How cheaply can you build a new sub 6.8kg road bike?
Discussion
As above really, I thought this might be interesting to look at. Can it be done for under £1k? The only stipulations are that everything has to be brand new, no used bits or super limited quantity retail clearance items.
Is it feasible to do with a 105 groupset? Assuming you can that's £280 or so, if not then it becomes more tricky unless you eBay the chainset and buy a lighter one. SRAM Rival is a fraction lighter but also more money. It appears the full 105 group is 2.4kg.
Tyres can be done for £20 each at about 200g per go, add another fiver for tubes and you're circa 430g and £45. Bar tape is another £10 and about 50g - running total now 2.88kg and £335
For the rest I guess you're hitting the Chinese direct sales channels for their finest and cheapest carbon bits - wheels, frameset and finishing kit. With 3.92kg to play with I guess you need 1.5 for the wheels, similar for the frameset and you're left with 920g to do the saddle, bars, stem, seatpost, spacers and bottle cage (singular, we're weight weenie-ing here).
So, can anyone see what I've missed? Cables come in the groupset but maybe aren't included in the weight figure I saw. How cheaply can it be done? Over to you PH cyclists.
Is it feasible to do with a 105 groupset? Assuming you can that's £280 or so, if not then it becomes more tricky unless you eBay the chainset and buy a lighter one. SRAM Rival is a fraction lighter but also more money. It appears the full 105 group is 2.4kg.
Tyres can be done for £20 each at about 200g per go, add another fiver for tubes and you're circa 430g and £45. Bar tape is another £10 and about 50g - running total now 2.88kg and £335
For the rest I guess you're hitting the Chinese direct sales channels for their finest and cheapest carbon bits - wheels, frameset and finishing kit. With 3.92kg to play with I guess you need 1.5 for the wheels, similar for the frameset and you're left with 920g to do the saddle, bars, stem, seatpost, spacers and bottle cage (singular, we're weight weenie-ing here).
So, can anyone see what I've missed? Cables come in the groupset but maybe aren't included in the weight figure I saw. How cheaply can it be done? Over to you PH cyclists.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/U-Shape-1320g-38mm-Clinc...
Those are £300 (plus tax, so more like £360 all in) and 1,380g
Or you can buy these from Wiggle: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cosine-32mm-alloy-clincher...
They're £220 all in and weigh 1,485g so probably make more sense, running total now 4,365g and £555, leaving £445 and 2,435g for frame and finishing kit.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Composite-Carbon-Frame-S...
£316 (£380 with tax) for that frameset with seatpost weighing sub 1,300g. You can even buy the worlds most uncomfortable looking saddle for a tenner from the same place... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3K-Glossy-Sports-Saddle-...
Add in some Deda alu bars and stem from Wiggle and I think you're there actually, somewhere around 6.5kg and under a grand.
Go on, someone tell me I'm wrong or find a way to make it lighter or cheaper!
Those are £300 (plus tax, so more like £360 all in) and 1,380g
Or you can buy these from Wiggle: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cosine-32mm-alloy-clincher...
They're £220 all in and weigh 1,485g so probably make more sense, running total now 4,365g and £555, leaving £445 and 2,435g for frame and finishing kit.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Composite-Carbon-Frame-S...
£316 (£380 with tax) for that frameset with seatpost weighing sub 1,300g. You can even buy the worlds most uncomfortable looking saddle for a tenner from the same place... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3K-Glossy-Sports-Saddle-...
Add in some Deda alu bars and stem from Wiggle and I think you're there actually, somewhere around 6.5kg and under a grand.
Go on, someone tell me I'm wrong or find a way to make it lighter or cheaper!
Groupset weights do not include cables or pedals so add 260g for pedals and 160g for cables
also I am impressed with your suggested 30g for 2 innertubes, more like 200g for a pair
also 150g for headset, 100g for QR spindles stem, 100g, bars, 220g bar tape80g, saddle 160g, seat post 150g
and you are soon up 8kg
also I am impressed with your suggested 30g for 2 innertubes, more like 200g for a pair
also 150g for headset, 100g for QR spindles stem, 100g, bars, 220g bar tape80g, saddle 160g, seat post 150g
and you are soon up 8kg
And you'll also need to take into account that slight obstacle that is the actual weight Vs the claimed manufacturers weight as this could add a fair %age to the end weight.
