In the 1930's, Buckley Brothers of London advertised their Model C as "The Lightest Racing Cycle Built", weighing 13 pounds. Various makers listed models below 18 pounds (Fenton's 17 pound "Super-Zip" for example). In the 1800's, I believe that a racing Ordinary (high bicycle) was built at around 11 pounds by a well-known maker (I forget whcih one, and can't find the reference). And perhaps hobby horse owners infested their machines with woodworm in a quest for lightness...? :-)
Neil Foddering Weymouth, England
>From: "Martin Appel" <martin@camelot.de>
>To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>Subject: [CR]serious "Weight Weenieism - when did it start?
>Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2005 12:26:58 +0100
>
>i had a discussion with a friend last night about "serious weight
>weenieism" - the hunt for grams.... (in lack of a better word for it).
>in its modern sense.
>
>But what about the history.
>So, this list has "The vintage lightweight racing bike" as title.
>Sure it must have been known even to the founders of our sport back in
>the beginning of the 20th century, that a bike (usually) is faster,
>esp. uphill, when its lighter.
>
>But when started Weight Weenieism? Can there be a date put to it?
>
>i can see a few milestones, like
>
>- first Titanium production frames (~1974)
>- occurrence of "Drillium" (seventies????)
>- ultralight rims by Nisi, Mavic scratch 260g (late 70ies)
>
>what other Milestones can you think of?
>
>but what was earlier, 60ies, 50ies? did everybody just put stock parts
>on his bike and that was it?
>
>Or has even back then existed a group of riders who went shopping with
>lab scales...?
>
>Martin Appel
>Munich, BY