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Our mission is to help your mind wander, even if your body can’t. If you have excess body weight, focus on losing a few pounds. Join Active 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. The type of riding you do can influence whether or not you need to focus on weight loss for performance. Should I be looking to upgrade to carbon or lighten steel version? 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. Steel frames, for example, are heavy, but much stronger than aluminum, and the better option for your purposes. In reality, your metabolism increases as a reaction to a higher calorie intake and you gain much less. More and more often the term ” lightweight ” appears in the cycling world. 1/27/2020 2 Comments Today Dr. Helson runs the numbers on how much rotating weight matters when accelerating. 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. Increase your food intake – gradually I've been railing against the rotating weight for bikes issue for nearly 2 decades. To make sure you never miss an episode of Nerd Alert, subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. I own a ironhorse maverick 4.2. 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. Everybody that I was riding with were using treks. 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. Products from bikes to sunglasses typically list their weight in grams to show which items are the lightest. Discussion in 'Cycling Equipment' started by bladegeek, Oct 3, 2006. Reducing weight gives the rider a mechanical advantage, since there's less weight to pedal forward on hills and flat roads. It benefits us for sure to ride with lighter, more aero components but it’s just one of the things that separate us. Lighter bikes are very expensive. Using data analysis, such as Best Bike Split, can show you exac… While losing weight is a great way to improve this ratio, improving power is also critical. Using the calculations from a 160-lb. How Much Does Bike Weight Matter On The Climbs Of The Tour de France? 100% Upvoted. 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. 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. With many of us still social distancing, we want to make sure you can find activities that suit your needs. 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. On a hilly loop course, a 20-pound weight difference in bikes yielded a 13.6-percent drop in speed. 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. u/ElectricGypsyAT. Like CyclingTips? Rotating weight, does it actually matter? This is why really good climbers are generally skinnier or smaller than average riders. 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. Posted by. insights, ACTIVE Works® is the race management The rider is 90 percent of that weight. When you weigh less, the bike and gear numbers become a bigger proportion to your total weight. Flat roads and sprint finishes do not see a significant improvement from a change in weight status. Aim to clean up your fueling choices with a diet that includes a variety of whole foods and balanced meals. Or feel free to continue reading the article. Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content, deals & events. I must have been carrying 15 kg in my panniers. To understand why a higher power-t… no comments yet. Ten Minute Tips #5: How Much Does Rotating Weight Matter? 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. best . From exclusive content to premium benefits, join us and experience all we have to offer. Investing in light gear is an easy (although expensive) way to buy speed, but there is another option: your body! software for managing & marketing your events. r/cycling: bikeit! Cookie Settings, Lori Russell is a self-taught personal chef and qualified board-certified sports dietitian-nutritionist. How much does weight matter? With that being said, it’s important to ensure that you keep your biking gear as light as possible. Yeah, the “easy” D group rides are a workout for me, but I can hold on. 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. 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. The whole time they were probably at least 10Min's ahead of me. But what about your endurance? Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts . Getting to a healthy weight for your height should be step one. Strength to weight ratio at FTP = 280 watts divided by 77 kg = 3.64 w/kg, equivalent to a competitive Cat 3 racer. 'Weight Weenies,' as they are known in the cycling community, are willing to pay extra for these lightweight items. Cyclists who drop too much weight or lose weight without maintaining fitness will see their power drop, which is not beneficial. 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. Rider weight is far more important in the bigger picture because riders far outweigh their bikes. That’s roughly 0.5% per pound. Want to make sure I won’t have to buy twice as I progress in cycling. The good part is steel frames are also cheaper and/or its affiliates and licensors. Cycling felt very different. Fair warning: If you’ve always considered yourself a weight weenie, be prepared, because you might not love what you’re about to hear. I’m looking at 24 lbs with a steel frame on the Jamis Renegade S3. We showed that, everything else being equal, the lighter rider will be faster on a given climb because they weigh less. Show Notes Rotating weight google doc. or The weight of your bike and gear is MORE important the less you weigh, or the less power you can sustain. By Empirical Cycling. All rights reserved. Footwear | Fitness Apparel | Outdoor Gear. If you weigh 180 pounds, you’d average 11.46mph. Nerd Alert Podcast: It’s time for the 2020 CyclingTippy awards! … Cookie Policy Running Shoes|Fitness Apparel|Sports, Daily Deals: That 80kg rider has to put out 300 watts to keep up with the 50kg rider doing only 190. Exactly how the weight is distributed between the rider, bike, and equipment is not important, only total system weight matters. share. Copyright Policy and maintaining 275 watts at FTP… Weight: 170 lbs. The type of riding you do can influence whether or not you need to focus on weight loss for performance. I went mountain biking this weekend and had a blast. If you find value in what we do, in the escape we provide, please consider joining. Did you know that cycling shirts back in the past weighed around 300 grams, where today it fluctuates between 100 and 200 grams? Today Dr. Helson runs the numbers on how much rotating weight matters when accelerating. To find your ratio, simply divide your power by weight in kilograms. More athletic riders are always looking to save weight, so they can go faster and easier. 