Forum menu
I read a few things now and again that mention a light bike getting thrown offline on the downs or in the rough, and that a heavy bike doesn't get thrown about the same
Ive not really thought this through, but given the rider weighs so much more than the bike and this lighter bike getting thrown offline comparison might typically be made comparing a 26lb bike to perhaps a 33lb one (so 0.5stone difference), is it really the bike weight that is making any difference?
Is it instead the stiffness of the bike, axle type, wheel build, rims, tyre pressures etc?
And merely that a lighter bike built with lighter components will typically have flexier (and lighter) components making up the frame/overall build?
(and a 'heavier'/burlier bike typically stiffer (and heavier) componets/frame bits?)
Don't confuse light with flexy, nor heavy with stiff...
Reading the whyte 146 review on the front page got me thinking, there seemed to be a putting any kicked off line down to the bike weight (at least at first) despite it being on XC wheels (EA70's)
Gyroscopic effect of the wheels plays a big part here. Heavier wheels and tires can have a massively noticeable effect on what the bike will and won't roll over easily and how titchy/stable it feels at speed over the rough stuff.
Frame, fork, cockpit flex is also a noticeable phenomena - a stiffer overall setup will track better and instill more confidence but it's only something people tend to notice if they have two contrasting setups they can compare.
Just the rider not compensating for the different bikes tbh. My main bike can go up or down by about 10lbs depending on build, when it's heavy it'll steamroller lines that it needs a little more guidance for when it's light, but that's not it getting "thrown off line because it's light", that's it being ridden wrong.
NorthwindJust the rider not compensating for the different bikes tbh. but that's not it getting "thrown off line because it's light", that's it being ridden wrong.
Uhhhhhhh there's a difference between noticing or being aware of flex, or deflection, and riding the bike wrong. I often ride the same trails on my xc bike as I do on my dh bike. The xc bike gets bounced around, and feels out of it's depth but I can assure you I'm not riding it "wrong".
Not sure why you'd get prickly there muddy, since I was talking of myself. Obvously you're not riding it wrong, they're just very different bikes and there's a lot more important differences than the weight.
But if you take 2 equivalent bikes, one heavy one light, then you ride them different, right? Expecting any bike to ride differently to how it is, is riding it wrong, whether it's travel or tyres or weight or anything else.
But if you take 2 equivalent bikes, one heavy one light, then you ride them different, right? Expecting any bike to ride differently to how it is, is riding it wrong, whether it's travel or tyres or weight or anything else.
I'd have the complete opposite take on it - just thrash the bike, regardless of setup. Yes they'll feel different, just adapt and stay on the gas. There's no right or wrong.
muddyfunster - Memberjust adapt
That's exactly what I'm saying!
Internets....not always easy to communicate.
Too true chief!
I'd have the complete opposite take on it - just thrash the bike, regardless of setup. Yes they'll feel different, just adapt and stay on the gas. There's no right or wrong.
Someone should tell Valentino Rossi this.