In a message dated 11/30/03 1:46:54 PM Pacific Standard Time, ABikie@aol.com
writes:
> You might remember my 'do the math' that pointed out that a saved quarter
> pound on a bike was way under a percentage of what a typical rider and bike
> might weigh.
Respectfully disagreeing on a few points. A quarter pound saved on the wheels
(rims and tires) is a great deal! At the very least, it is VERY noticeable,
except perhaps to a brute.
>
>
> And those that sweat crank length? and Frame size?
> wheesh. the diff between the 172.5 and the 175 is barely over a spoke's
> thickness.
>
One of my first sets of cranks was a mismatch of a 175 and a 177.5. The guy
at Sugden and Lynch, who sold it to me said it didn't matter. Well, it
didn't...for about a week! Then it drove me crazy. I rode back down there from San
Francisco and bought the other 177.5 (that I still have). I can tell a difference
between a 175, a 177.5, a 180, 172.5 and a 170. We won't even talk about
165s. Crank length makes a BIG difference in comfort. 2.5mm is a 5mm difference in
the circle you pedal, IF YOU RIDE A LOT. Don't dismiss it!
I had a lovely 64cm Italian Masi that was too big. When I descended, the top
tube didn't fall where I like it, under my knees. I am a LOT happier with a
62. In frame size, an inch is a lot. It led me to build frames.
Stevan Thomas
Alameda, CA