I am asking more out of curiosity than anything else, but I’m wondering why my p2k is a good 22+ pounds. I must have a heavy set up – have mavic cosmic elites, profile aerolite bars, xlab flatwing, stock seatpost, Selle Italia Flite Titanium saddle, and ultegra components. I guess there is not that much I can do about it without spending needless bucks, but I am just curious where you would start. Thanks for any thoughts.
The Independant Bicycle Test Council (IBTC)has determined that the reason why your P2K is so heavy is because of the weight.
If you make it weigh less by decreasing the weight of the components and equipment mounted on the bike, it will weigh less, making it lighter.
Thanks for the confirmation. Now that the IBTC has weighed in on this (yeah, pun intended), I feel as if my hypothesis has been verified. I feel, well, vindicated.
Would the IBTC now care to declare which parts should be replaced first when you do a value/weight reduction analysis?
Maybe not replaced, but in the vast majority of cases it’s usually the rider that benefits the most from weight reduction. Oddly enough, this helps on the run as well. 
the wheels could be lighter, that’s probably a half pound there, what kind of bars are you using as a base bar? regular bars with regular shifters/brake calibers? If so that is easily a pound and a half of excess weights. The X-Lab saddlewing, another pound of excess weight. A seat tube mounted water bottle and a Jetstream should be plenty. What kind of pedals are you using? How about the fork? Carbon fork with a carbon steerer tube? There are so many places that you could save a quarter to a half pound and they all add up. But unless you are racing on courses that have a lot of climbing, the difference between a 22 pound and a 19 pound bike isn’t that much.
You’ve just got it spec’d wrong. Ths will help you out
http://weightweenies.starbike.com/listings.php
BTW, are you planning on racing up the Alps?
The question to ask is which is easier if I lose 3 pounds or my bike loses 3 pounds. I know which one is cheaper.
Because it’s a P2K?!?
If weight is important, Cervelo is not a frame for consideration. If aerodynamics, bb stiffness, and good looks are important, then Cervelo is a great bike. It takes a lot of material to make those shapes. Weight is easier to compare than ride quality and fit. Give your bike a good cleaning and you’ll love her again.
disclaimer: I’m a weight-geek.
Believe me, I know that losing my own weight is way more important than the bike weight. I am not really trying to be a big weight weenie here. Whatever my bike weight is, it is. It’s more that I was surprised when I put my road bike side by side with the p2k and felt the very tangible difference. My p2k wheel set is somewhat heavier than my road set. But it looks to me like the real difference is in the aerobars. There seems to be a lot more metal there.
Oh well, back to working off the body fat.
" mavic cosmic elites, profile aerolite bars, xlab flatwing, stock seatpost, Selle Italia Flite Titanium saddle, and ultegra components."
Five of the six things you list are offenders on the weight scale.
I would start with the wheels, and get tubulars if you want to save weight. Since I haven’t made my behind the saddle water bottle holder public (and won’t for some time), Cat Carbon bikes makes a very excellent one that is not a boat anchor like the X-Lab holder.
Brake calipers, pedals, and the like will make a difference, as well. I would not mess with the fork unless you are going to replace it with the Reynolds or Easton, and I have been rethinking carbon steer tubes with aerobars, anyhow (they’re fine with dropbars).
Unless you have lots of climbs, I would not worry about weight on a bike made for timed races. Remember that Lemond beat everyone on a bike that weighed at least 25 lbs (if not more), but had superior position as well.
Or you could drill a bunch of holes throughout the frame until you’ve achieved the desired weight loss Seriously, my softride weighs a ton but it’s comfy and I can stay aero on it–I also like my XLab waterbottle holder too and am gratified to know that I can use it as a boat anchor when my wife finally agrees to let me buy that bass boat I’ve always wanted.
Do you think weight is a consideration for a hilly ironman like IMOO? Or do the hills have to be killer? Just curious
Thye X-Lab is a usable boat anchor. I also think that weight on a Softride is not a detriment- I have never seen a slow one that I have passed- the Softrides tend to pass me, even when my Fox is kitted out in climbing mode (18.5 lbs).
Obsession with weight is not what needs to be done unless you are on a hilly, hilly course.
Don’t know the bike course for IMOO, but I have heard from several respectable sources that you can use a disc on that course, something that should be used on every course but the very hilliest.
22 pounds, come on thats freakin light compared to my previous softride qualifier. i had a 23.5 pound softride qualifier, BTW it was named Crotch Rocket, b/c it flew by people going up or down hills. Bike weight doesn’t really mean squat unless the course goes straight uphill from start to finish. stay in those aerobars as much as possible, even going uphills and you’ll be fine.
As I had said before- weight never seems to be a detriment for Softride riders. Maybe I should be riding a Softride…
bunnyman i’d be willing to swap frames for a bit, an old well used and maintain softride qualifer for the fox. let me know
For a 48cm p2K this is unacceptable !
"Or you could drill a bunch of holes throughout the frame until you’ve achieved the desired weight loss "
Hey don’t laugh. I know a custom frame builder that used to do just that. He used to make very trick funny bikes and this was one of his many tricks for reducing the weight since he used steel. In fact the bike that John Frey set the 40kM TT record was on a bike built by him and it had holes taken out of the forks and down tube. weird.
Don’t sacrifice aero for weight, even on a hilly course or you’ll lose out. Kraig Willet had an excellent article on this on his site before he took it down. Unless you’re travelling up a vertical wall, aero will always be faster.