Another possible option for weight saving might be a single ring set-up. It would drop a bit off when you take out the front mech, chainring and cable.
Another possible option for weight saving might be a single ring set-up. It would drop a bit off when you take out the front mech, chainring and cable.
It can be quite expensive dropping grams off a bike. I wasn't even trying that hard and I saved 504g at a cost of £184.Reaching 600g could be done using light weight brake discs and titanium bolts for the calipers. Wheels would be a good 300-500g saved at a cost of £230 for crosslights. Never got round to buying cross lights for my Planet X bike. Its also running 105 and there is probabaly 300g to save by switching to Ultegra all round, but I could never be bothered.
Tiddy1 said:
Groupset weights do not include cables or pedals so add 260g for pedals and 160g for cables
also I am impressed with your suggested 30g for 2 innertubes, more like 200g for a pair
also 150g for headset, 100g for QR spindles stem, 100g, bars, 220g bar tape80g, saddle 160g, seat post 150g
and you are soon up 8kg
My tubes were made from the lightest unobtanium also I am impressed with your suggested 30g for 2 innertubes, more like 200g for a pair
also 150g for headset, 100g for QR spindles stem, 100g, bars, 220g bar tape80g, saddle 160g, seat post 150g
and you are soon up 8kg
So it's not as simple as it might appear!
Let's flip it another way, this Canyon is £1,350 and weighs 7.6kg so you'd need to lose 800g and build it for £350 less.
https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/road/ultimate/2016/ul...
You could easily shed 500g from the wheelset (Aksiums with GP4000S) but beyond that I guess you'd struggle to drop the last 300g without smashing the budget. Cheap carbon finishing kit might do a fraction, but a Chinese carbon frame and fork isn't going to be any lighter than the Canyon one.
You could lose a few more going for a compact and 11-28 with a short cage mech but short of going to tubulars I'm not sure where the rest of the saving could come from without going for Ultegra/SRAM Force/Campag groupset and that would kill the budget
Tiddy1 said:
Groupset weights do not include cables or pedals so add 260g for pedals and 160g for cables
also I am impressed with your suggested 30g for 2 innertubes, more like 200g for a pair
also 150g for headset, 100g for QR spindles stem, 100g, bars, 220g bar tape80g, saddle 160g, seat post 150g
and you are soon up 8kg
Conti Supersonics are 50g each and you can get Ti/Carbon skewers on eBay that are circa 40-50g for £25 from UK sellers.also I am impressed with your suggested 30g for 2 innertubes, more like 200g for a pair
also 150g for headset, 100g for QR spindles stem, 100g, bars, 220g bar tape80g, saddle 160g, seat post 150g
and you are soon up 8kg
upsidedownmark said:
Or you could just save some money (on food) and drop a couple of kg out of the engine..
(Sorry, someone had to say it..)
This is hypothetical, but as you mention it, there's no way I could lose any weight at all, I already have a BMI way below any pro cyclist so it isn't an option here (Sorry, someone had to say it..)
lukefreeman said:
Easy.
Wheels
Frame set
Bars/stem
Then £350 for Compact 105, grip tape, some cheap tubs and a saddle.
Didn't know they had got the wheels down to 1066g now. Even if you add 10% for inaccuracy, that's still very very light. Wheels
Frame set
Bars/stem
Then £350 for Compact 105, grip tape, some cheap tubs and a saddle.
Edited by lukefreeman on Thursday 7th April 16:39
Bars with integrated stem will be stiffer than a separate bars/stems, but they are heavier than separates. My chinese carbon bars and stem with titanium bolts come in at around 300g.
I quite fancy the 1066g wheels
JustinF said:
Wow!So how light can you go for a grand? 1kg wheels, 1.3kg frameset, 2.4kg groupset (I don't think anything above 105 is going to hit the budget). Tubulars are 230g each (expensive at £100 the pair but save weight on the wheels).
That's just over 5kg, add in cables and finishing kit and it might even be sub 6kg in a tiny frame size with a tailwind.
