I posted this at the Weight Weenies forum as well, but wanted to get your guys’ thoughts too since this forum has a generally different focus than just building up the lightest bike possible. Thanks in advance for weighing in.
I have been seriously considering the idea of making the move to an aero road bike. It seems all the rage and with reported weights inching toward non-aero models, I figured that we may eventually see more and more companies going the route of Scott who are reportedly dropping the Addict range for 2012 with high-end options based solely around the new F01L.
I recently had the opportunity to weigh a few top of the line frames introduced this year. These are both frames that I have been heavily considering as my next bicycle; or at the very least the models for which to base my next purchase off of. I was very surprised by the results and it definitely has me questioning my original thoughts of jumping into the aero arena too soon. It also begs the question, what do companies take into consideration with reporting weights? I know this isn’t the first time this has come up, but there has to be some sort of standard; the Cervelo comes in shockingly above quoted weight for a painted frame.
I didn’t have the opportunity to weigh a F01L, but would definitely LOVE to see that as well since I am definitely a bit disappointed with these. I guess besides just sharing the information, help me out and weigh in - should I give up on the aero idea, for now, considering how far from reported weights these frames are or will the aero benefits REALLY cancel out 500g+ in frame weight with plenty of top of the line models nearing low and even sub 800g range?
Cervelo S5
Size: 54cm
Weight: 1370g (Frame, Bottom Bracket, Cable Guide, and Water Bottle Bolts - NO Fork, NO Headset)
Reported: “990g for a painted frame” ( http://www.bikeradar.com/...ero-road-bike-30780/ )
Specialized Venge
Size: 54cm
Weight: 1162g (Frame, Bottom Bracket, Cable Guide, and Water Bottle Bolts - NO Fork, NO Headset, and NO Seat Post Clamp)
Reported: “Claimed weight for the Venge frame is 950g” (http://www.bikeradar.com/...bike-launched-29642/ )
Your measurement is very close to their claim for the Team and Standard frames.
It should be noted that 180lbs of Thor Hushovd somehow manage to drag the Team frame over two mountain stages for the win in the tour this year. A couple hundred grams are not a big deal, even in comparison to the arguably minor advantages of aerodynamics.
Its really about horses for courses. What do you want to do with the frame.
If your racing typical amateur courses, go for one of the aero frames, as they will be faster.
If you will be doing lots of hill climb races go light as they will be faster.
If you will be mostly long riding, with the occasional race, be sure to get in a decent test ride and pick the bike that feels best, as may as well enjoy the time spent riding even at the expense of a few minutes of time.
Go for a ride on a set of Zipps (even shallow ones)
and then go for a ride with and without a 75% full 20oz water bottle.
Which is noticeable?
But really, if you are going hard up a STEEP climb and putting out 5w/kg, a pound will take 2.3 extra watts to carry up the hill. Any aero frame will save you that, even riding very slow.
Most hillclimb races are steep. If your gonna race all up hill, may as well go all out when designing the course. Aside from that you should review the Cervelo Col De Tipping point. The 5% tipping point was for a 200 grams difference, which is 40% of the difference the original poster asked about (and he wasn’t including the difference in seatposts (many of the dedicatedaerobike seatposts are pigs compared to a nice round post) and was for a 250 watt average, which isn’t protour but is a fair amount of average power for us mortals.
Aside from that they stated that the 5% tipping point held for an entire course ups and downs for 200 grams.
If we take Cervelo at their word, weight still “matters” quite a bit and the top edition of the S5 looks particularly sexy if it come in near its claimed weight.
Most hillclimb races are steep. If your gonna race all up hill, may as well go all out when designing the course. Aside from that you should review the Cervelo Col De Tipping point. The 5% tipping point was for a 200 grams difference, which is 40% of the difference the original poster asked about (and he wasn’t including the difference in seatposts (many of the dedicatedaerobike seatposts are pigs compared to a nice round post) and was for a 250 watt average, which isn’t protour but is a fair amount of average power for us mortals.
Aside from that they stated that the 5% tipping point held for an entire course ups and downs for 200 grams.
If we take Cervelo at their word, weight still “matters” quite a bit and the top edition of the S5 looks particularly sexy if it come in near its claimed weight.
Except…as I think Damon pointed out recently (and as I had posited) the aero differences were underplayed in the “Col” analysis as well.
Damon may not agree with the analysis, but its on Cervelos current website, and if they downplayed the aeroness of the S3, they also picked the lightest of there 3 aero bikes (at the time) to use, and that was the only weight differential they considered. I would contend that 200 grams difference also counts as downplaying weight also.
yeah, and the tipping point would be the point where the two bikes are the same.
the tipping point for a 250 watt rider of average weight, purely on the uphill, is 5% grade (given the parameters of the cold de tipping point comparison)
For an up and down course, after 8 hours of riding, 35 seconds comes pretty close to “the same”. Let me pick the seat post on the R3SL vs the S3 dedicated seatpost and I think I can find those 35 seconds using the same analysis ;-).
