For the hill climbs, I toyed with buying some super expensive Lightweight wheels (950g a pair). But, for the sake of saving 300 grams for £3,000 couldn’t really justify it. We are living in an age of austerity after all…
Selle Italia CX Zero Saddle
Instead I thought about getting a super lightweight saddle. The above Selle SLR saddle is as uncomfortable as it looks – a solid sheet of carbon fibre, with no padding to speak of – a million miles away from your 450 gram Brooks, spring leather saddle.
The Selle Italia CX saddle is advertised at 81grams, but it comes in at 110grams.
There are also different models which offer a modicum of support and padding.
- Length (mm): 275
- Width (mm): 131
Yet, though I sent it back once, I’ll probably still buy it as I’m aiming to build the lightest bike for the hill climb season, and I haven’t been able to find a lighter saddle.
I bought it solely because it says 89grams on box. My current Bontrager saddle is 189 grams. So I could save 100 grams for £300.
But, when I weighed it on my accurate scales it comes out with 111 grams – 22 more than advertised by manufacturer. Only 80 grams less than my more existing comfortable saddle. Since it cost £300 I’m going to send it back.
Because it isn’t comfortable for long rides, I would probably only be using it for hill climbs.
Always be aware of manufacturers claims on weight.
My other Selle Italia SLR saddle is on my Ribble. I have used this for four years, and I find it really comfortable, despite being very lightweight. It has a cut out section in the middle. The only drawback of this saddle was that it is quite fiddly to actually attach to the seat post. However, it is has been a good saddle, which makes me a bit more disappointed that the C64 is not as light as advertised.
- Selle Italia SLR C64 at Chain Reaction Cycles
Related
- Most comfortable saddles
- Saddles at Wiggle
- How important is saving weight on a bike?
pj
You should not look down on those people on expensive bikes with a little excess weight who only enjoy cycling in the summer.
This attitude is the worst side of the cycling community and you see it on every blog. Some blogs hate people in lycra. Some blogs hate people on sit up and begs. Some blogs hate pleasure cyclists. Every ‘type’ of cyclist looks down on the other ‘types’.
We should all stick together, show some community spirit and show solidarity to ALL types of cyclist otherwise we will put peple off taking up hobby/sport that we all love and enjoy and would like more poeple to do.
Tejvan. I love your blog, even though I in no way participate in cycling at a competition level, because you clearly just love cyling and appreciate love to see anyone on any type of bike. I applaud this attitude!
it’s a very very fine line isn’t it?
i go for similar marginal gains – the ones i can afford, like the planet-x wheelset over a set of neutron ultras = 300g. but sometimes i know there’s still a couple of kilos around the middle that if push really came to shove, i should lose first.
Earlier in the year, Matt Clinton beat me on Dovers Hill by 0.8 seconds. A very unscientific approach suggests That kind of margin is equivalent to about 350 grams.
Jim Henderson once came second to Ben Greenwood in National champs by 0.5 seconds on the Rake. These races can be won on fine margins!
But, yes, I have little spare weight around the middle!
6 foot 3 and 10 stone – or 135 pounds in American money.
It’s probably cheaper to have your appendix out.
Saving 100g for £300? Amazing.
(Cue comments of “i can buy a whole bike for that”!).
Seriously though, I’ll assume you’re not carrying any excess weight on yourself, and are riding a frame slightly on the small side already – then it might make sense! I’m not a hill climber, so i don’t speak from experience.
All too often (in good summer weather, not so much now) I pass fairweather cyclists (/posing-roadies) on a hill. They’re often on a £1000 – £5000 bike, very light. Yet they’re carrying 10 to 20 kg around their middle.
With that in the equation, i can afford to have a comfortable bike (rack, top pannier, tools, mudguards) weighting over 10kg, and still come out ahead. Seems like the best option to me!