TBH have a big poo before you go out
So many of these no name chinese parts have unproven and inconsistent QC , they might be light, but I wouldn't want any failing at 45mph or 50 miles from home. Dont get me wrong, Ive bought bits and they've been great, i've bought the same part again for it to be completely different and worse!
All the riders I know who are obsessed with bike weight are usually carrying 2 stone too much of sausages and guinness on their waist, so concentrate on that before getting the bike as light as possible
I'm not knocking low weight on bikes, I'd prioritise other things higher though first.
So many of these no name chinese parts have unproven and inconsistent QC , they might be light, but I wouldn't want any failing at 45mph or 50 miles from home. Dont get me wrong, Ive bought bits and they've been great, i've bought the same part again for it to be completely different and worse!
All the riders I know who are obsessed with bike weight are usually carrying 2 stone too much of sausages and guinness on their waist, so concentrate on that before getting the bike as light as possible
I'm not knocking low weight on bikes, I'd prioritise other things higher though first.
TwistingMyMelon said:
TBH have a big poo before you go out
So many of these no name chinese parts have unproven and inconsistent QC , they might be light, but I wouldn't want any failing at 45mph or 50 miles from home. Dont get me wrong, Ive bought bits and they've been great, i've bought the same part again for it to be completely different and worse!
All the riders I know who are obsessed with bike weight are usually carrying 2 stone too much of sausages and guinness on their waist, so concentrate on that before getting the bike as light as possible
I'm not knocking low weight on bikes, I'd prioritise other things higher though first.
I agree on all of the above, but this is still an interesting theoretical exercise for me So many of these no name chinese parts have unproven and inconsistent QC , they might be light, but I wouldn't want any failing at 45mph or 50 miles from home. Dont get me wrong, Ive bought bits and they've been great, i've bought the same part again for it to be completely different and worse!
All the riders I know who are obsessed with bike weight are usually carrying 2 stone too much of sausages and guinness on their waist, so concentrate on that before getting the bike as light as possible
I'm not knocking low weight on bikes, I'd prioritise other things higher though first.
I've run Chinese carbon wheels before, but on a disc braked bike - I'd have been far more circumspect if I had a no-name carbon braking surface given the amount of time I spend riding up and down mountains.
What it really does underline though, is how out of date the UCI weight limit is. If you can take a mid-range groupset and still build a sub 6.8kg bike for under a grand then £2k would allow you to build a sub 6kg machine easily - Same as the £1k bike but with SRAM Red mechanical bits, and that's a bit silly really!
TwistingMyMelon said:
TBH have a big poo before you go out
So many of these no name chinese parts have unproven and inconsistent QC , they might be light, but I wouldn't want any failing at 45mph or 50 miles from home. Dont get me wrong, Ive bought bits and they've been great, i've bought the same part again for it to be completely different and worse!
All the riders I know who are obsessed with bike weight are usually carrying 2 stone too much of sausages and guinness on their waist, so concentrate on that before getting the bike as light as possible
I'm not knocking low weight on bikes, I'd prioritize other things higher though first.
Deep down we all know this, but this isn't what this thread is about. Its just highlighting what lightweight components you can get for the money. I know I'm overweight, but I still like looking at lightweight components and bikes and lightweight wheels and decent quality hubs make a big difference to how a bike feels on the road. I added some cheap carbon bars to my Giant recently and it certainly took a lot of the road buzz iout of the ride. The fcat they are 150g lighter is neither here or there. So many of these no name chinese parts have unproven and inconsistent QC , they might be light, but I wouldn't want any failing at 45mph or 50 miles from home. Dont get me wrong, Ive bought bits and they've been great, i've bought the same part again for it to be completely different and worse!
All the riders I know who are obsessed with bike weight are usually carrying 2 stone too much of sausages and guinness on their waist, so concentrate on that before getting the bike as light as possible
I'm not knocking low weight on bikes, I'd prioritize other things higher though first.
Trek all ready have a road bike that's 5.9kg and the world tour teams have been adding lead under the bottle cages for several years to make sure their bikes reach the 6.8Kg minimum weight. If memory serves, the UCI stated they may review the minimum weight soon.
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