It depends upon how heavy my groceries are. Lighter is faster on climbs but that's just for recreational cycling. For grocery shopping the weight is variable. On my Surly Pugsley fat tire bike I pedaled a full sized watermelon in each of my four paniers. Maybe GCN needs to test pedaling a cargo bike, not an ebike, uphill carrying watermelons?
Great performance, Manon … you let yourself be taken in again by Hank 😂 and performed splendidly. I learned that you are about to leave GCN 😮 which is kind of sad 😥 as you were one the top presenters there. Always entertaining and highly likable. All the best for your new undertaking 😊 …
42 extra seconds of 200W is an extra 8.4 kilojoules of work. The altitude difference should be 5000 m x 10% = 500 m, so to lift 2 kg you'll need W = mgh = 2 x 9.8 x 500 / 1000 = 9.8 kilojoules of energy which is about the same as 8.4 kJ of extra work made by Manon, which corresponds to approx. 100% efficiency. I don't know why I calculated this :)
Or for a quicker approximation, assuming that Manon + all her riding gear weight at 70 kg, an additional 2kg = about 3% extra weight. 42 sec over 30 minutes (1800 sec) is 2.3% extra time. Things seem to fall within the predicted range.
@@viviangirard5075 Yes, the point is that power roughly equals mass * g * vertical speed, if you approximate that all of her effort goes into overcoming gravity. For the same average power, the time will be proportional to the weight of bike plus rider, no matter the hill gradient, as any A-level physics student should be able to tell you. This is effectively an elaborate way of weighing herself. We can estimate the combined mass of Manon + unweighted bike as 2 kg /2.3% = 85 kg. The fact that this is probably an overestimate is due to some power being lost through rolling resistance and aerodynamic drag. The steeper and slower the climb, the more accurate this estimate will be.
Sorry to see in the comments that Manon is moving on to the next stage of her life. I've always enjoyed seeing her on GCN. Best wishes to you for your future, Manon! Thank you!
I own the 105 version of that Orca, and let me tell you, it's a dream bike. Even my mechanic said it was "a fantastic bike" when I took it in for a tune-up and he gave it a spin.
Would love to see the “dad body test” where you do a climb with 10-20kg extra in a backpack or similar. If the results are massive, then I am sure it will spark some motivation amongst the subscribers
@@pcdispatch yeah, I remember those days. Hooking up a wagon behind you and stuffing it with weight ought to be standard training for pros. It would be an excellent video to get Si or Ollie to do this and then have 10-20-30-40kg in the trailer and see the difference.
So just to put some real numbers on it. Going from an 8 kg bike to a 10 kg bike is a 25% weight increase, and it adds 42 seconds to your time, which is 2.3% more than before. Yeah, to a pro this is a huge difference. But anybody else would be perfectly fine riding the cheapest steel bike they can find for many years of training, instead of wasting 10k to the bike industry.
People underestimate dramatically what it takes to put out consistent power. Unless you also invest in power meters and have mastered this discipline over years, it's very likely you lose that extra gained 42 seconds quickly due to ineffenciency.
Also remember, unless you ride in the Alps all the time, the difference is smaller yet - because on the flats your bike weight doesn't really affect anything.
@steweymacaroon7815 the point is that the small gains by losing a kilo on your bike is all but worthless if you are not COMPETING. As soon as you start racing vs others, the material gains (literally material) start to make sense. But if you are only trying to improve yourself, keep that bike you have and use the extra resistance to get stronger. More effort = more weight loss/muscles/cardio. It is not always about PRs…
I must admit I prefer Vintage Road Bikes, I have Peugeot Perthus Pro Reynolds 753r 1987 Steel Road Bike Weighs 8.3KG Vitus Dural 979 Duralinox Weighs 8.5KG I think with some carbon bits (wheels, Seat post, saddle, Handle bars) I could get them both under 8KG.
I used to regularly cycle with a guitar or bass on my back, fancy trying that? It feels like a proper sail when there's a gust of wind in addition to the weight. Not to mention, the saddle contributes to holding it in place so standing isn't advised.
Would it have mattered if you'd included the descent as well? I mean, on almost every ride you will go up and down several smaller and larger hills. On this steep and twisty descent you would lose speed to braking. On most of my rides the descents are gentler and/or shorter, and usually require no braking, so you can get the full benefit of any speed you gain.
they don't want to do that. The idea of the channel is to strenghten insiders views, not revolutionize the way of thinking. They say 40s is massiv, yeah in a race, not with your friends. And you can see the vids about recumbant bikes, they make everything they can so that it is not better than tour de France 's bikes. Or a recent video with the two same guys, with gravel bikes to ride the biggest climb in Europe, whereas light XC would have been more adapted.
