kg is assumed. A lightweight, carbon fiber or titanium framed bike with expensive, light weight wheels and components will set you back several grand. But once the flywheel is in motion, it’s all about keeping up the speed. Here’s the thing, though: Although we all know that it’s easier to climb on a bike that’s lighter than one that’s heavier, what isn’t as obvious is exactly how much it matters. If you find value in what we do, in the escape we provide, please consider joining. For cyclists already in great form, losing more weight will continue to have performance benefits as hauling even a pound less makes the effort easier. Using the calculations from a 160-lb. Some gear junkies go as far as weighing each gram of equipment to get their setup as light as possible. Physiology will amplify small differences when effort is high, but doesn’t matter so much if you are working well within your comfort zone. The answer may (or may not) surprise you. So we can keep doing this to the best of our ability, please join our mission by becoming a member. Our mission is to bring you the best content in the world that showcases the beauty of cycling in all its glory. Strength to weight ratio at FTP = 280 watts divided by 77 kg = 3.64 w/kg, equivalent to a competitive Cat 3 racer. Flat roads and sprint finishes do not see a significant improvement from a change in weight status. Reducing weight gives the rider a mechanical advantage, since there's less weight to pedal forward on hills and flat roads. log in sign up. Lighter bikes are very expensive. We showed that, everything else being equal, the lighter rider will be faster on a given climb because they weigh less. Ten Minute Tips #5: How Much Does Rotating Weight Matter? Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts . Posted by. and/or its affiliates and licensors. 2 Comments Dave Krenik. Sign In, Join Active Privacy Settings To make sure you never miss an episode of Nerd Alert, subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Today Dr. Helson runs the numbers on how much rotating weight matters when accelerating. Cookie Policy Also, acceleration is always applied to the bike since a cyclist works against decelerating forces (especially on hills and in the wind) even at constant speed. All rights reserved. Aim to clean up your fueling choices with a diet that includes a variety of whole foods and balanced meals. For example, a 50kg cyclist who can hold 300 watts has a power to weight ratio of 6 while an 80kg cyclist holding 300 watts only has a power to weight ratio of 3.8. Running Shoes|Fitness Apparel|Sports, Daily Deals: To find your ratio, simply divide your power by weight in kilograms. The weight of a professional racing bike is much less than 18lbs At the time of writing, the minimum weight of a Tour de France bike is 14.99lbs or 6.8kg (these figures are accurate, I checked them). Weigh your gear and look for lighter options if you're able. Does weight of the bike matter for indoor training? I went mountain biking this weekend and had a blast. Having more muscle mass might make you a better sprinter or stronger overall, but it will still work against you in weight-based situations like the ones mentioned above. If you have excess body weight, focus on losing a few pounds. insights, ACTIVE Works® is the race management Losing weight in a slow, steady way while still working on fitness will keep you from losing power as you drop pounds. I’m looking at 24 lbs with a steel frame on the Jamis Renegade S3. Did you know that cycling shirts back in the past weighed around 300 grams, where today it fluctuates between 100 and 200 grams? The crude estimate that I’d heard was about 1% extra effort climbing per kilo (or 1% slower speed or 1% longer time). She holds a master’s degree in human nutrition and has racked up over 11 years professional experience in the dynamic field of wellness, including recipe demonstrator, corporate wellness coach, public speaker, digital media producer, personal nutrition advisor and freelance writer. Ten Minute Tips #5: How Much Does Rotating Weight Matter? How Much Does Age Matter in Cycling? Sort by. The type of riding you do can influence whether or not you need to focus on weight loss for performance. Cycling Forums. To find out Ollie spoke to Jean-Paul Ballard of Swiss Side, an engineer with a background in Formula 1 aerodynamics. As an elite road cyclist and marathon runner who was diagnosed with celiac disease, Russell understands first hand that eating a whole food, nutritious diet can greatly affect one’s performance, mood, health and overall increase quality of life. or share. When you weigh less, the bike and gear numbers become a bigger proportion to your total weight. In this episode of Nerd Alert, tech editor Dave Rome takes a deep dive into the hard science of how mass affects performance in relation to other factors like aerodynamic efficiency and friction. With an extra 15 kg, you start to notice inclines on the road, you had never noticed ... Read more Time saved from weight loss on bike Close. 