Make Your Bike 1 KG Lighter

Alex is trying to save over 1kg of weight on his bike by making 5 key upgrades to it! Will he succeed without spending a fortune? Stick around to find out just how light he can make his bike and what you should consider to make your own bike lighter!

00:00 Can we make this bike 1kg lighter?
00:28 The Upgrades
01:10 Inner tubes
02:14 Tyres
03:52 Spares and Saddle Bag
06:28 The Cassette
08:10 The Saddle
09:45 How much weight did we save?

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What are your weight-saving hacks? ⚖️ Let us know in the comments!

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📸 Photos - © Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images & © Sprint Cycling Agency

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[lux-wattage]

Step 1: Make your bike 1 kg heavier. Step 2: Make your bike 1 kg lighter.

[ThePetera]

A lighter bike has advantages:
1) It does not gain weight over the winter, unlike the lighter rider.
2) You can let others lift your bike. I've never heard of anyone lifting a rider.

[oSirSniffleso]

As someone with a 6 kilo bike, here is my order of priority:
1: Carbon Frame and Fork (obviously)
2: Carbon Wheels (preferably with carbon spokes) Carbon spokes reduce the weight an additional 200g total.
3: Carbon Crankset. Carbon cranks save a lot, although savings depends on where you start. But I was able to save 500g with this alone. But if you already have an Ultegra/Dura Ace level crank, put this much lower on the list.
4: Carbon bars with integrated stem. The integrated stem saves a lot and is more aero.
5: Lightweight cassette. Must be Monoblock. A 12 speed 11-34t shouldn't weigh more than 250g, although you can get solid titanium or even aluminum units that are around 130-160g.
6: TPU tubes can be had in 19g weight. This should honestly be higher on the list.
7: The lightest tires that are applicable to your usage. Just remember that lighter doesn't mean faster, it just means lighter. I'd rather a heavier 28mm than a 23mm.
8: This should come with the frame, but just in case, an ultralight carbon seat stem can save a lot. Mine weighed 135g uncut.
9: Carbon saddle. You can actually find them as low as 54g, but this is somewhere where I'd rather more comfort at the cost of a bit of weight. My saddle is 131 grams, a nice compromise.
10: Bottle cages. I'll just say that my 2 bottle cages WITH mounting screws weigh a total of 16 grams.
From here it gets real chippy trying to save weight. You'll want to look at your brake/shifter cable housing, derailleurs, Pedals etc. Literally random bolts that can be replaced with aluminum or titanium.

[roberttell]

I stopped carrying a chain breaker because I hadn’t needed it for 10 years. Broke my chain 2 weeks later…

[stefis]

I rode a bucket list tour of Italian mountains in the Summer including the Maratona dles Dolomites. Having already lost 5kg in the months training for my hols, I put my bike on a diet too. She lost over a Kg.
I used light tyres, TPU tubes, carbon saddle (second hand) and a ZTTO 11-34 cassette from Ali Express. Cost $73 NZD.
Fell in love with my bike all over again and ripped through the Italian Alps. ❤

[captainbungee]

Some Dura Ace cranks I had lying around??

[savagepro]

GCN Tech: "Make Your Bike 1 KG Lighter"
SavagePro: Rim Brakes💥

[Fugitive_]

Heres some advice
•Lay off the Cheeseburgers
•Eat your greens
•Cycling isnt the only exercise
•Dont be too obsessed with weight
•An empty wallet is always lighter and more aero
•A wife with 3 kids is heavy and not aero at all

[MichalBrat]

I love that brown Selle Italia saddle. I bet you put it back right after the last shot of this video :-)

[Kattbirb]

As someone who's had to use those "weight saving" tire pumps and tools several times, I'll happily spend a couple hundred grams for the larger one, as well as a toolset that works.
Otherwise I'd just save the rest of the weight too and call for a pickup and save all the pain and strife of wasting time with bad tools.

[samguan]

I chased weight savings on my bike, realized it made zero difference on my trending stats - maybe some bragging conversations with the club riders. I lost 20lbs this year(still overweight) and it has made the biggest difference. Unless you’re professional and racing where milliseconds count, it’s waste of money for most people.

[Soupdragon]

Removing rotating mass is doubly beneficial so tubes, tyres and cassette give you an added bonus. I had no idea TPU tubes were so light though, going to try some, thanks.

[dr.chubchin]

Free weight saving hack: loose weight :)

I have that same multitool with chain-tool on it, and boy did it save my skin last year on my 6-day unsuported solo-trip through the alps. I really aimed for packing light on such a mountaineous trip, but i'm glad i didn't save weight (grams!) on that part.

[WillEDC]

Without watching the video. Don’t carry any water bottles. Boom 1kg

[realjaklap]

The change from 105 to Ultegra is way more significant than going from Ultegra to DA or equivalent level. A lot of new bikes with 105 come with some non-105 generic shimano cranks that weigh a TON - swapping those out for Ultegra crankset (not TOO pricey compared to say the cassette shown) will save you 200+ grams

[AleksiJoensuu]

That cassette costs almost as much as I paid for my entire cyclocross bike (which I still use) back in 2017. 😂

[Arthur-kluo]

"I'm gonna save weight without spending too much cash"

Goes on to by a cassette that's €250 more than its Shim105 equivalent and cheaps out by borrowing a €400+ saddle. Running quick math through all the other bits, that 1kg saving seems to have come at well over €1 per gram

[terjemyller]

I’m a weight weenie. I do all those savings and then some. However, there’s one exception, born out of experience: A proper pump.

[g.fortin]

You hit the nail on the head at the end.. lose a pound of body weight working out (also increasing your strength at the same time a little) and be ahead.. and if you can afford the lightweight parts can do both. if you cant afford it go for the diet and exercise. Nice vid !! it's nice to see which areas give the best bang for the buck !