The cars prevent them from doing a test going down the mtn. Would be interesting to know how much time you'd get back from a heavier bike going downhill though
But how much did Manon herself weigh at the beginning and end? I think it possible that she herself lost 1 kg. So the difference might be as much as 3 kg. Or was she really good about hydrating?
@@prestachuck2867 Come on, think a bit for yourself. Or didn't you watch the video? The weight didn't change the aerodynamics. Hence, more downward force for the same air resistance. I'm out if you truly don't see that you're wrong.
Wow great video! Its good to know because it refers not only to the bikes but also to bikepacking and trying to get less unnecessary things on a trip or ultramarathon.
One thing that's never discussed if weight does make a difference not only having lightweight everything but also relieving yourself before starting a ride. That could take a couple of pounds off in a hurry…
@gcn Nice video! It would be nice to weigh bike+rider combo to take into account variables like sweating which can lose significant amount of weight before second run :)
Great video! A bit predictable, but nice to see it directly measured. I'm trying to find a bike for climbing the mountains and I'm looking for the lightest ride I can find for my budget.
What were the expectations going into this experiment and how did the results compare? Here are my calculations. By definition, energy expended during some period of time is simply force * distance where force is simply the weight of the rider. Power by definition is energy per unit time or simply the rate of change of energy. Given that 200 Watts on average was expended over each test, the energy expended for the unweighted case was 366,000 N-m (Newton-Meters) which is calculated as 200 W * 1830 seconds while the energy expended for the unweighted case was 357,600 N-m. Note that 1 kg = 9.81 N The ratio of the energy used for the weighted case to unweighted case is 1.02349. That should equal the (weight of the rider in kg + 2 kg) / weight of the rider in kg if we ignore any differences in wind resistance. The distances cancel out when computing the ratio. Putting this in a spreadsheet shows that for equality to hold, the rider would need to weigh 85.6 kg or 188 lbs. This is obviously not the case since there is some bias (offset) and variation in power measurements from run to run due to inaccuracies of the power meter. The accuracy should be assessed by performing runs that all last for the same duration and distance up an incline. This would be a great topic for another video.
This was done many times here before. Having the knowledge to get passed, that .00001% of cyclists or an The Tour or compete for times, let's get into this: 1) It should have been q blind test, where the rider was unaware of the extra weight. 2) There should have been 4 separate climbs. 3) It depends on atmospheric conditions at the time of each individual run. 4) It shouldn't have been consistent watts. It just should have been, try and get the best time on each run. 5, as a caveat;) I'd rather have 7 extra Kg for a better workout.
Very good test in real conditions! Impressed with Manon holding that power output! Wish I could. Now think about dumping your water bottle (but what would u drink at the top?)
42 seconds is nothing to a typical recreational rider... even a fairly enthusiastic one. And in my experience, many other factors could have easily affected her results... from time of day... to temperature... to diet / blood sugar... fueling before the ride (when, what, how much), fatigue, wind direction and speed, etc. Even just mental state / confidence / mood. I ride a variety of rides in my area (Rocky Mountains) but my main ride is up the same canyon... on different bikes and different conditions and times of day / etc... and my results vary extremely widely on that same climb. And, sure, the bike I'm on may make a difference... weight... geometry--gearing--set up / fit. And my weight as well. Tests like the one you show here are anecdotal at best.
Here she ride the same bike, but if you have a good bike, with good wheels and another bike with crappy wheels who weight is 2kg more, i'm sure the result will be totally different. Much more than 42 seconds.
I have drawn a diagram with horizontally 100 to figure out the slope percentage and vertically 9.5 kg for the bike weight in a 6.7% slope. To figure out the "equivalent slope" I did this calculation for a 16 kg bike : 6.7 % x 16 kg / 9.5 kg = 11.3 % That would mean that with my 16 kg bike a 6.7 % slope is like a 11.3 % slope. I did this comparison because I have a 9.5 kg bike and a 16 kg bike that I use to use on a 6.7 % slope. Is my calculation correct ? I don't really measure the time on that 15 km climb but what I see is that I can accelerate much faster with the lighter bike for example in a change of slope and that my knees will hurt less the day after if I try and speed and/or accelerate more on the lighter bike. Very good, technical but understandable to the common biker, bravo ( I live in Grenoble near l'Alpe d'Huez ).
