You plan to buy a bike, but you should consider the lightest bicycle you can find because a cyclist friend told you that you could ride faster.
However, you check the costs and discover you need to pay more for a lighter bike. So you begin to think if it’s worth buying one.
Many cyclists are in the same boat as you. However, they also need more information about lighter bikes before they buy them.
Fortunately, you come across this article in your search for an answer. So kindly read on to learn about the average bike’s weight and its effect on speed.
Why Bike Weight Matters
The Union Cycliste International (UCI) makes the rules and enforces them for sports cycling. For example, it pegs the bike weight to be at least 6.8kg for UCI-sanctioned races.
UCI created this rule in 2000 to ensure those bicycle manufacturers don’t make super light but structurally unsafe bikes.
However, bike makers can now manufacture safe and ultra-light bicycles. In addition, cyclists can add parts or actual weights to meet the UCI rule.
Does bike weight matter?
A difference of five pounds or 2.3 kg will change the bike weight by 3%. This change can help you ride intense miles if you’re a professional cyclist.
However, if you’re an average rider, you won’t notice a difference in performance. If you want your bike weight to be lighter, you should reduce your weight by at least five pounds.
Average Bike Weight
A bike doesn’t have a standard weight. However, it generally weighs 7-14 kilos. Here are the average weights of several bike types.
Road Bike
A road weight generally weighs eight kilos, including the cages and pedals. However, the weight varies depending on the other components, such as the frame material and size.
A road bike is for paved roads; its tires are smoother and smaller. It also has a lighter frame.
You may use a road bike for racing with minimum effort; however, it can’t support heavy loads because of its lightweight construction.
Therefore, a road bike isn’t for touring or commuting.
- Carbon Road Bike
A carbon road bike weighs about 18 pounds but has a stiff and robust bike frame. It’s more expensive than the other road bikes, but it gives you a comfortable ride.
Moreover, this bike is better and more durable than the others. Therefore, if you have the money, you better buy a carbon fibre road bike because it allows you to gain top speed.
- Steel Road Bike
A steel road bike is heavier than its carbon fibre counterpart. It can weigh from 10 kilos to 13 kilos.
Unfortunately, a steel frame isn’t as robust as a carbon, titanium, or aluminium frame, but it can make your ride smooth and enjoyable.
If you wish to use a bike for weight loss, you should get a steel road bike.
Hybrid Bike
A hybrid bike is a mixture between a mountain and a road bike. If its style is more like a mountain bike, its average weight can reach 13 kilos.
On the other hand, if a hybrid bike has a similar style to a road bike, it can weigh around 12 kilos.
Lastly, a hybrid bike similar to a cruiser can gain an average weight of 14 kilos.
A hybrid bike has an upright handlebar, medium-width tires, and large padded seats. It’s best for casual riding, short-distance commuting, and running errands.
This bike is efficient on rough and paved roads but inefficient compared to a road bike.
You may buy a lightweight hybrid bike if you’re into long-distance cycling, but you can’t use it on off-road bike trails.
Mountain Bike
A mountain bike can have an average weight of 10 to 13 kilos because it has additional gears to help you pedal. It also has large tires.
A mountain bike is suitable for navigating rugged and rough off-road trails. It may have suspension for enhanced performance and smooth-out vibrations.
Mountain bikes may have full suspensions (front and back) or hardtails (front only).
However, a complete suspension mountain bicycle weighs more because it has more components.
Although you may find a lighter weight appealing, you should consider the less expensive hardtail because it requires less maintenance.
As a beginner, you become a better cyclist if you have a hardtail suspension because you need to work harder.
Many racers and advanced cyclists ride hardtail mountain bikes because of their lighter weight.
BMX Bike
A BMX bike has an average weight of 11 to 13 kilos and is suitable for stunt riding and racing.
Its design can sustain force; therefore, it’s not lightweight. Moreover, it’s for off-track riding.
Beach Cruiser Bike
A cruiser bike is for running errands, casual cruising, and commuting around your neighborhood.
This bike is heavier than the others because it focuses on providing comfort than speed. It has a large handlebar and a comfortable seat.
Moreover, a cruiser bike has bigger tires to provide a better riding experience. Therefore, it can weigh between 35 and 40 pounds.
Single-Speed Bike
Many people like a single-speed bike because it’s low maintenance. Moreover, it’s more efficient because it doesn’t have many mechanisms.
You can expect a single-speed bike to have an average weight of about 20 pounds.
Fat or Off-Road Bike
A fat bike should be your top pick if you prefer off-road adventures. However, it has the most oversized tires to manoeuvre on uneven surfaces.
Therefore, this bike can generally weigh from 25 to 45 pounds. Fat tires help distribute your and the bike’s weight better.
Therefore, fat tires ensure you can manoeuvre uneven and rough terrains easily. They also improve the bike’s overall performance.
