My folder's under 9 kg (some reviews claim under 8)
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Questions/Support/Help
Lightweight commuter bike ideas?
(58 posts)- Started 8 years ago by sallyhinch
- Latest reply from crowriver
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Posted 8 years ago #
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My commuter bike is a Raleigh Pioneer (although it's an older model). It's quite a good bike, now that I've added a rack and changed the bars, the grips, the brakes,the saddle, the front hub, the spokes, the brake discs, the tyres, the pedals, the cranks, the bottom bracket and the mudguards.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Hahaha!
I ride an old Pioneer (mid-1990s vintage) as my city runabout. I changed the bars and stem (converted to drops) and hence the brake and shift levers. New alloy seat post (original was steel), new Marathon+ tyres too. Added mudguards and a rack, new pedals. Otherwise was original until the recent winterisation of a dynamo hub wheel at the front (which may be switched back to original wheel for summer). I did try a different saddle but reverted to the original Selle Italia which is fine.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@sallyhinch, presumably the vintage Peugeot is around 10kg?
That's because it's a racer, has no mudguards, skinny light racing tyres, no rack, no chain guard...
Chunkier tyres, mudguards, rack, will add at least a couple of kilos in weight. So for anything more suited to riding in the rain in normal clothes, about 12-13kg would be the minimum for a full sized bike unless it's a commuterised racer.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I appreciate we're not going to get something as light as the racer...
Anyway, thanks for the suggestions, I'm going to have a look round our local bike shop later this week when my bike is in for a service and see what they might have in stock or could order in. If only because I've no idea what 12kg (or even 17kg) of bike might feel like for real.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Wonder if my dad's old steel-rims-and-mudguards Wayfarer weighed that much? It was OK for a paper round but very irritating to have to go six miles to a cornet lesson on it if my own bike was injured.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Pashley sovereign weighs 20kg, a thing of great beauty but a very heavy thing of great beauty
Posted 8 years ago # -
PS: if you want an estimate for the upper end of weights, my usual city bike that I was on for the walk/cycle/vote ride is 22kg without luggage.
I would not recommend something that heavy if I had to lift it up.
Ever.
Posted 8 years ago # -
My bike was built up around a winter training frame (kinesis), so mounts for full mudguards and rack. Takes 28c tyres too although I have 25c on at the moment. Mine comes in at just over 9 1/2 kilos including mudguards & rack.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Think our tandem's around 15kg? Liftable but awkward (partly because of length)
Posted 8 years ago # -
Pashley has Gold lined mudguards
Posted 8 years ago # -
Pashley Tuberider/Parabike is a nice bike for a 3 mile commute. 17kg though!
Posted 8 years ago # -
@SRD, the Helios is 16kg apparently. Presumably that's without mudguards, rack, etc.
I suppose the small wheels (and tyres) save some weight?
Posted 8 years ago # -
@crowriver dunno. the hybrid i had before it was about 14 and my recollection was that the Helios was a few kilos more, so 15 or 16 sounds about right.
Personally, once I get above 12kg or so, the difference 1 or 2 kg more becomes rather meaningless (especially once you assume panniers, work crap, locks and a stoker!), but the distinction may matter more to some.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I agree with you SRD. I have no idea what most of my bikes weigh. Probably the heaviest would be either the tandem or the Pashley Pronto post bike. Even so, when you're riding they don't feel heavy. Both are liftable with no problems, if a little unwieldy in the case of the tandem.
"the distinction may matter more to some": I suppose if you're lifting it in and out of a car it does make a difference!
Posted 8 years ago # -
Yup, it's getting it in and out the car that makes the difference in this case. Otherwise I'd probably have got him a Paperbike ...
Posted 8 years ago # -
I'm curious how many people use liftability as a criterion for a bicycle? Our bikes live with us on the third floor so it's important but not the kind of thing people mention - if weight is mentioned it's by hill climbing types.
Posted 8 years ago # -
It was certainly more of a pain hauling my old hybrid up the stairs, which was probably about 5kg heavier. Especially at the end of the week with two full panniers.
The new one's a better bike all round and I prefer the drop bar position. However, liftability is probably the main benefit of it being lighter than the hybrid.
I don't notice a difference from, for example, carrying two full 1 litre water bottles and I had pretty laden & heavy panniers on the way home last night and it didn't feel noticeably harder work...
As far as a criterion for buying a bike- I guess it's cheaper to get stronger, just like it's cheaper to lose weight yourself ;-)
Posted 8 years ago # -
Liftability is really important if you have a roof-rack.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Thanks for all the input - it was very helpful. In the end, I went to our local independent bike shop and had a nosy round and (if anyone's interested) went for a Raleigh SF100 a flat-bar road bike that was on sale (could have got it cheaper on line but it's the bike shop that services my bike and we've already lost one independent in the town). He's fitting a rack and mudguards all in for the ticket price but the main thing was that the other half tried it and liked it and it feels pretty light and responsive. It weighs about 11 kg, although that will go up once it's kitted out as a commuter
Getting it in and out of the car won't be a straightforward for all the reasons discussed here but we may just use the bike rack if he can't get the knack of fitting it in easily.
For obvious reasons I am not now in the market for tales of how it's a complete dog of a bike, but any positive stories will be welcomed! We'll pick it up in the new year and see how the commuting goes.
Posted 8 years ago # -
"He's fitting a rack and mudguards all in for the ticket price"
Basically a good deal then.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Still time to buy an estate car too.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Still time to buy a Brompton too.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@sallyhinch I'm selling a Kia Rio which fits in my cyclocross bike in the deceptively large boot without having to remove wheels etc.
:)Posted 8 years ago # -
"I'm selling a Kia Rio which fits in my cyclocross bike..."
Big bike or small car!
Posted 8 years ago # -
Looks similar to the spesh Sirrus I mentioned. Nippy. Lugano tyre quite slick? Double spoke set up interesting.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Well, he picked up the bike today at lunchtime - just got a text to say it fits (just) in the car even with rack and mudguards and he's delighted with it. How delighted he'll be in tomorrow's rain will be another question...
Posted 8 years ago # -
@sallyhinch, good that he's pleased with the bike! :-)
Posted 8 years ago #
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