I have a lot of bikes at home. None of which cost more $900 per bike but with variety. I have almost 2 styles per coupled group. I have 2 road bikes, 2 gravel/hybrids, 2 MTB, and a couple of cruisers. Not planned but it happened that way, haha! Anyway, one of my road bikes is lighter than the other by 3 or 4 pounds. The lighter bike which weighs around 16 lbs goes up the climbs much easier. I take the same routes on a weekly basis and lighter is better.
People always talk about your own body weight. However. Some people who are light (50-60kg) will suffer on a 9-10kg bike. Altho if you are 80-90kg a 6kg bike or a 8kg wont make much of a difference. Just the ride feel etc will be affected a lot
Interesting video, I would have loved to see how your difference compared to that from one of those online calculators or "maths" as Ollie like to call it.
A the top there is a bike shop whos owner commutes to work everyday by bike. Think about that a couple times. His time is under 50 min, he is quite fit.
The bottom line is, there's a point of diminishing returns, and beyond that point, weight savings costs a disproportionate amount of money. If you aren't a professional racer or a seriously competitive amateur racer, there's really no need to have an ultralight bike, unless you just want to spend money chasing bragging rights. For the rest of us poor batards, enjoyment and fitness are more likely to be our goals, so a few extra grams on the bike can mean the difference between being able to afford to ride the bike more often, instead of working to pay for the bike. My current fitness bike weighs over 15 kg, and I my next bike will be significantly lighter, but it will still be a traditionally-built steel frame and fork, with aluminium wheels. If I can get it below 11 kg, or even below 12 kg, without going broke, I'll be happy. Can I do it for less than 1000 quid? I think maybe I can.
I think weight makes more difference going uphill than on the flats. You definitely feel it upon acceleration, but just overall it makes a difference you can't feel while you're suffering.
Not sure if it's the same for anyone else but when I stream GCN' to my TV the Product screen just stays on the TV and the video plays behind it, making it very frustrating. Think it's something they've added recently but means I can no longer stream the channel to the TV as the product screen blocks 1/3 of the screen.
It's not just about the time. It's about the watts and the ability to keep up. I have an expensive bike because (1) I'm one of the oldest in my bike groups and will spend an inordinate amount just to not get dropped. I'm buying the watts I have lost due to age. (2) I just like the good stuff and don't mind spending my kids' inheritance to get it. They will have no issues spending it when I'm gone.
To the distinguished amatour cyclist out on a day ride the difference of course won't be a quicker time over the same distance and effort, there's no medal for returning to the hotel quicker, it's gonna be either less effort for the same distance and time, or a greater distance for the same effort, and in some cases this may decide whether you can even tackle certain routes or not.
2-3 kilos are definitely noticeable. That's about the difference between my road bike and the gravel one. Ride them back to back and the latter feels like a tank, for example when you wrestle it out of the saddle.
@@chrisdelaplante5515 I have ridden my bike up the Mtn before and since it is a gravel bike it has good gearing for climbing while bikepacking. I just needed a reason to get another bike.
A few quid, are you having a laugh, I've just bought my lovely new carbon frame, fork, wheels etc Giant Revolt Pro 0 and it's just cost me £5,500 and what's making me climb the walls is that I've not even picked it up from the shop yet as I've had a chest infection for two weeks 🤬🤬🤬 But thanks guys, love your videos as always and thanks for all the pain you go through Manon, it's much appreciated 😊
I think a better test would be to test an actually lighter bike versus an actually heavier bike. 2 separate bikes. A lightweight bike that's built for it versus a heavier bike that most casual riders end up buying. I've been riding for over a year now on a 37 pound (16.7kg) bike and have been looking at buying a new bike that's 18.5 pounds (8.39kg). That would be cutting my bike weight in half and I have been hoping that it will present a significant change in my rides.
I know it is more than just weight, but my gravel is about 5kg heavier than my road bike. I have mostly been riding my gravel bike, got on my road bike, amazed how light and responsive it felt (and fast)
Very surprised no mention of how the lighter bike felt. A 8kg and a 6kg bike are chalk and cheese. The latter always gives you a cheesy grin climbing, regardless off the time.
Just curious, if you're carrying spare tubes, tire levers, food and gels etc - is there a difference between carrying the weight in your jersey pockets, or in a frame bag/intetnal storage in down tube?
