Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by matsemann 1373 days ago
It's always funny with people having paid $10k extra to save a kilogram on their bike, and then show up on the Sunday group ride with a beer belly. But I think these articles and study are mostly written for / paid by professionals, and they don't have that much more weight to lose.

But reading "The secret race" by Hamilton (one of Armstrong's team mates), they do focus obsessively on it. They would often ride for hours, then take sleeping medication and go to bed without eating.
3 comments
brandmeyer 1373 days ago
> It's always funny with people having paid $10k extra to save a kilogram on their bike, and then show up on the Sunday group ride with a beer belly.

Ah, the smell of fresh gatekeeping in the morning. You don't know what road these people are on, just their current state. For all you know, they've already dropped dozens of pounds and are happy with their own improvements. Never look down on a fat person on a bike.

link
matsemann 1372 days ago
I didn't gatekeep or look down on anyone, those I'm talking about is me and my friends. It's just a funny jab at ourselves, spending way too much money and effort on things that ultimately wont matter. At least we have fun doing it :)

I'm a cycle advocate and spend hours a week fighting for infrastructure etc where I live, that I hope helps all kinds of cyclists.

link
giraffe_lady 1373 days ago
They are climbing mountains though. In a flat area this advantage nearly disappears. I have that typical cyclist underweight build and it barely helps me on gravel rides, really only when there's a direct headwind. And it's balanced by how much more I get pushed around by crosswinds.

It's definitely very significant for european-style touring races, but people overstate it for even high-level amateur rides especially in flatter areas. Which is most gravel riding.

link
jamincan 1373 days ago
When framed that way, it seems odd, but is it so strange that someone with means spends $10k on their hobby? That's really what it comes down to, more so than the weight-savings. If you like riding bikes, and have the money to spend on it, why not spend $10k on a fancy bike?
link