Weight Weenies

This afternoon I was climbing my favorite canyon and overtook a guy near the top of one of the steepest sections. He was shirtless, a tad overweight, on a mountain bike painted camoflage green. As I passed him, I noticed something odd in the frame triangle. Painted the same camo-green, two ten-pound barbell weights on each side of the headtube, bolted through, so that they gripped the top, head, and down tubes, and thus were effectively an integral part of the bike. I couldn't help but remark to him, and his reply was something like "that's my ammunition".

I'm not sure what to call him. To a certain extent, he has my respect, having climbed 2500 feet on that weight-enhanced rig, but on the other hand...

That is how commando's train for hill climb time trials!

"GET TO THE CHOPPA!"

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"masochist" maybe

I can't imagine doing but a hill climb on that bike. Could you imagine the center of gravity change on that thing...?

Feed the warrior 20 lbs!!

I think he got the idea from this commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHtFixj0cWk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I also think hes the guy holding the camouflaged shoes.

was he in the granny ring spinning an easy gear?
seems a bit pointless if he was

I've seen these guys with added weight before too. I never understood the point. Does the extra weight somehow make you produce more power? Seems like it would just make you slower for the same power.

The effects are all psychological.
Power outputs would be the same.

But if it makes you slower doesn't that effectively lengthen the hill? Maybe he just wants to be going up for a long time

I guess the power output could be the same and he'd do more "work". If Lon Haldeman did it, I'm sure not going to criticize.

As Prendrefeu noted, it is psychological. Years ago when I used a bike trailer, I had the same effect. You tend to want to go the same speed as you would without the extra load. You push it harder due to psychology. Plus, you get used to tne load and when you do not have it, you feel like you are having a no chain day.

I think it's more about muscle memory in performing a motion of cycling. Most will likely spin a particular cadence they are accustomed to.

he should just go buy one of these:

http://www.retrospecbicycles.com/

I test rode one thinking it might be a good >300 beat up bike to ride around downtown on and it was such a dog, I figured I'd be faster walking!!!!

You must be slow or overly dramatic, then. Even if the bike was 30 pounds I don't see it being that bad...

I would think that the opposite of WW would be the guy who chooses to ride old cheap beater bike and be snobby about it. Or not necessarily being snobby, but making concious choices to downgrade their gear.

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