Opt for a fat bike if you ride on mud, sand, or snow because its tires don’t quickly get stuck on these surfaces.
Kid’s Bike
A kid’s bike weighs more than an adult’s mountain or road bike because it has to be sturdy and robust to prevent crashes. It can weigh from 18 to 25 pounds.
The bike frame comes from a more robust material to protect the child and the bike from damage. Moreover, it’s more stable than a single-speed or road bike.
A more stable bike allows a child to learn how to ride quickly. If you add more accessories, you add more weight to a kid’s bike.
Factors Affecting Bike Weight
You should consider several factors if you’re considering bike weight. Check the following list.
Body Weight
Your body weight is critical when buying a bike because it affects how you ride.
If you’re skinny, purchase a heavy bicycle because it can evenly distribute the weight.
On the other hand, if you’re heavy, you should buy a light bicycle.
You don’t want gravity to pull you down while riding; therefore, a light bike can make you gain faster acceleration on slopes and hills.
Bike Accessories
If you ride with many bike accessories, you should get a lighter bike because brakes, helmets, rims, and suspension can add weight.
Wheel Weight
If you’re fond of customising bike wheels, you know that they add extra weight to the bike structure.
Therefore, if you want speed in your ride, you should opt for lighter wheels.
Materials Used
Bike manufacturers use several materials to create the frames. These materials add weight to the overall structure. Here are some of the bike materials:
Carbon fibre is bendable and lightweight; therefore, it’s robust and durable. In addition, it adds strength to the overall bike construction.
Carbon steel is a high-tensile, robust, but cheap material. It’s a famous bike frame for its durability, but it’s heavier than the others.
Aluminium is light and inexpensive, and many users prefer it because it offers a solid experience.
On the other hand, titanium is light and strong but expensive. But, unlike steel, it’s lightweight.
Does Bike Weight Affect Speed?
A watt in biking is a measure of speed in pedalling. Generally, if you weigh more, you spend more energy pedalling.
Therefore, if you shave off some pounds, you’ll discover it’s easier to pedal uphill. You also notice you pedal faster.
If you stand on your bike as you pedal, you’ll notice your bike moves from side to side because a heavy bike means you spend more energy pedalling.
The energy lost in moving your bicycle sideways no longer helps you move your bike forward.
How to Make Your Bike Ride Faster
Aerodynamics
You can make your bike go faster if you take advantage of aerodynamics. For example, you can go further if there’s less wind to slow you down.
Ensure you look forward as you duck down and lean on—Tuck in your knees and elbows to save energy.
Comfort
It would help if you made yourself as comfortable as possible as you ride. Ensure you’re not in pain.
Avoid having saddle soreness and find a posture that allows you to be comfortable.
Is a Lighter Bike a Requirement?
If you’re fit and light, you enjoy benefits that allow you to ride faster. However, you lose weight once you’ve reached peak fitness, which can disadvantage your power output.
It would be best to improve the power-to-weight ratio by reducing the bike weight. If you’re on the light side, any reduction in bike weight can make you go faster.
If you have the money, buy the ultra-light bike to achieve top speed. Moreover, it adds a psychological advantage if you know you have the lightest bicycle.
However, if you have an average body, you should increase your fitness and reduce body weight to ride faster.
Moreover, aerodynamics is more significant than bike weight in achieving top speed if you prefer riding flat terrains.
Reliability and durability are also essential considerations, especially if you prefer riding a mountain or gravel bike. Remember that a light bike has reduced durability.
FAQs
What is the Ideal Bike Weight For Racing?
The ideal bike weight for racing is within the 20-pound range for you to have the power to pedal faster.
A lighter bike can make you pedal faster on an uphill; however, it doesn’t give you an advantage on flat ground.
Before you even think about bike weight in racing, you should first check the race course.
Moreover, it’s more critical for you to address your weight. A five-pound reduction in your body weight is much easier than changing your bike components to make it lighter.
Which is Heavier: Carbon or Aluminium?
You’ll only feel a minimal difference between carbon and aluminium frames if you’re a beginner.
Therefore, you should focus on something other than the weight difference but on the material strength. For example, carbon is stiffer and more robust; consequently, it can perform better under stress.
A stiffer frame absorbs vibrations; therefore, it significantly affects you when you ride.
Does My Weight Affect the Bike’s Weight?
You need to work harder in the saddle if you’re on the heavy side because you expend more energy uphill.
Your weight can fluctuate faster than the bike; therefore, you should consider maintaining the ideal weight to achieve top speed with your bicycle.
Does Bike Weight Matter to a Female Cyclist?
Women don’t have to worry about bike weight because they generally weigh less than male riders. As a result, they can ride uphill effortlessly.
Do I Have to Worry About Weight?
A beginner cyclist should worry too much about weight. Instead, it would help if you focused on developing your biking skills.
Begin with a hardtail because it’s lighter. Once you gain confidence in your ability and skills, you should buy a carbon bike frame.