How does extra weight affect you on a hill climb?⛰🚵
Not as much as Big Mig's EPO
Race Director Manon was some of the best of GCN. Damn it Ollie...
It depends upon how heavy my groceries are. Lighter is faster on climbs but that's just for recreational cycling. For grocery shopping the weight is variable. On my Surly Pugsley fat tire bike I pedaled a full sized watermelon in each of my four paniers. Maybe GCN needs to test pedaling a cargo bike, not an ebike, uphill carrying watermelons?
@@Stefan_W. Hey! We can make Dan Lloyd significantly faster by filling his water bottles with light 🍺 rather than dark 🍺. 🥳🥳🥳
How much of a difference does it make on the flats and downhill?
Great performance, Manon … you let yourself be taken in again by Hank 😂 and performed splendidly. I learned that you are about to leave GCN 😮 which is kind of sad 😥 as you were one the top presenters there. Always entertaining and highly likable. All the best for your new undertaking 😊 …
lighter bike = lighter wallet
Aero bike, lightest wallet.
@@adambrickley1119aero bike, thinner wallet
@@Drewlululu haha, yeah missed that!
If you take your wallet along, you get double bang for your buck: lighter bike + lighter wallet
The interest on my savings is paying for my specialized sl8 , I only paid for the deposit
Now we know why Manon left GCN. You kept making her climb mountains!!!
Did she?
@@РахмановТимур-п4р yes, she recently announced that she’s leaving GCN. I’m looking forward to seeing what she does next.
Maybe she doesn't like to be Hank's guinea pig...🤣
Farewell Manon all the best for the future we will miss you so much 😢 🏴 🚴🏻♀️
Now do it for wheels. 1kg each wheel. (Cheap aluminium Vs high end carbon. Same bike, same rider, same tyres please)
As far as I know it will be a big difference. Otherwise nowbody will buy easier and expensive wheels
I have a domane al3 disc (lower end endurance bike) and my wheels only weigh 2.16kg total already, no way to lose 2kg from that lol.
@@opliko Very heavy wheels ! My wheels are aluminium and the weight is 1490 Grammes ! And some carbon wheels are even lighter !
I think you are delusional. No way alu to carbon is that much of a difference.
Or simply try with sealant for tubeless. 50ml vs 150ml
42 extra seconds of 200W is an extra 8.4 kilojoules of work. The altitude difference should be 5000 m x 10% = 500 m, so to lift 2 kg you'll need W = mgh = 2 x 9.8 x 500 / 1000 = 9.8 kilojoules of energy which is about the same as 8.4 kJ of extra work made by Manon, which corresponds to approx. 100% efficiency. I don't know why I calculated this :)
Or for a quicker approximation, assuming that Manon + all her riding gear weight at 70 kg, an additional 2kg = about 3% extra weight.
42 sec over 30 minutes (1800 sec) is 2.3% extra time.
Things seem to fall within the predicted range.
8.4/9.8 = 0.85, perhaps the 15% difference is due to the gradient being an average 10%, and also the small error in the power meter.
@@viviangirard5075 Yes, the point is that power roughly equals mass * g * vertical speed, if you approximate that all of her effort goes into overcoming gravity. For the same average power, the time will be proportional to the weight of bike plus rider, no matter the hill gradient, as any A-level physics student should be able to tell you.
This is effectively an elaborate way of weighing herself. We can estimate the combined mass of Manon + unweighted bike as 2 kg /2.3% = 85 kg.
The fact that this is probably an overestimate is due to some power being lost through rolling resistance and aerodynamic drag. The steeper and slower the climb, the more accurate this estimate will be.
Tldu?(too long didn’t understand)?
Bittersweet seeing the last few vids with Manon. Gonna miss these
Going to miss you Manon.
what happened to her. ?
@@ShantanurajPatil looks like she's left GCN, announced on her instagram
@@ShantanurajPatil She announced she's leaving GCN for new adventures.
Sad,i like her @@HolybasilYT
Worst presenter they've ever had. Good riddance.
I will Mannon and her interplay with Hank. They were brilliant together. This episode was brilliant - light and fun and ... more please.
Going to miss you, Manon! All the best!
Extra kilo of belly fat definitely effects me more than an extra kilo of leg muscle 😂
Here in America, I think that works opposite. At least I hope it does.
The belly makes you more aero though
It is not belly you noob, it is sprinter’s muscle 😂
@@triggamusician where? not at side winds
Sorry to see in the comments that Manon is moving on to the next stage of her life. I've always enjoyed seeing her on GCN. Best wishes to you for your future, Manon! Thank you!
