If you are trying to lose weight, you should be using the worst, heaviest bike possible.
It’s always hillarious to me to see boomers on expensive bikes that aim to save every gram while they could save 20kg on themselves.
somethingsnappy@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
SpongyAneurysm@feddit.org 2 weeks ago
Well, not if you still want to have some fun while doing so.
But I agree, that a regular bike should suffice and you don’t need to worry about optimizing gear weight if you’re not competing for anything and just ride it for your own well-being.
wolfpack86@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Well, not necessarily. A bike that’s got a full carbon frame also absorbs shock and vibration from the road better. This means you can ride longer distances without getting fatigued in places like your wrists or ass. Longer rides = more exercise.
But once you have a carbon frame, chasing grams on other components gets to be a bit silly.
autriyo@feddit.org 2 weeks ago
I’ve yet to ride a carbon frame for any amount of real distance, so idk how good they actually are.
But having a less harsh ride can also be archived by not using the thinnest pizza cutter tires at 10 bar. Especially if we care about time ridden and not avg. speed.
And it’s going to be slightly harder to get the same speed out of comfy tires, so that’s also more exercise.
infinitesunrise@slrpnk.net 2 weeks ago
It was really funny about a decade back watching the entire bike industry acknowledge friction coefficients all at once, and suddenly the tires all went from 24mm/90psi to 38mm/40psi. All because the roadies started riding on gravel.
jeffep@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
You could also just walk whenever possible, burns more kcals/distance
BradleyUffner@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
That’s less efficient time-wise though, since it takes significantly longer to walk the same distance riding.
somethingsnappy@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
So using fewer calories.
infinitesunrise@slrpnk.net 2 weeks ago
Steel is real. The road feel difference between carbon and steel is negligible, steel is usually way cheaper, survives a whole lot longer, is more often built to widely compatible standards, is fully recyclable, and in my humble opinion just straight up feels better under you on a ride. As for weight, unless one is a pro race cyclist there is never any reason to chase gram shavings, you will almost always lose more weight and go faster by working out your own body. But FWIW my steel frame is 19 pounds and competes on weight with most carbon builds.
infinitesunrise@slrpnk.net 2 weeks ago
There’s a bell curve. If you burn out too quick you’re not gonna get nearly as much cardio, and the torque required to move a real clunker is extra stress on your joints. Plus it’s just not as much fun, cycling is a sustainable exercise largely because it’s fun. But it’s very true that a good workout bike can be had for $100 if you look. My two workout bikes were both built in the 90s (They’re fancy but that’s besides the point).
_stranger_@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
That’s a stationary bike
HugeNerd@lemmy.ca 2 weeks ago
Or skinny dudes with enormous ballsacks wearing tight Spandex on 15 pound carbon fiber bikes, but a 20 pound motorcycle lock.
infinitesunrise@slrpnk.net 2 weeks ago
The cycling community has a word for those guys: Freds.
psoul@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Well, it’s also fun to go places you know. If a shitty bike can only get you 20mi / 30km but a on a good one you feel confident doing a 30mi / 45km ride then the purchase makes sense.
betanumerus@lemmy.ca 2 weeks ago
I can’t say I’ve ever seen that.
MagicShel@lemmy.zip 2 weeks ago
Perhaps that’s why they are on a bike?
RaisinCrazyFool@kopitalk.net 2 weeks ago
If the point is to burn calories, then shaving weight off your equipment is counterproductive.
But if it makes you want to ride more, then great!