How do I make my Gr...
 

  You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more

[Closed] How do I make my Gravel bike lighter - singular kite content

10 Posts
9 Users
0 Reactions
281 Views
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

XL frame

105 11 speed groupset

CX-50 chainset

Hope pro3 on stans crest 29er wheels

TRP spyre

WTB nano 38 tubeless

Thomson elite post and San Marco regal

Ritchey alloy bar and stem (ain't going carbon!)

Not sure how much it weighs but it's not light! For me it's wheels, what could I get that would shave some lbs but still be tough enough for bike packing on fire roads? Alternatively hydro brakes? Ultegra compact chainset?


 
Posted : 16/07/2017 9:45 am
Posts: 6581
Free Member
 

The chainset is super heavy as are the hubs. Thomson posts aren't light.

(edit - but I suspect you're not going to end up with a light bike without changing pretty much everything)


 
Posted : 16/07/2017 9:50 am
Posts: 28
Free Member
 

Frankly, Gravel bikes are not supposed to be light in my opinion. On my cheapo Ridley, I have removed the outer ring and front mech, installed a mechless front chainring, 36t, and a wide-ratio rear block, 11-36. But this is all in the interests of functionality.

I ride mine like a rigid MTB. Ride it as it is, and ride it hard. Replace things when they break. You won't have any more fun with a lighter set of wheels!


 
Posted : 16/07/2017 10:04 am
Posts: 4686
Full Member
 

Is it not a reasonably heavy frame as a starting point..? Especially if you have the Singular steel forks too...


 
Posted : 16/07/2017 10:05 am
Posts: 12482
Free Member
 

Yep, buying a bike with a 2.2kg+ frame is the wrong thing to do if you want a light bike.


 
Posted : 16/07/2017 10:10 am
 Bez
Posts: 7371
Full Member
 

Well, firstly I'd chuck £3 or something on some fishing scales from eBay and find out exactly what your starting point is.

Then decide how much cash you want to throw at it.

Then throw those two numbers back to STW and get some advice 😉

Seems to me you're probably not far off the point of diminishing returns in terms of kit. XL steel framesets aren't light: you'll be a good kilo over an alu/carbon equivalent IME, so you're unlikely to get under about 11kg or so without a pile of cash.


 
Posted : 16/07/2017 10:17 am
Posts: 953
Free Member
 

Especially if you have the Singular steel forks too...

Suspect this is the disc Kite?


 
Posted : 16/07/2017 10:17 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

SRAM Red chainset
Swap the groupset to SRAM or Campag
Carbon seatpost
Carbon railed saddle
Carbon bottle cages
DT 240 hubs or cheapo Bitex


 
Posted : 16/07/2017 10:17 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

What weight is the bike now?

Hope Pro3? - since these aren't in Hope's current line up I'm assuming they are either fairly old or some custom build using old stock.

Hard to tell from a quick search what the weight of your hub/rim combo is but the Hope Pro4 wheels come in at around 1600g - 1700g depending on rim for the set which isn't much different from the likes of DT Swiss, etc. - you might save 150g swapping to the DT Swiss R23 wheelset for example.

Upgrading your chainset to the CX-70 would save you 200g.

As Simon's noted, you are going to have to change a lot of things to see any significant weight saving.


 
Posted : 16/07/2017 10:18 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Ye it's Kite disc.

Re above point about not needing it to be light, use as a mtb etc I somewhat agree. Was just shocked to feel the difference to my mates Mason. I know that's probably a kilo lighter frame.

Yes old wheels, came off a mtb, think they're 1700g. Maybe I'll start with changing chainset, ultegra 6800 compact looks approx 200g lighter. Then have a look around for wheels.

Not a race bike so not super important, not gonna start upgrading finishing kit to carbon. Just wouldn't mind dropping a kilo if I could, but maybe wishful thinking! Frame is super nice to ride, just a little heavy.


 
Posted : 16/07/2017 10:27 am
 Bez
Posts: 7371
Full Member
 

If it helps, I recently saved 200g off my gravel bike chainset (I stupidly stripped the threads on the square tapers and I happened to have the lighter one kicking about, so it was a free upgrade). Unsurprisingly it's made no difference to anything. I'd say unless you're going to throw piles of cash at upgrading everything, enough to make a real difference, you're probably best saving the spending untill stuff wears out.


 
Posted : 16/07/2017 10:49 am

6 DAYS LEFT
We are currently at 95% of our target!