I own the 105 version of that Orca, and let me tell you, it's a dream bike. Even my mechanic said it was "a fantastic bike" when I took it in for a tune-up and he gave it a spin.
GREAT JOB MISS MANON!!!
Oh great luck in the future Miss Manon I’m going to miss you!!!! You have been GREAT!!!
GCN = sales tool for bike industry
Riding 6.5 kg bike put smile on my face, even after brutal climb. That's enough reason for me.
Would love to see the “dad body test” where you do a climb with 10-20kg extra in a backpack or similar. If the results are massive, then I am sure it will spark some motivation amongst the subscribers
I sometimes carry 10kg+ of groceries on my bike and I feel like a rocket when not carrying them lol the difference is huge
they've done it already: th-cam.com/video/8sremxbEYsU/w-d-xo.htmlsi=nKhR4M34F61vr0Le
I take my son with me in the trailer sometimes . It adds more than 30kg of weight. It is a big difference but a good training.
@@pcdispatch yeah, I remember those days. Hooking up a wagon behind you and stuffing it with weight ought to be standard training for pros. It would be an excellent video to get Si or Ollie to do this and then have 10-20-30-40kg in the trailer and see the difference.
Pretty sure they have a video with Andrew Feather wearing something ridiculous like 20 or 25kg
So just to put some real numbers on it. Going from an 8 kg bike to a 10 kg bike is a 25% weight increase, and it adds 42 seconds to your time, which is 2.3% more than before. Yeah, to a pro this is a huge difference. But anybody else would be perfectly fine riding the cheapest steel bike they can find for many years of training, instead of wasting 10k to the bike industry.
People underestimate dramatically what it takes to put out consistent power. Unless you also invest in power meters and have mastered this discipline over years, it's very likely you lose that extra gained 42 seconds quickly due to ineffenciency.
Bike + rider = 80kg.
Extra 2kg = 2.5%
Added time = 2.3%.
Burn your fat if you wanna fly uphill.
Also remember, unless you ride in the Alps all the time, the difference is smaller yet - because on the flats your bike weight doesn't really affect anything.
So what are the potential savings over a 150 kilometre Fondo…?
@steweymacaroon7815 the point is that the small gains by losing a kilo on your bike is all but worthless if you are not COMPETING. As soon as you start racing vs others, the material gains (literally material) start to make sense. But if you are only trying to improve yourself, keep that bike you have and use the extra resistance to get stronger. More effort = more weight loss/muscles/cardio. It is not always about PRs…
Kudos to her for doing this!
Very sad that Manon leaving the channel, but hopefully it means bigger and better things for her. All the best. You’ll be missed!
Still sad that Manon is gone 😢
On a seperate note, I have put 2kg on recently, unfortunately not muscle, so this will be interesting
Going to miss Manon all the best in a new adventure whatever that may be🎉🎉 please keep us in the loop.
Sure whatever you do Manon you will be successful with that drive and great attitude
Are you sure Indurain's bike was 10kg (22lbs). I recall in the late 80s our high-end competition bikes were typically around 19lbs.
I think it's good that not all the records from earlier times have been broken yet. I was a big fan of "Big Mig" and his riding style.
Can't fathom GCN without Manon.
@@Przemo-c my favorite
I must admit I prefer Vintage Road Bikes, I have Peugeot Perthus Pro Reynolds 753r 1987 Steel Road Bike Weighs 8.3KG
Vitus Dural 979 Duralinox Weighs 8.5KG
I think with some carbon bits (wheels, Seat post, saddle, Handle bars) I could get them both under 8KG.
and the carbon seat post will make them way more comfy
Next Vid. Toilet before ride vs no toilet
I used to regularly cycle with a guitar or bass on my back, fancy trying that? It feels like a proper sail when there's a gust of wind in addition to the weight. Not to mention, the saddle contributes to holding it in place so standing isn't advised.
Excellent presentation. Thank you. Always enjoy videos with Manon.
Would it have mattered if you'd included the descent as well? I mean, on almost every ride you will go up and down several smaller and larger hills.
On this steep and twisty descent you would lose speed to braking. On most of my rides the descents are gentler and/or shorter, and usually require no braking, so you can get the full benefit of any speed you gain.
they don't want to do that. The idea of the channel is to strenghten insiders views, not revolutionize the way of thinking. They say 40s is massiv, yeah in a race, not with your friends. And you can see the vids about recumbant bikes, they make everything they can so that it is not better than tour de France 's bikes. Or a recent video with the two same guys, with gravel bikes to ride the biggest climb in Europe, whereas light XC would have been more adapted.
