Am I kidding myself that it could weigh much less without spending mega bucks
Define mega bucks.
Swap Recons for SIDs
Swap Thomson stem for one of the many lighter choices
Swap bars for light carbon ones
Non-QR seat clamp
Hubs may well be heavy depending on what model they actually are
Hope seatpost isn't light IIRC
Ditto the saddle
Also, how much do you weigh? If you're carrying an extra couple of stone, maybe think about losing that first.. 😀
Rigid fork is the obvious thing for losing the most weight.
Then lighter tyres.
Then lighter wheels.
And you could still get a steel frame and get it under 20lbs. My mate has several steel framed bikes that are 17-19lbs. But maybe not with that pipedream, I've heard its a fatty.
If you went for some lighter wheels, you could get some v brake rims, which means you could go for really light hubs, and then get v brakes and lose some weight.
Start with tyres, tubes, then go to rims spokes and hubs. Ive just got some hope hoops with the pro2s and stans crest rims. They aren't ridiculously light but quite good for the money.
saying all that 24lbs is good. I think my 18" inbred weighs around that with stupid light stans tyres. Should be able to get it a little lower if i put them on my new hope hoops wheels however im going down the nobby nic/racing ralph route. Still should lose a bit of weight though. deore hubs/317 rims and non butted spokes are HEAVVYYY
edit: realman has a point. Nice rigid exotic/pace fork made of CF will reduce the weight loads!
That seems light already! Over the last 18months I've been perfecting a similarish bike (duster, though with gears)
My plan of action for your bike would be –
cheapish upgrades….
Foam grips….I like the superstar ones
New Qr's…again I use superstar ones
ibeam saddle and post (even though I've broken 2 posts I'd still use them)
ashima rotors
pedals
schwalbe tyres (2.1 RRon / RRalph)
expensive upgrades…
reba SLs / SIDs
carbon bars, probably eastons
new wheels, proIII crest
I'm pretty sure BATs are quite heavy so could save 200g ish by going to hope tech x2s (though the older mini's are slightly lighter…)
new frame 🙂