Weight Weenies

Lightweight makes a video about their frame (in German) ::

http://youtu.be/9np60n_dRQs

Frame geometry is at http://lightweight.info/us/en/components/urgestalt

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hmmmm focus (specialized/trek of germany) just release info on there new 725gm frame.
i guess the lightweight decals are very expensive vs the rest of the frames made in china/taiwan.


http://road.cc/content/news/87814-focus-izalco-max-and-chrono-max-launched

btw trek can still mass produce usa-made madone kvf with a weight ~725gm. available in race/performance geometry and custom paint.

But spartan, that Focus and Trek aren't sportif bikes made for dentists. You can't compare it to the LW frame.

I would rather have the 2014 Scott Addict SL which is frame and fork under 1kg and spend the money saved buying a BERK saddle/post combo and a few other trick components and having a lighter set up but a heavier wallet.

@BmanX I agree, you probably could get two Scott Addict for the price of one LW. I guess if you get this LW you're really buying it for the brand name, definitely not for it's cutting edge carbon tech!

Pics of the new Scott Addict http://blog.naver.com/pinmanix/30173846445

Yeah hands down the new Addict SL looks much nicer than the LW frame plus it is lighter, cheaper and I would guess stiffer than the LW. Won't know about stiffness or comfort until some ride reports/tests are done. But I would take the Addict over the LW every time. That Addict is a sharp looking frame.

Until there is a leap in materials, whether fibers or matrix, I think we're stuck with a bunch of boring, "me too" stock frames. Everyone plugs nearly the same assumptions into nearly identical software and unsurprisingly comes up with nearly identical frames, the main differences coming from the extent aerodynamics are addressed. Particularly for a high end name like LW, where they're not hitting a lower price point to develop a broader customer base, it really seems a wasted effort.

So I've seen one of these now. It looks pretty nice in the flesh - didn't get up close to it though.

Not sure what the Addict SL frameset pricing will be, but it's not going to be half the price. The BURAsl, though...

Hmm, the frame actually seems quite competitively priced if you ask me, at GBP3950 is about 500 quid more than a C59, and 250 more than a Think 2 Dogma. So not ludicrous at all, and it’s sure as hell going to be lighter than both of those framesets...

I predict an Obeymayer version in 6 months, that will be lighter and have a splash of white.

Let’s wait until there are some ride reports before it’s written off.

(oh and with respect, those that would rather have a Scott or Focus instead aren't in the market Lightweight are targetting anyway)

bikewithnoname wrote:(oh and with respect, those that would rather have a Scott or Focus instead aren't in the market Lightweight are targetting anyway)

With respect you are wrong.

I doubt it.

If someone wants a Scott/Focus then they are happy with a mass market brand, Lightweight aren't aiming there. I don't doubt the Scott/Focus are great bikes and may be "better" to many but that's not the point. Branding is what makes people buy VW's instead of Skoda's even though they are 99% the same.

Does anyone honestly think the guys at Lightweight thought "lets target the Scott/Specialised/Trek demographic" rather than lets target the "Colnago, Pina, Time, Look demographic" ?

I do however agree with other posts that Lightweight is synonymous with light products, this frame appears to be only averagely light (still lighter than Colnago and Pina), hence my Obermeyer prediction

Tend to agree re. brand. And price is about right for the massed wallets of cityboys, consultants, lawyers and dentists. For those in that phase I'm sure it will be a hit.

Personally I'm over the light is best stuff. Maybe it's creeping middle age, but I realised that buying a power meter and riding my bike harder and more regularly would allow me to ride a custom painted Dogma on training wheels faster than I currently ride the most ueber aero weight weenie with superior aesthetics both in terms of the frame not being black and my stomach not protruding over my bibshorts.

bikewithnoname wrote:I doubt it.

If someone wants a Scott/Focus then they are happy with a mass market brand, Lightweight aren't aiming there. I don't doubt the Scott/Focus are great bikes and may be "better" to many but that's not the point. Branding is what makes people buy VW's instead of Skoda's even though they are 99% the same.

Does anyone honestly think the guys at Lightweight thought "lets target the Scott/Specialised/Trek demographic" rather than lets target the "Colnago, Pina, Time, Look demographic" ?

I do however agree with other posts that Lightweight is synonymous with light products, this frame appears to be only averagely light (still lighter than Colnago and Pina), hence my Obermeyer prediction

LW are targeting anyone with coin, simple as that.
I don't think they've thought "This dude rides a Trek, so he's not in our demographic".
The simple fact that LW have made wheels for so long is the proof of that..they're aimed at anyone who can afford them, regardless of the brand of bike they're going on..
Just like their wheels, if you're rich enough, then you're our demographic.

Case in point - several months ago I was in a 'high end' bike store in the heart of the city, where a lot of business is a result of the over 40s professionals (lawyers, accountants etc..)
Anyways, this heavy set, mid 50s guy walks in, and the mechanic comes out with his bike which he'd obviously just finished the build on (it was brand spanking new) MC RB1000, Obermayers, Di2, the whole kit and kaboodle .. probably a week's wages for some of these guys.

Is he in LWs demographic? as a consumer which money, of course he is!
As a super fit cycling rock star, probably not.

LOL, Berk gone to LW.

This poor build makes frame look fugly:



Hint, Hint: Saddle/Bar/Stem/Stack/Cages/Bottles.

Gotta reserve judgement till version 2 comes out.

LW decals/graphics are too understated. L superimposed on W logo is confusing and low-ball.

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