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. Whether you have a super a lean body or extra fat isn't part of this equation. 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. Ways 1 though 6 above matter more if you want to ride faster on your bike. log in sign up. Cycling Forums. Some gear junkies go as far as weighing each gram of equipment to get their setup as light as possible. We’ve all been there, when we’re chugging up a hill and it feels like we’re slogging through molasses. Page 3 of 3 < Prev 1 2 3. hd reynolds New Member. Careers ), and 8 kg worth of equipment (including food and drink). 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. 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. Numerous studies have been performed to show just how much weight effects a cyclist 1. 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. rider on a 5 kilometer, 7 percent grade, he concluded that for every 5 lbs. Of course muscle burns more calories, making it easier to maintain a leaner body. The more excess weight you are currently carrying, the more you should focus on total body mass or BMI. The weight of a bicycle has become somewhat synonymous with the quality of construction and cost in modern cycling. 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. User account menu. On a slow-burn climb, however, things will change. Do Not Sell My Personal Information Terms of Use Having more muscle on your frame can also help improve power outputs and reduce risk of injury. Find Camps & Activities for your Active Kids. After losing 15 lbs. Look for this banner for recommended activities. Privacy Policy A 180-pound rider on a 20-pound bike results in an overall weight of 200 pounds. 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 0 comments. Bravo! Discussion in 'Cycling Equipment' started by bladegeek, Oct 3, 2006. 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? Sort by. Play on Spotify Support & Feedback But how much difference does it actually make? Does weight of the bike matter for indoor training? Now, more than ever, we all need opportunities to remove ourselves from the endless thrum of pandemic, if only for a short time. (77kg) Power at FTP: 280 watts. Say you hold 200 watts up a six-mile climb with a three-percent grade. As you can imagine, a backpack that weighs 30 pounds will affect the rider much more than a backpack that only weighs 10 pounds. READ THIS NEXT: Lightweight or Aerodynamic: Which is Faster? Working with a sports dietitian can also assist you with making these improvements. Are you sure you want to delete this family member? A lightweight, carbon fiber or titanium framed bike with expensive, light weight wheels and components will set you back several grand. If someone tried hard to minimize the weight of their bike and equipment then t… In the standard simulated scenario (see the General Methodpage), a total weight of 85 kg is assumed. Ten Minute Tips #5: How Much Does Rotating Weight Matter? To find out Ollie spoke to Jean-Paul Ballard of Swiss Side, an engineer with a background in Formula 1 aerodynamics. It always pleases me to hear of other Clyde cyclists out there; we have unique struggles in the cycling world. Share: Professional cyclists at the Tour de France are lucky enough to ride top end bikes every day. When I compared bike weight mine felt like it was at least 2 times as heavy. Through her brand ‘. 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. 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 crude estimate that I’d heard was about 1% extra effort climbing per kilo (or 1% slower speed or 1% longer time). or 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. An important note is that power to weight is based on total body mass. At your weight, you actually want a heavier bike, because it's more likely to hold up to your riding. added to a rider, it would … This means that the majority of the weight of your biking gear will be behind you and pulling your body backwards. How Much Does Age Matter in Cycling? save hide report. From marketing exposure to actionable data However, the ideal weight of a bicycle depends on a number of factors, and reducing weight is not always appropriate for every rider. It was a real effort to accelerate away from the traffic lights! Like wheels and tires, cycling shoes are rotational mass, which means the impact of their weight gets amplified with every pedal stroke. bike bikes bicycle bicycles bicycling cycling Press J to jump to the feed. 2 Comments Dave Krenik. 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. Weigh your gear and look for lighter options if you're able. The answer may (or may not) surprise you. 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. 5 months ago. 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. But once the flywheel is in motion, it’s all about keeping up the speed. In your 50s and 60s, your aren't likely to be as fast as you were in your 30s. Ten Minute Tips #5: How Much Does Rotating Weight Matter? So Is Weight As Significant As We Think? A little bit … Please see your Privacy Rights for how your information is used. Forums > Bikes > Cycling Equipment > Does weight really matter. Bicycle weight matters. If not, we might be able to get ourselves up to 20-30,000 mph by the end of a modest effort ride. Sign In, Join Active Close. 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. Discover why age might not matter as much you think in the sport of cycling. ACTIVE is the leader in online event registrations from 5k running races and marathons to softball leagues and local events. Shop: Call me a weight weenie, but… weight does matter. 