The good old days when bike manufacturers publicised weights
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MikeD
Senior Retro Guru
Re: The good old days when bike manufacturers publicised wei
There really aren't that many people riding 35lb+ FS bikes on normal trails. Mostly it's sub-30lb 120mm ish bikes. Most people were riding barely sub-30lb bikes twenty years ago too. Also the MTB market isn't bigger, it's been pretty much flat for quite a few years now. There are more expensive bikes available, and people are buying bikes more often or owning more than one bike.
Regardless of that, I'm not sure that an early-90s 23lb race hardtail is any more suitable for all-round trail riding than an overweight, over-travel FS bike. Differently unsuitable, perhaps
Seems fair. But my essential point stands -- there's a difference between "heavy modern bikes are available and some people choose to ride them" and "modern bikes are heavy".
mattr":3q3nupmt said:
There really aren't that many people riding 35lb+ FS bikes on normal trails. Mostly it's sub-30lb 120mm ish bikes. Most people were riding barely sub-30lb bikes twenty years ago too. Also the MTB market isn't bigger, it's been pretty much flat for quite a few years now. There are more expensive bikes available, and people are buying bikes more often or owning more than one bike.
Regardless of that, I'm not sure that an early-90s 23lb race hardtail is any more suitable for all-round trail riding than an overweight, over-travel FS bike. Differently unsuitable, perhaps
mattr":3q3nupmt said:
Seems fair. But my essential point stands -- there's a difference between "heavy modern bikes are available and some people choose to ride them" and "modern bikes are heavy".
Yog Sothoth
Retro Guru
Re: The good old days when bike manufacturers publicised wei
I'm pretty sure my 1999 Rockhopper was roughly 30lb with pedals.
To be honest, losing weight off my body seemed a better solution than seeking ultra-lightweight bikes.
I'm pretty sure my 1999 Rockhopper was roughly 30lb with pedals.
To be honest, losing weight off my body seemed a better solution than seeking ultra-lightweight bikes.
Yog Sothoth
Retro Guru
Re: The good old days when bike manufacturers publicised wei
I'm a crap rider no matter what I'm riding. On serious trails though, my Norco full susser is more comfy, and as some have said, lets me get away with stuff I wouldn't be able to ride otherwise, much as the advent of sticky rubber (and chalk) probably added a grade to my climbing ability way back in the past.
Oh and the Norco weighs about 30lb too, so similar to the old Rocky.
I'm a crap rider no matter what I'm riding. On serious trails though, my Norco full susser is more comfy, and as some have said, lets me get away with stuff I wouldn't be able to ride otherwise, much as the advent of sticky rubber (and chalk) probably added a grade to my climbing ability way back in the past.
Oh and the Norco weighs about 30lb too, so similar to the old Rocky.
Re: The good old days when bike manufacturers publicised wei
In 1991 I was riding a Raleigh Dynatech Mission that weighed 28lbs. It was fully rigid, canti braked.
I'm now riding (amongst others) a Whyte T120s, full suspension, disc brakes etc. It weighs 28lbs.
Modern bikes heavier? Nope, its just not true.
In 1991 I was riding a Raleigh Dynatech Mission that weighed 28lbs. It was fully rigid, canti braked.
I'm now riding (amongst others) a Whyte T120s, full suspension, disc brakes etc. It weighs 28lbs.
Modern bikes heavier? Nope, its just not true.
highlandsflyer
Retro Wizard
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Re: The good old days when bike manufacturers publicised wei
I would say the average mid range bike of 2013 is heavier than the same of 1998.
I would say the average mid range bike of 2013 is heavier than the same of 1998.
MikeD
Senior Retro Guru
Re: The good old days when bike manufacturers publicised wei
Thing is that there are so many different kinds of bikes now that "average mid range bike" is kind of hard to define. When everything was a rigid bike you just had one continuum from "cheap and heavy" to "light and expensive" and you could easily point at "mid range". Nowadays, not so much.
highlandsflyer":23zy0il9 said:
Thing is that there are so many different kinds of bikes now that "average mid range bike" is kind of hard to define. When everything was a rigid bike you just had one continuum from "cheap and heavy" to "light and expensive" and you could easily point at "mid range". Nowadays, not so much.
gradeAfailure
Senior Retro Guru
Re: The good old days when bike manufacturers publicised wei
MikeD, what are you doing, talking sense!? It'll never catch on...
I'm going to throw the Boardman HT Pro Carbon into the ring: 23.8lbs, full carbon monocoque, full SRAM X9, SID RLT forks, top-spec Elixir CR brakes, £1600.
1992 equivalent price £915. What cost £915 back then, and was it as high-spec'd?
I love retrobikes, don't get me wrong, but some of the misconceptions about newer stuff are just laughable.
MikeD, what are you doing, talking sense!? It'll never catch on...
I'm going to throw the Boardman HT Pro Carbon into the ring: 23.8lbs, full carbon monocoque, full SRAM X9, SID RLT forks, top-spec Elixir CR brakes, £1600.
1992 equivalent price £915. What cost £915 back then, and was it as high-spec'd?
I love retrobikes, don't get me wrong, but some of the misconceptions about newer stuff are just laughable.
samc
Retro Guru
Re: The good old days when bike manufacturers publicised wei
23.8lbs is without pedals. So not sub-24 lbs. In the 90s, £900 ish would get you quite a lot (certainly sub-24lbs, even steel framed), and a loaf of bread and a flat cap. The point is not that light bikes don't exist these days, it's that they could be eeeven lighter, for eeeeven less.
And although reviews sites might weigh the test bikes, I bet if you walk into Halfords they'll show you a Boardman without any idea of the weight; it's just not on radar.
gradeAfailure":3h9hvrpb said:
23.8lbs is without pedals. So not sub-24 lbs. In the 90s, £900 ish would get you quite a lot (certainly sub-24lbs, even steel framed), and a loaf of bread and a flat cap. The point is not that light bikes don't exist these days, it's that they could be eeeven lighter, for eeeeven less.
And although reviews sites might weigh the test bikes, I bet if you walk into Halfords they'll show you a Boardman without any idea of the weight; it's just not on radar.
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