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G force bike5/1/2023 It's worth bearing in mind that if you aren't riding in UCI-sanctioned events then the weight limit won't apply to you. With today's manufacturing techniques and tolerances failures are rare (when crashes aren't involved) so there have been many calls for the UCI to lower or scrap the limit altogether. Riders riding for big budget teams on the lightest, most expensive bikes had a big advantage over smaller budget teams, especially those from outside of Europe or the USA, and the idea was that the weight limit would level this out. Both could see catastrophic failures if not manufactured into frames, forks and components properly.Īnother reason was that it created a kind of level playing field. Newer materials in bike building were becoming more commonplace too, like aluminium alloy and carbon fibre. The UCI brought in a weight limit back at the turn of the century of 6.8kg (15lbs) for a couple of reasons, with the main one being safety concerns over the reliability and durability of bike framesets and their components in the never-ending quest for dropping weight. At under three grand (before your wheel upgrade if you want to do that) this is a very tempting lightweight ride. The wheels are Fulcrum's high-end alloy Racing Zero, and if you switched to even lighter carbon wheels this bike could get close to troubling the UCI weight limit. Our reviewer also found the geometry to be easy to live with, allowing you to get in an efficient, aero position when required and this is largely replicated on the rim brake model. The frame and fork is largely the same, that we described as stiff and providing plenty of feedback without road vibration or harshness muting the signals. We've gone for the Ultegra model rather than the 105, disc brake-equipped version we reviewed in 2021, because it weighs just 7.28kg overall with lighter wheels and groupset than the bike we reviewed. Check out our FAQ section below for some more info and links on how to buy or build a super lightweight custom bike if you're after something more bespoke!Īs this is our lightweight bikes guide, it would be rude not to include at least one bike with good old rim brakes! Our option is not only light, but it's pretty affordable too compared to others in this list. It's worth noting that our top picks are not necessarily the lightest bikes full-stop, more a selection that are available to buy, mostly off-the-peg and, crucially, bikes that we've reviewed ourselves so we can recommend them to you. When it comes to reducing weight other materials often struggle to compete, especially when trying to balance stiffness and longevity too. In fact, some of the models below aren't even anywhere near top-of-the-range, but still tip the scales at less than 8kg.Īs you'll see from our list, carbon fibre is king. Plus we all know that at some point someone (even a non-cyclist) is going to do the 'car park pick up test' so that they can gauge just how light a modern road bike is, and you won't want to be embarrassed.Īs a general trend, bikes have got a little heavier over recent years with the inclusion of disc brakes and derailleur motors on bikes with electronic gears, but on the whole road bikes are still very light. That doesn't stop us all wanting the lightest machine we can afford though, especially if you live in a hilly area. If you are a frequent reader of our bike reviews you'll know that a bike's weight isn't the be-all and end-all, often being trumped by aerodynamics or comfort in the real world. Buy now for £7499 from Reilly Cycleworks.If you want a metal bike with the performance and comfort of carbon: Reilly Fusion 2022
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