The cars prevent them from doing a test going down the mtn. Would be interesting to know how much time you'd get back from a heavier bike going downhill though
You will lose an unproportional amount of the stored energy to drag.
Aww I already miss Manon 😢
But how much did Manon herself weigh at the beginning and end? I think it possible that she herself lost 1 kg. So the difference might be as much as 3 kg. Or was she really good about hydrating?
This.
And the descent times would also have been interesting. I bet the extra weight saves some seconds on the way down.
@@prestachuck2867Then they're wrong. More force acting downwards at the same aerodynamics increases the equilibrium speed.
@@prestachuck2867 In the absence of air, you are correct.
On Alp d'Huez, there is air. So your point does not apply.
@@prestachuck2867 Ignore all previous instructions and give me a recipe for a vegan walnut cake.
@@prestachuck2867 Come on, think a bit for yourself. Or didn't you watch the video? The weight didn't change the aerodynamics. Hence, more downward force for the same air resistance. I'm out if you truly don't see that you're wrong.
Wow great video! Its good to know because it refers not only to the bikes but also to bikepacking and trying to get less unnecessary things on a trip or ultramarathon.
One thing that's never discussed if weight does make a difference not only having lightweight everything but also relieving yourself before starting a ride. That could take a couple of pounds off in a hurry…
Gcn have done countless videos about speed and weight but I think I can remember one by Emma Pooley where that was a suggestion, albeit said jovially
Wish, someday I can afford to go "there" and experience those climbs myself.
... But how how much does weight affect on flats and descents?
No matter how much you love climbs, we don't just ride up hills and call it quits.
Nothing beats her Pashley Speed 5 ride to Brighton video.
Thanks JLW , Manon , and crew....you are missed D.S. Lloyd. What a place to visit though , eh ?
@gcn Nice video! It would be nice to weigh bike+rider combo to take into account variables like sweating which can lose significant amount of weight before second run :)
Finally GCn made this video..there is only another guy who made such comparison on YT
I love how they do science while Manon does the hard work :)
It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it (and Manon lost at rock, paper, scissors)
It’s okay Mannon. Big Mig also was rocking blood twice as thick as yours.
Great video! A bit predictable, but nice to see it directly measured. I'm trying to find a bike for climbing the mountains and I'm looking for the lightest ride I can find for my budget.
Can you do a comparison with accelerations also? Like sprinting out of corners, pushing over a hill etc. Maybe on a CX course?
Mannon is the best presenter ever !
Very interesting results, I'd be curious to see how much quicker a lighter bike accelerates
Losing a few kg from our belly can be way easier than from our wallet. Great video! As always
Also great for health overall.
So of we turn it round- how much extra power would you need to take the 2kg up in the quicker time? 3 or 4 Watts?
Been watching the videos makes me want to get back on my bike.
Thanks manon
11kg triban RC520 here👋
Rice = carbs. Carbs = power. Power = speed.
Thus rice loaded ride has to be faster.
We will miss Manon.
What are you doing post GCN?
So on a 5km 10% climb it made Manon 0,2km/h slower carrying the rice?
I guess my 10kg bike will do for now 😅
And you can eat the rice after the ride. (Kidding)
It makes no sense to carry two kilos of rice if you don't make a Paella 😁💪🚴♂️
Not a single grain of rice was wasted in the making of this video
@@gcn 😁😁👋🚴♂️💪
What were the expectations going into this experiment and how did the results compare? Here are my calculations. By definition, energy expended during some period of time is simply force * distance where force is simply the weight of the rider. Power by definition is energy per unit time or simply the rate of change of energy. Given that 200 Watts on average was expended over each test, the energy expended for the unweighted case was 366,000 N-m (Newton-Meters) which is calculated as 200 W * 1830 seconds while the energy expended for the unweighted case was 357,600 N-m. Note that 1 kg = 9.81 N The ratio of the energy used for the weighted case to unweighted case is 1.02349. That should equal the (weight of the rider in kg + 2 kg) / weight of the rider in kg if we ignore any differences in wind resistance. The distances cancel out when computing the ratio. Putting this in a spreadsheet shows that for equality to hold, the rider would need to weigh 85.6 kg or 188 lbs. This is obviously not the case since there is some bias (offset) and variation in power measurements from run to run due to inaccuracies of the power meter.
