What size frame is referenced when discussing weight of the bikes mentioned thus far or any frame/bike for that matter? I'm also curious as to how much weight is added for every cm increase in size of say a full Renyolds 531 frame?
Kim Carney
Davis, CA
> >>Can ANY CR members name an on-topic catalogue bike that tipped the
> >>scales in the 18 lbs range ?? That's an interesting question for the
> >>list.
>
>
> >I can name two. Rene Herse and Alex Singer. During the trials in
> >the late 40's and early 50's in France, the constructuers would try
> >to build the lightest bike. Some of them weighed under 17 lbs.
>
> Those weren't catalogue bikes. If by catalogue bike, you mean a
> production bike, then it might be hard - you'll have to look at Alans
> and such. Caminargents were production bikes, and their claimed
> weights were very light. However, I never have weighed one that came
> in under 19 lbs. So the advertising claims have to be treated with
> some circumspection.
>
> If you just mean a custom bike with production components (rather
> than modified ones, such as used by the technical trials machines),
> then you still have quite a few options among the French makers, and
> probably many others.
>
> Rene Vietto rode a Barra in the 1948 Tour de France that weighed 17.6
> lbs. with a steel seatpost, steel-railed saddle and totally stock
> components. (Blatant ad: The bike is featured in our new book "The
> Competition Bicycle.") Replace the saddle with an alloy-railed Ideale
> and alloy seatpost, and you'll get below 17 lbs. And any customer
> could have bought one like it from Barra.
>
> Jan Heine
> Editor
> Bicycle Quarterly
> 140 Lakeside Ave #C
> Seattle WA 98122
> http://www.bikequarterly.com