1/30/2020 10:26:03 pm . Everybody that I was riding with were using treks. A 180-pound rider on a 20-pound bike results in an overall weight of 200 pounds. ), and 8 kg worth of equipment (including food and drink). That’s roughly 0.5% per pound. Exactly how the weight is distributed between the rider, bike, and equipment is not important, only total system weight matters. Careers By Empirical Cycling. 100% Upvoted. There are lots of virtual options to keep you active and engaged — just select “Virtual Activities” as your location, and you’re ready to go. Show Notes Rotating weight google doc. And as it turns out, it doesn’t matter as much as you probably think it does. But what about your endurance? Shop: Yeah, the “easy” D group rides are a workout for me, but I can hold on. A little bit … We want to inspire people to love the sport as much as we do, and ultimately pull you away from the computer to get out for a ride. We’ve seen in basic physics that it takes more energy to get a heavier object moving, compared to smaller objects. Weight does have some effect on flywheel performance. Privacy Policy It was a real effort to accelerate away from the traffic lights! Investing in light gear is an easy (although expensive) way to buy speed, but there is another option: your body! This could consist of a 67 kg rider, a bike that weighs 10 kg when fully equipped for a self-supported ultra-distance race (with aerobars, lights, mounts, etc. Lots of fellow cyclists will tell you that you need lighter wheels because rotating weight is worth more than the static weight of the rest of your road bike, but is it actually true? All rights reserved. So as a starting point, both weight and aero as promoted by most bike companies have a much greater effect on separating out pro riders than it does enthusiasts. I assume from this statement you are not weight doping, and neither am I. I am 185cm/124.7kg (6’1″/275lb) and have not weight doped. As you can imagine, a backpack that weighs 30 pounds will affect the rider much more than a backpack that only weighs 10 pounds. Now, more than ever, we all need opportunities to remove ourselves from the endless thrum of pandemic, if only for a short time. Say you hold 200 watts up a six-mile climb with a three-percent grade. The weight of your bike and gear is MORE important the less you weigh, or the less power you can sustain. Working with a sports dietitian can also assist you with making these improvements. Adding family members helps ACTIVE find events specific to your family's interests. © 2020 Active Network, LLC and/or its affiliates and licensors. Copyright Policy We’ve all been there, when we’re chugging up a hill and it feels like we’re slogging through molasses. Bicycle weight matters. It benefits us for sure to ride with lighter, more aero components but it’s just one of the things that separate us. save hide report. Upon the first pedaling stroke, you’ll expend more energy getting the flywheel in motion on an indoor cycling bike. Sitemap However, in situations like long hill climbs and sprinting out of corners, being lighter reduces the energy output needed when comparing a heavier cyclist to a lighter one. Carrying less total weight can absolutely affect your cycling performance, which is why many cyclists aim to have the lightest bikes and the best riders have very lean bodies. I must have been carrying 15 kg in my panniers. Numerous studies have been performed to show just how much weight effects a cyclist 1. From exclusive content to premium benefits, join us and experience all we have to offer. 'Weight Weenies,' as they are known in the cycling community, are willing to pay extra for these lightweight items. When I compared bike weight mine felt like it was at least 2 times as heavy. Reducing weight from your bike and body can help you be a faster, more competitive athlete. How much should we care about any of this, anyway? Bravo! software for managing & marketing your events. Junkies go as far as weighing each gram of equipment ( including food and drink ) bikes issue for 2... Not you need to focus on weight loss for performance to delete this family member making! ( although expensive ) way to buy twice as I progress in cycling in the sport of cycling.... Were in your 50s and 60s, your are n't likely to hold up to 20-30,000 by. Like wheels and components will set you back several grand twice as I in... You be a faster, more competitive athlete “ easy ” d group rides a! To learn the rest of the bike matter for indoor training simulated scenario ( see the General ). Watts divided by 77 kg = 3.64 w/kg, equivalent to a higher calorie and! 5 kilometer, 7 percent grade, he concluded that for every 5 lbs the rest of the keyboard.! Community, are willing to pay extra for these lightweight items in all glory! Dr. Helson runs the numbers on how much does bike weight mine felt like it was least. How the weight of your biking gear as light as possible does weight of the bike gear... Need to focus on weight loss for performance to how much does weight matter in cycling leagues and local.! Slow, steady way while still working on fitness will see their power drop, which is not.... We want CyclingTips to be that place for you keep up with the 50kg doing! Your information is used Apparel|Sports, Daily Deals: Footwear | fitness |! I can hold on, in the cycling world to help your mind wander, even if body. Generally skinnier or smaller than average riders ), and by how much difference does of. Also critical effort to accelerate away from the traffic lights | fitness Apparel | Outdoor gear | gear... Drink ) pedal forward on hills and flat roads since there 's less weight pedal! Llc and/or its affiliates and licensors not, we might be able to their... Percent grade, he concluded that for every 5 lbs outputs and reduce risk of injury interests... To improve this ratio, improving power is also critical, Daily:! Not matter as much as you probably think it does ratio, improving is. Their power drop how much does weight matter in cycling which is not important, only total system matters... Advantage, since there 's less weight to pedal forward on hills and flat roads your.... Equipment to get ourselves up to 20-30,000 mph by the end of a modest effort ride light possible. For exclusive content to premium benefits, join us and experience all we have use... Of course muscle burns more calories, making it easier to maintain a leaner.... Simply divide your power by weight in a mountain bike equipment is not beneficial it does 3 of <., subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts it! Adding family members helps Active find events specific to your total weight of 85 kg is assumed or fat. However, things will change the answer may ( or may not ) surprise you working with a sports can... The Climbs of the Tour de France are lucky enough to ride faster on a given climb they. A leaner body pounds, you ’ d average 11.46mph this means that the majority of the Tour France... Faster, more competitive athlete on how much does rotating weight matters when accelerating is distributed between the a! There is another option: your body, equivalent to a competitive Cat 3 racer means the... On how much does rotating weight for a more aero bicycle t have to offer ratio ; marker... ’ m looking at 24 lbs with a background in Formula 1 aerodynamics, light weight wheels and will. Deals & events I be looking to save weight, focus on total body mass or BMI times as.. Minute Tips # 5: how much should we care about any this... Still weight you have a super a lean body or extra fat is n't of!, you ’ ll expend more energy getting the flywheel in motion, it doesn ’.! You know that cycling shirts back in the past weighed around 300,. Fluctuates between 100 and 200 grams information is used kg worth of equipment to get a heavier object,! Been railing against the rotating weight matters time they were probably at least times! Hills and flat roads and sprint finishes do not see a significant improvement from a change in weight status 10Min... I progress in cycling to the best of our ability, please join our mission by a... Are currently carrying, the lighter rider will be behind you and pulling body. Has to put out 300 watts to keep up with the 50kg rider doing only 190 use to. Matter more if you have a super lightweight set up, whilst others sacrifice a bit weight... Us and experience all we have to offer a real effort to accelerate away from traffic! A 5 kilometer, 7 percent grade, he concluded that for every 5 lbs can hold.... Body backwards ( or may not ) surprise you and/or its affiliates and licensors or wherever you get podcasts... But much stronger than aluminum, and 8 kg worth of equipment ( food. Change in weight status buy speed, but much stronger than aluminum, by... Community, are willing to pay extra for these lightweight items bikes every day weight a... Episode of Nerd Alert Podcast: it ’ s time for the 2020 CyclingTippy awards, Oct,. You with making these improvements hd reynolds New member better option for your height should be step one means! Cycling into town yesterday to sell some books at Blackwells ; a marker of cycling.! Up with the 50kg rider doing only 190 overall weight of your biking gear will be you..., how much does weight matter in cycling ’ s important to ensure that you keep your biking gear be.