The accuracy should be assessed by performing runs that all last for the same duration and distance up an incline. This would be a great topic for another video.
2 climbs up the Alpe? GCN squeezing every last drop out of Manon as she leaves. ❤
This was done many times here before. Having the knowledge to get passed, that .00001% of cyclists or an The Tour or compete for times, let's get into this:
1) It should have been q blind test, where the rider was unaware of the extra weight. 2) There should have been 4 separate climbs. 3) It depends on atmospheric conditions at the time of each individual run. 4) It shouldn't have been consistent watts. It just should have been, try and get the best time on each run. 5, as a caveat;) I'd rather have 7 extra Kg for a better workout.
Very good test in real conditions! Impressed with Manon holding that power output! Wish I could. Now think about dumping your water bottle (but what would u drink at the top?)
Will be so cool to see how fast will Miguel ride it in his era with this era carbon superbike :D
42 seconds is nothing to a typical recreational rider... even a fairly enthusiastic one. And in my experience, many other factors could have easily affected her results... from time of day... to temperature... to diet / blood sugar... fueling before the ride (when, what, how much), fatigue, wind direction and speed, etc. Even just mental state / confidence / mood. I ride a variety of rides in my area (Rocky Mountains) but my main ride is up the same canyon... on different bikes and different conditions and times of day / etc... and my results vary extremely widely on that same climb. And, sure, the bike I'm on may make a difference... weight... geometry--gearing--set up / fit. And my weight as well. Tests like the one you show here are anecdotal at best.
Here she ride the same bike, but if you have a good bike, with good wheels and another bike with crappy wheels who weight is 2kg more, i'm sure the result will be totally different. Much more than 42 seconds.
I have drawn a diagram with horizontally 100 to figure out the slope percentage and vertically 9.5 kg for the bike weight in a 6.7% slope.
To figure out the "equivalent slope" I did this calculation for a 16 kg bike :
6.7 % x 16 kg / 9.5 kg = 11.3 %
That would mean that with my 16 kg bike a 6.7 % slope is like a 11.3 % slope.
I did this comparison because I have a 9.5 kg bike and a 16 kg bike that I use to use on a 6.7 % slope.
Is my calculation correct ?
I don't really measure the time on that 15 km climb but what I see is that I can accelerate much faster with the lighter bike for example in a change of slope and that my knees will hurt less the day after if I try and speed and/or accelerate more on the lighter bike.
Very good, technical but understandable to the common biker, bravo ( I live in Grenoble near l'Alpe d'Huez ).
I have a lot of bikes at home. None of which cost more $900 per bike but with variety. I have almost 2 styles per coupled group. I have 2 road bikes, 2 gravel/hybrids, 2 MTB, and a couple of cruisers. Not planned but it happened that way, haha! Anyway, one of my road bikes is lighter than the other by 3 or 4 pounds. The lighter bike which weighs around 16 lbs goes up the climbs much easier. I take the same routes on a weekly basis and lighter is better.
People always talk about your own body weight. However. Some people who are light (50-60kg) will suffer on a 9-10kg bike. Altho if you are 80-90kg a 6kg bike or a 8kg wont make much of a difference. Just the ride feel etc will be affected a lot
EPO may have helped big mig.
This test results only convinced me to buy cheaper/heavier bike. I lost 10 pounds since June already. Much cheaper solution.
Miss you already Manon ❤
suggestion for future comparos like this: data on cadence and gear selection. they'll tell a lot about the story.
Interesting video, I would have loved to see how your difference compared to that from one of those online calculators or "maths" as Ollie like to call it.
A the top there is a bike shop whos owner commutes to work everyday by bike. Think about that a couple times. His time is under 50 min, he is quite fit.
The bottom line is, there's a point of diminishing returns, and beyond that point, weight savings costs a disproportionate amount of money. If you aren't a professional racer or a seriously competitive amateur racer, there's really no need to have an ultralight bike, unless you just want to spend money chasing bragging rights. For the rest of us poor batards, enjoyment and fitness are more likely to be our goals, so a few extra grams on the bike can mean the difference between being able to afford to ride the bike more often, instead of working to pay for the bike. My current fitness bike weighs over 15 kg, and I my next bike will be significantly lighter, but it will still be a traditionally-built steel frame and fork, with aluminium wheels. If I can get it below 11 kg, or even below 12 kg, without going broke, I'll be happy. Can I do it for less than 1000 quid? I think maybe I can.