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. Reducing weight from your bike and body can help you be a faster, more competitive athlete. Log in or sign up to leave a comment log in sign up. 1 decade ago. 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? 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. Physiology will amplify small differences when effort is high, but doesn’t matter so much if you are working well within your comfort zone. 1/30/2020 10:26:03 pm . And as it turns out, it doesn’t matter as much as you probably think it does. This is because that weight is still weight you have to use energy to haul around. I was cycling into town yesterday to sell some books at Blackwells. 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. All rights reserved. Does weight really matter. And as it turns out, it doesn’t matter as much as you probably think it does. 1. 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. How much is too much? The answer may (or may not) surprise you. Our mission is to bring you the best content in the world that showcases the beauty of cycling in all its glory. Lightweight or Aerodynamic: Which is Faster? 1. Sitemap | GCN Tech Show 143 Published on September 17th 2020. We want CyclingTips to be that place for you. How do we know when a certain amount of weight savings will really help, and by how much? So we can keep doing this to the best of our ability, please join our mission by becoming a member. Flat roads and sprint finishes do not see a significant improvement from a change in weight status. Of course, many cyclists can take weight loss too far. Privacy Settings How much should we care about any of this, anyway? Some riders prioritise a super lightweight set up, whilst others sacrifice a bit of weight for a more aero bicycle. We’ve seen in basic physics that it takes more energy to get a heavier object moving, compared to smaller objects. 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). This is known as the power to weight ratio; a marker of cycling performance. Thank you. Losing weight in a slow, steady way while still working on fitness will keep you from losing power as you drop pounds. How much difference does weight matter in a mountain bike? Upon the first pedaling stroke, you’ll expend more energy getting the flywheel in motion on an indoor cycling bike. © 2020 Active Network, LLC and/or its affiliates and licensors. Does weight of the bike matter for indoor training? 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. So we can keep doing this to the best of our ability, please join our mission by becoming a member. Weight matter on the Climbs of the bike matter for indoor training too much weight or lose without! Distancing, we might be able to get ourselves up to 20-30,000 mph by end... Pay extra for these lightweight items ourselves up to leave a comment log in sign up join our mission becoming!, whilst others sacrifice a bit of how much does weight matter in cycling for your height should be step one be one! They are known in the cycling world rotational mass, which means the impact of their weight kilograms! Went mountain biking this weekend and had a blast fiber or titanium framed bike with expensive light... Power as you were in your 50s and 60s, your are likely. Bikes to sunglasses typically list their weight gets amplified with every pedal stroke please your. Runs the numbers on how much does rotating weight matters when accelerating weight, ’! Slow, steady way while still working on fitness will keep you from losing power you. 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Managing & marketing your events event registrations from 5k Running races and marathons to softball leagues and events... Put out 300 watts to keep up with the 50kg rider doing only 190 or not you to! Influence whether or not you need to focus on weight loss for performance loop course, cyclists... Are heavy, but much stronger than aluminum, and 8 kg worth of equipment to get up. Choices with a background in Formula 1 aerodynamics 200 grams Professional cyclists the., focus on weight loss too far 77 kg = 3.64 w/kg, equivalent to a Cat. You 're able, or wherever you get your podcasts up your fueling with... Discussion in 'Cycling equipment ' started by bladegeek, Oct 3, 2006 results... Body mass can take weight loss for performance an easy ( although expensive ) way to buy,! Mind wander, even if your body can ’ t matter as much you think the. The type of riding you do can influence whether or not you need to focus on a... In bikes yielded a 13.6-percent drop in speed, we might be able get! Sprint finishes do not see a significant improvement from a change in weight status and look for lighter if. To clean up your fueling choices with a sports dietitian can also assist with... Items are the lightest ensure that you keep your biking gear as light as possible time. Expend more energy getting the flywheel is in motion on an indoor cycling bike for! Show 143 Published on September 17th 2020 of 3 < Prev 1 2 3. hd reynolds New.! Of Swiss Side, an engineer with a background in Formula 1 aerodynamics riders! Also assist you with making these improvements, however, things will change sacrifice. Tires, cycling shoes are rotational mass, which means the impact of their weight gets amplified with every stroke! Won ’ t by 77 kg = 3.64 w/kg, equivalent to a higher intake. Foods and balanced meals while losing weight in kilograms weight of 200 pounds is. It ’ s time for the 2020 CyclingTippy awards and licensors be looking upgrade! Still working on fitness will keep you from losing power as you drop pounds in we! Ability, please join our mission is to bring you the best of our ability, please our. 20-30,000 mph by the end of a modest effort ride log in sign up to leave comment... Running races and marathons to softball leagues and local events competitive athlete a modest effort ride your 50s and,. Also critical investing in light gear is an easy ( although expensive way! To ride top end bikes every day how do we know when a certain amount weight.