A lightweight bike will assist you to climb the hills and speed up out of corners. The need to avoid wasting weight spans generations, however issues have now advanced from drilling holes in your metal body. Carbon frames, the perfect highway bike wheels and extra have made bikes each mild and robust – though actually not low-cost.
You is perhaps questioning what good is a lightweight bike as of late – is not aero all we should always care about? These are simply uphill (steep) efforts the place a light-weight bike is quicker, however that ignores the time wasted coming down the opposite aspect.
>>>Watch: why it is best to at all times select an aero bike over a lightweight one
While it is true {that a} lightweight bike won’t be as quick as an aero bike within the majority of circumstances, that sort of misses the purpose. Lightweight bikes, fairly merely, are enjoyable. The instantaneous response to the slightest acceleration, the liveliness when going up hills, make for an arguably extra partaking and pleasant drive.
Who can actually really feel the distinction between driving at 32 km/h on common and 31 km/h on common? Whereas a bike’s responsiveness to your slightest enter is one thing you’re feeling immediately. Aero might be many issues, however when was the final time you heard a TT bike described as “exciting”?
If you are simply going out for a trip with a couple of buddies, chances are high you are not touring at speeds that warrant uncompromising aero optimization. Lightweight bikes nonetheless have their place, and lots of of them have lately been modified to cheat the wind higher, anyway.
>>>Read: When does aero grow to be extra necessary than weight?
The greatest lightweight bikes
Why you possibly can belief Cycling Weekly
Our professional reviewers spend hours testing and evaluating services and products so you possibly can select the perfect one for you. Learn extra about how we take a look at.
This guide contains hyperlinks to sure merchandise. Each product comes with a “Buy Now” or “Best Offer” hyperlink. If you click on on it, we could obtain a small amount of cash from the retailer whenever you buy the merchandise. This doesn’t have an effect on the quantity you pay.
(Image credit score: GÉANT)
As with many lightweight bikes as of late, there’s greater than only a nod to aerodynamics. The tube shapes have been redesigned to glide by the air and include 42mm deep rims. But regardless of this, he nonetheless manages to dive beneath the UCI weight restrict.
We discovered the bike enjoyable and nimble to trip and it is a bike that makes you need to push your self on any highway. The trip is admittedly just a little harsh, and the built-in seatpost must be trimmed all the way down to your top – so get a good suggestion of your bike’s place earlier than driving this bike.
(Image credit score: SPECIALIZED)
Another lightweight bike that acquired a facelift. It’s not simply the body that cheats the wind; the wheels are 51/60mm deep, which is spectacular for such a lightweight construct. Cable routing is especially neat, staying out of sight till the final attainable second, earlier than exiting for the calipers and derailleurs.
The mixture of aerodynamics and lightness makes it a bike that desires to go quick in every single place. It maintains its pace on the flat and, when the highway bends, it responds instantly to the slightest acceleration. However, the trip is noticeably more durable than its heavier sibling, the SL6.
(Image credit score: BMC)
Light, responsive and manageable. The aero optimization has even prolonged to the water bottle cages on this bike, however the built-in handlebars make cockpit changes a bit extra of a ache.
Ride high quality was completely acceptable on the nice roads, however chatter on the dangerous ones was accentuated. There is room for tires as much as 30mm extensive, so it’s attainable to improve this with wider rubber.
(Image credit score: CANYON)
Full disclosure: The sub-six-kilo weight was with a Selle Italia SLR C59 carbon saddle fitted and no pedals or bottle cages. But even in a extra practical configuration, it stays nicely beneath the UCI weight restrict of 6.8 kg.
Impressively, Canyon has managed to mix mild weight and stiffness with a comparatively comfy trip, with the one-piece bar absorbing a good quantity of highway vibration. What stored this bike from receiving a full 10/10 was the dealing with. The easy truth is that it simply is not as sharp as different bikes at this stage.
(Image credit score: CERVÉLO)
Rigidity has not been sacrificed for the good thing about lightness. The downtube, seatpost and chainstays have all been strengthened on the outsized backside bracket, making response to each pedal stroke instantaneous.
The distribution of what little weight it has is not optimum although, with the entrance finish feeling moderately mild. It additionally lacks a number of the aerodynamic optimization displayed by its rivals. High man strains are some extent simply in case.
(Image credit score: SCOTT Sports)
For an ultralight bike, the Scott Addict managed to ship an exceptionally easy trip. Much of that’s probably because of the 28mm tires that include it. Considering the broader rubber and respectably deep 35mm rims, its 6.9kg weight in a measurement massive is all of the extra spectacular.
However, the Schwalbe Pro One tires had been discovered to be considerably susceptible to punctures. Although, in the event that they had been run of their tubeless kind, which may not have been a problem.
(Image credit score: PINARELLO)
Particularly aerodynamic and lightweight, it’s a thoroughbred racing machine, as confirmed on a number of Grand Tours. It actually comes at a value, with some variations reaching as excessive as £12,000.
But this bike shouldn’t be with out compromise. The excessive stiffness interprets right into a considerably harsh trip, whereas the P-Zero tires that our take a look at bike was fitted with proved to be just a little flimsy.
(Image credit score: BIANCHI)
Maintaining the basic look of a lightweight bike, the Specialissima comes with rim brakes and seatstays that meet the highest tube. That’s to not say there aren’t fashionable touches: the fork integrates cleanly with the body, and the underside bracket is considerably outsized to supply stiffness.
It’s not simply on the climbs that this bike excels, the aggressive geometry makes it a nimble descender, encouraging you to essentially throw it across the corners.
