why is there a wieght limit on bikes in the tour de france?

Questions about bike hire abroad and everything light bike related. No off-topic chat please

Moderators: robbosmans, Moderator Team

User avatar
DMF
Posts: 1062
Joined: Sat Dec 06, 2008 10:14 am
Location: Sweden

by DMF

Considering the difference between a 55 and a 62 frame is maybe like 200-300g in modern frames I don't see the problem. Many tour teams add that kind of dead weight in the BB axle just to get up to 6.8kg, and still rarely use any exotic parts on their bikes. Also, how many 90kg riders are there actually racing under UCI regulations? And how many 90kg riders are all muscle and bones, no fat... Talking about trouble loosing those last 200g and maybe riding with 5.000g of excess body weight, well...

I ofcourse mean no personal offence to you, as I certainly haven't got a clue how fit you are. I just mean to make a point about the relation between heavy and/or tall riders situation in relation to the UCI regulation.

chase196126
Posts: 189
Joined: Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:11 pm

by chase196126

Personally I like the current weight limit. Amateur riders can build up a high quality bike at or near the weight limit for a very reasonable price. Riders can race with a powermeter without having to choose between having power data and having a slightly lighter bike (this provides power geeks like me with interesting data from races all around the world).

On the other hand the current weight limit is a bigger disadvantage to a small rider than it is to a larger rider because the bike is a larger % of their system weight. Having a basic weight class system or tech exemption for extremely small/light riders could make things more fair.

If the UCI is attempting to keep the playing field level they should have aero drag restrictions and tire rolling resistance limits. Both of those will add up to many more saved watts than a kilo of weight off the bike. Too bad they would be too hard to test on race day :P

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



rodebaron51
Posts: 341
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2011 4:38 pm
Location: Netherlands

by rodebaron51

Hi,

No offense taken on my fitness... I am just doing great ;-)
I am not only a rider, but also do some fitness (weights) 3 x week... so my 90KG on 1.94m are oke for me...

But... still, how to make my bike go under 6,8KG?
I just own a C59 62cm for a couple of days...
Have some pretty good stuff on it;
Campi SR (pretty light)
FSA Plasma (oke-ish)
Zipp 808/1080 (oke, here I could squeeze maybe 400gr)... but again, I need wheels that will hold me & my force...
Propogo Nago (oke on weight)
Look Keo carbon max 2 (oke)

Total 7.98KG

Never I will be able to go to 6.8 with "normal" stuff and having the gear thats fits me, rigth???

So why not differentiate the 6.8KG rule per frame size?

P.S. Not that I will compete or anything.... and I am 110% happy with my bike... the feel is superb!
To my opinion the 7,98KG + water + spare tyre etc and my weight, shoes, cloth is >100KG... so what will an extra 500gr bring?????
Pascal

2012 Colnago C59 MTBK Camapgnolo Hyperon Ultra 2 and Campi SR11
2014 Merida Big 99 CF team fully
2015 Pinarello F8 Sky Campagnolo Bora Utra 2 and Campi SR11 EPS (RIP after crash)
2016 Trek Mad-One Limited Team Edition

User avatar
DMF
Posts: 1062
Joined: Sat Dec 06, 2008 10:14 am
Location: Sweden

by DMF

You could probably easily shave another 0,5kg by bolt tuning everything, changing all the small parts such as headset expander and topcap, cable housing, seatpost clamp, QR's, bar tape, seatpost, etc. And as you said yourself, asking for 6,8 with super deep TT wheels, that's asking a bit much unless you're willing to cut some weight elsewhere with exotic parts. Besides, don't go around thinking those wheels are much stronger than say, a pair of 303's just because they look beefier. And if you really want strong wheels, it's got more to do with spoke count...

Look at my bike for example, it's 7,3kg with 1600g+ frame and 1600g+ wheels and Shimano 105 STI's! And it was built on a bit of a budget...

User avatar
Dilbert
Posts: 264
Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2007 10:54 am
Location: South Africa

by Dilbert

rodebaron51 wrote:Hi,

But... still, how to make my bike go under 6,8KG?
....
Total 7.98KG


Nice bike - I like the build.
I agree that the bike weight limit should be relative to rider weight, but the UCI does not have a history of doing logical things.

Re your bike, if you ever want to, it should not be difficult to get to 6.8 or below if you really wanted to:

The wheels look like clinchers in the pic? If so, I guess the set weighs about 2kgs.
You could drop 1kg by getting a set of Enve (or similar) tubbies, without compromising strength.
Minus another 100 grams for light brake calipers (but it will come at the cost of some stopping power)
The other 100 grams should not be too difficult. There are options like some ultralight TI skewers, light bottle cages, lighter cranks, lighter bars etc.

krzysiekmz
Posts: 978
Joined: Sat Nov 10, 2007 4:23 am
Location: Poland/Toronto
Contact:

by krzysiekmz

rodebaron51,

post your bike in Intruduce Yourself section and you will get the clues how to lighten it up. It could be much lighter than 6.8 limit and fully functional for your weight.

Chris.
Orbea Oiz - xxxx
MSC Koncept Carbon Di2 - 6955g
Leichtkraft Team Carbon - 6868g.