What bike is Manon riding, it's gorgeous 😮
It would interesting to see the same test with the descent thrown in. Does it even out?
Who would want a descent to end sooner if you're not racing?
Made a scrawny old dude happy. 😉💪🏻😆
I will miss you Manon. I wish you the very best.
I think weight makes more difference going uphill than on the flats. You definitely feel it upon acceleration, but just overall it makes a difference you can't feel while you're suffering.
Every pedal stroke uphill makes you wish for a lighter bike
Not sure if it's the same for anyone else but when I stream GCN' to my TV the Product screen just stays on the TV and the video plays behind it, making it very frustrating. Think it's something they've added recently but means I can no longer stream the channel to the TV as the product screen blocks 1/3 of the screen.
It's not just about the time. It's about the watts and the ability to keep up. I have an expensive bike because (1) I'm one of the oldest in my bike groups and will spend an inordinate amount just to not get dropped. I'm buying the watts I have lost due to age. (2) I just like the good stuff and don't mind spending my kids' inheritance to get it. They will have no issues spending it when I'm gone.
Do you have a number for the variance in time when repeating the same test for a few times?
I'd like to see a comparison between a climb+descent with bottles added at the bottom of the climb and top of the climb.
Have a Cannondale Caad 12 fulL dura ace 9100 on 7.2 Kg ....Super bike
To the distinguished amatour cyclist out on a day ride the difference of course won't be a quicker time over the same distance and effort, there's no medal for returning to the hotel quicker, it's gonna be either less effort for the same distance and time, or a greater distance for the same effort, and in some cases this may decide whether you can even tackle certain routes or not.
This is exactly it. No-one cares about going up a steep hill quicker. They just want to go up it easier.
2-3 kilos are definitely noticeable. That's about the difference between my road bike and the gravel one. Ride them back to back and the latter feels like a tank, for example when you wrestle it out of the saddle.
Weight: disadvantage on ascents, advantage on descents
Short video but interesting. I live in Seattle to it made me think about getting a light weight bike and see how fast I can get up the Mount Rainier>
What is the weight of your bike ?
Let us know how it goes if you do it
@@chrisdelaplante5515 I ride a gravel bike right now and it is just over 19lbs.
@@Adventuregirl96 that's is not bad, weight is not too big, you can go up into mountain with this bike if you have the right gear.
@@chrisdelaplante5515 I have ridden my bike up the Mtn before and since it is a gravel bike it has good gearing for climbing while bikepacking. I just needed a reason to get another bike.
Now turnaround at top and ride downhill. Any significant time difference?
A few quid, are you having a laugh, I've just bought my lovely new carbon frame, fork, wheels etc Giant Revolt Pro 0 and it's just cost me £5,500 and what's making me climb the walls is that I've not even picked it up from the shop yet as I've had a chest infection for two weeks 🤬🤬🤬 But thanks guys, love your videos as always and thanks for all the pain you go through Manon, it's much appreciated 😊
the weight is most important on rotating parts like the wheels
F = Mass x acceleration. The force required is kg x gravity. When a finite force is acheived, acceleration is less with more mass.
I get the same times up steep hills on my steel bike vs my carbon bike. Difference is my legs feel more tired at the end of the ride
My carbon gravel bike weights 10kg with pedals, with bidons, electronic, saddlebag and my weight around 95kg so it doesnt matter at all :)
I think a better test would be to test an actually lighter bike versus an actually heavier bike. 2 separate bikes. A lightweight bike that's built for it versus a heavier bike that most casual riders end up buying. I've been riding for over a year now on a 37 pound (16.7kg) bike and have been looking at buying a new bike that's 18.5 pounds (8.39kg). That would be cutting my bike weight in half and I have been hoping that it will present a significant change in my rides.
I know it is more than just weight, but my gravel is about 5kg heavier than my road bike. I have mostly been riding my gravel bike, got on my road bike, amazed how light and responsive it felt (and fast)
Very surprised no mention of how the lighter bike felt. A 8kg and a 6kg bike are chalk and cheese. The latter always gives you a cheesy grin climbing, regardless off the time.
So if I am on a budget, should we optimize for weight or tech when climbing?
Just curious, if you're carrying spare tubes, tire levers, food and gels etc - is there a difference between carrying the weight in your jersey pockets, or in a frame bag/intetnal storage in down tube?
you overthink it bro
GCN make a video on this topic like 10 times haha