The other day I was talking to someone who just bought an incredible mountain bike, the frame of his mountain bike was only about 4 pounds and it was completely carbon fiber. It was the lightest thing you’ve ever seen, you could put it in your hands, put your arms straight out, and hold it there for 15 minutes and not even notice, it was that light. He also had all the bells and whistles available for his new bike, and even asked me if I wanted his old frame, which I didn’t need. Okay so let’s talk shall we?
You see he likes to go on long rides, but by the time he puts all the components on, the sports computer, and carries the extra water bottles, and everything else he is adding a tremendous number of pounds onto the bike frame. What good is it to save 4 pounds on a mountain bike frame if you are going to put three water bottles on it? Further, wouldn’t it be better to lose 10 pounds on your body instead? It’s nice having a light mountain bike, but what good is all that carbon fiber and all that incredible technology if you are just going to load the bike down with endless gadgets, components, and additional features?
We’ve all heard of the concept of owning a smart home, or having a smart car, but this guy’s mountain bike is really a smart bike. The only thing is – this strategy of his doesn’t sound all that smart to me, in fact it sounds very expensive. He paid a tremendous amount of money just for the frame, and all those gadgets, devices, and even the sports attire he wears all adds up. By the time he’s done, he would’ve been better off to buy a Huffy, get himself a pair of shorts, and he’d be headed for about the same amount of weight. No, not quite, but you get the idea.
You see, I know a thing or two about this because I have a carbon 10 speed lightweight touring bike. It’s made for long distances, and although it is very light, it is also very strong, and each and every component must be considered prior to attachment. Every pound you add is more energy you will expend to get it down the road. After a 150-mile bike ride and a day of riding, every pound matters. Please consider all this and think on it.