Ozrider
Posts: 1018
Joined: Sat Nov 20, 2010 6:06 am
Location: Perth, Western Australia

by Ozrider

@ Rodebaron51 - I ride a Parlee XL that weighs 6050g without any "ultralight" parts, and I weigh 95kg, been riding it a year without any issues.
Those Zipps are HEAVY, and suited for Time Trials.
There are a number of wheels that are really lit, Enve tubulars will knock off a massive amount of weight, seat post, stem cables are all areas where decent weight savings could be made
You have an awesome frame and groupset, would be pretty easy to lighten your bike :welcome:
Ozrider - Western Australia
Parlee Z5 XL (6055g/13.32lbs) Trek Madone 5.9 (7052-7500g)Jonesman Columbus Spirit (8680g)
Chase your dreams - it's only impossible until it's done

rodebaron51
Posts: 341
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2011 4:38 pm
Location: Netherlands

by rodebaron51

Hey guys,

thx 4 comments!

I will post my bike @ intro site later... lets see what comments I will get...

One thing I am still puzzling with; with or without ZIPP decals???? Will shave of at least 20gr hahahaha
Serious; that is all about the looks...
Pascal

2012 Colnago C59 MTBK Camapgnolo Hyperon Ultra 2 and Campi SR11
2014 Merida Big 99 CF team fully
2015 Pinarello F8 Sky Campagnolo Bora Utra 2 and Campi SR11 EPS (RIP after crash)
2016 Trek Mad-One Limited Team Edition

Cabbgage
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2011 8:04 pm

by Cabbgage

The limit idea is good so we have an equal playing field. But i think this weight of 6.8 kg is very old, and could be dropped a kilo or 2 without risking the saftey of the bikes, and would in fact promote more design innovations and help the development of bikes in general.

rodebaron51
Posts: 341
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2011 4:38 pm
Location: Netherlands

by rodebaron51

Hi guys,

Thx for the replies on how to loose weight... Indeed I switched wheels and now I am from 7.9KG to 7.3KG on my 62cm C59...

As it feels perfect, it is oke for me.

And to the 6.8KG limit... I tend to agree that the 6.8KG is a bit outdated... with current technology (especially for the pro riders-> they ride mostly 55-58 frames) it is doable to go below 6KG without compromizing savety!
But still I would make it dependent on the frame size...
Pascal

2012 Colnago C59 MTBK Camapgnolo Hyperon Ultra 2 and Campi SR11
2014 Merida Big 99 CF team fully
2015 Pinarello F8 Sky Campagnolo Bora Utra 2 and Campi SR11 EPS (RIP after crash)
2016 Trek Mad-One Limited Team Edition

Alex2
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Apr 07, 2011 7:25 pm

by Alex2

What if you're 64kg, 195cm?

I say there should be a rider's championship (TDF?), and a manufacturer's championship where the rider is taken out of the equation entirely! Each bike is strapped to every relevant testing machine strictly to ensure it won't break, then ridden on each stage in similar conditions by The Stig! We'll all see once and for all how much (or how little) difference the bike can make for a rider!

Kasparz
Posts: 566
Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:17 am
Location: Latvia

by Kasparz

rodebaron51 wrote:Hi,

No offense taken on my fitness... I am just doing great ;-)
I am not only a rider, but also do some fitness (weights) 3 x week... so my 90KG on 1.94m are oke for me...

But... still, how to make my bike go under 6,8KG?
I just own a C59 62cm for a couple of days...
Have some pretty good stuff on it;
Campi SR (pretty light)
FSA Plasma (oke-ish)
Zipp 808/1080 (oke, here I could squeeze maybe 400gr)... but again, I need wheels that will hold me & my force...
Propogo Nago (oke on weight)
Look Keo carbon max 2 (oke)

Total 7.98KG

Never I will be able to go to 6.8 with "normal" stuff and having the gear thats fits me, rigth???

So why not differentiate the 6.8KG rule per frame size?

P.S. Not that I will compete or anything.... and I am 110% happy with my bike... the feel is superb!
To my opinion the 7,98KG + water + spare tyre etc and my weight, shoes, cloth is >100KG... so what will an extra 500gr bring?????

No offense, but with that bodyweight the last thing you need to worry about is your bike weight.
I have a racebike that has Scott CR1 Team Issue frame Saunier Duval used from 04 to 06 season. Campa Record 10 carbon/Titanium groupset with UT cranks. Bontrager race X Lite Carbon Aero wheelset Team Discovery used in 05, Armstrong used these wheels for few races too. All the other parts are used by pro teams as well and my bike is waaaay below 6.8Kg, even if the frame if 58cm, seatpost is 350mm, stem is 120mm with -17 drop and bars are 44cm. With framesize 52cm, shorter stem and seatpost and 40cm bars I could get even below 6Kg with same parts.

rodebaron51
Posts: 341
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2011 4:38 pm
Location: Netherlands

by rodebaron51

As far as I see my bodyweight is quite oke... ;-)
And yes I am not a skinny hard core rider... more a 1.94m 89KG fit type of guy with some muscles.

Just like to get a light bike for the "feel"
Pascal

2012 Colnago C59 MTBK Camapgnolo Hyperon Ultra 2 and Campi SR11
2014 Merida Big 99 CF team fully
2015 Pinarello F8 Sky Campagnolo Bora Utra 2 and Campi SR11 EPS (RIP after crash)
2016 Trek Mad-One Limited Team Edition

Thomson
Posts: 130
Joined: Thu Apr 18, 2019 7:19 pm

by Thomson

I think the 6.8kg is a good thing. A weight it is the same for everyone.
How much a difference would 6.0kg 6.8kg or 7.0kg weight make if everyone was close to the one weight limit?

Plus as mentioned someone with a 52cm frame and a 62cm frame has to be able to reach the same weight ? So that's why some bikes have to put weights in and maybe the bigger framed bikes don't.

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



Post Reply