WHAT'S NEW
Weight: The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Forget about truth in advertising. We want truth instead of advertising. And that's why we're taking one more step here at Competitive Cyclist to give you the highest-quality information about the components we sell. We already write our own product copy. We already take our own product photos. We already conduct our own product reviews. We're proud to announce today that we're now measuring the actual product weights of our components. Like, on a gram scale. All of them. Why? It's because we know that facts (not marketing palaver) empower you in your decision-making process when it comes to upgrades or buying a whole new bike. Educated and empowered customers are the happiest customers, and that's what we're all about.
Until now, only one weight gets into public circulation about componentry: The weight that manufacturers publish. How many times have you bought a "225g" seatpost, only to weigh it yourself and see "260g"? Those published weights, where do they come from? Why aren't they called "Purported Weight", "Suggested Weight", "Estimated Weight", or "In An Ideal World Weight"? They're not infallible truth, and we have a name for it: "Claimed Weight." That's what you'll see on our site when we get in a new product and we haven't weighed it yet.
When you see "Actual Weight" that's exactly what it is: We weighed it ourselves. In terms of these actual weights you'll find them in two places on our site. One is at the header of each product. We were consistent with sizing as we weighed like products.
As the table below shows, for example, all stems are 100mm.
| Component | Road | MTB |
|---|---|---|
| Hubs/Wheels | w/o skewer or valve extender | w/o skewer, valve, rotor bolt, or CL nuts. |
| Cassettes | 12/25, with lockring | 11/34, with lockring |
| Headset | With star nut | With star nut |
| Crankset | 172.5mm, 53/39 | 175mm |
| Chain | With quick link or pin | With quick link or pin |
| Stem | 100mm | 100mm |
| Tire | 23c | Smallest size |
| Seatpost | 27.2mm x 350mm | 27.2mm x 350mm |
| Handlebars | 42cm c-c | - |
| Disc Brake | - | Caliper for post mount, lever, 160mm rotor, and hardware |
| Chain Guide | - | With all included components |
| Fork | - | With remote kit if provided |
In our attempt to be absolutely thorough, you'll also find "Actual Weights" in one other place: You'll see a breakdown of actual component weight by size in the bottom paragraph of the product copy for every component. So, for example, we show the weight of every SRAM Red cassette ratio. For any component that comes in multiple sizes, we've weighed every size. And when colors might have an implication (e.g. painted vs. anodized) we've weighed these as well.
April 22, 2009
Once again you guys have found a way to provide even "better" customer service. This is a great example of what makes your website so original.
- Clearnce, Pennsylvania
April 18, 2009
Great idea CC! This certaintly will help us sort the real deal from the fluff... thanks for having the guts and foresight to do this!
- Art, Hong Kong
April 17, 2009
Right on! You've given me a compelling reason to shop your site, versus just chasing after the best price.
- David, Pittsford, NY
April 17, 2009
Mavic is an excellent example of integrity, and CC can validate: the actual weight of an individual wheel is frequently hand-written on the inside of the rim by one of the last hands in manufacturing. Check your Ksyriums during your next tube change.
- David, Chicago
April 17, 2009
Fantastic!
- Will, Oakland
April 16, 2009
"...advertised weight being 16.56" vs "True weight was close to 18.5 lbs..." That's the sort of stuff that I think irks most of us. I mean, if they say 16.56 and it's really 16.78 who cares? But a 2 pound difference that is off by more than 12%? Please. Even macro-economists do better than that. Given the amount of $ being spent on top-end bikes these days, consumers more than deserve to have all the facts available to them when making a purchase decision. The ultra-lightness thing is not really my cuppa joe, but for a lot of folks it is a Big Deal and they should get what they think they are paying for. So, again kudos to CC for having the integrity to do this.
- PawleeWalnutz, NYC
April 16, 2009
Modern Mass production being what it is, it doesn't matter whether you're weighing one or five. More importantly, how well is your scale calibrated before the weighing?
- Bram, Ottawa
April 16, 2009
This is an awesome update to your site. Thank you so much. I
- Mark, Brentwood, TN
April 16, 2009
hmm what a nice investigation keep it guys!!!!
- mahya, Indonesia
April 16, 2009
I love your site, the product reviews, the pictures, the bikes, everything. It's the best site I've ever seen! Thank you so much! Please keep up the good work.
- Alexander, Germany
April 16, 2009
The Weight Weenie forum is going to like this, a LOT. CC might want to consider purchasing a banner ad at WW, touting the actual weight program.
- Will, Los Gatos
April 16, 2009
You again prove yourselves of having the best site available for equipment and tech- obsessed bike geeks (as my wife calls me!) anywhere in the world. Keep up the great work!
- Robert, Las Vegas
April 16, 2009
Thank you for taking this step. Just bought a complete bike with the advertised weight being 16.56. A major bicycling magazine indicated the same weight in their review of the bike.
After purchase I weighed the bike. True weight was close to 18.5 lbs
Not happy as now I am having to change out wheels and other items to get into the mid 17's
- Tom, Portland
April 16, 2009
Weigh five and show the range - that will help your buyers to understand what they should expect when they take delivery, resulting in fewer complaints. Also, greater chance of one example matching the manufacture's numberr so they don't complain and customers think better of them. I recently bought 2 very light skewers that were listed as 44 grams. One was 45 and one was 40 (calibrated scale). Those very light examples will help sell a few more items to weightweenies.
- John, Boxford
April 16, 2009
When asked about bike and component weights the first thing I ask is: How much do you weigh?? Body weight fluctuates considerably from morning to night or day to day. That expensive component, which shaved 5 grams off your bike weight, is easily cancelled by the pound or two in weight variation or the twenty pounds you need to lose. The next thing I always mention is that no matter what you ride you still have to turn the cranks!!
- Jim Roberts, Silverthorne, CO
April 16, 2009
In my opinion your website is the best in the industry for online bike stores
- Marcus, Connecticut
April 16, 2009
I agree with Pawlee (April 15 post), what about frame weights? The complete guesswork about frame weights is agonizing sometimes. Is a 42.5cm frame really the same as a 61cm? And ditto to the many posters who wonder about an average of weights based on several units. Parts can be so finicky.
- Kurt, Lakewood
April 16, 2009
thank you, thank you, thank you. This is another example of why I always check you guys out for the difinitive expert advice. I agree with earlier post to publish both weights.
- Don, Lakewood WA
April 16, 2009
Over the past few years, I've been weighing components before installing them. Shimano is almost dead on with their claimed weights. Whereas some companies are always heavier then claimed weights by at least 10%. This is not a manufacturing tolerance issue. It is an advertising lie to get your business. It's about time, someone is willing to publish the real information.
- Chris, Portland
April 16, 2009
But wait, you are making my bike heavier! It only matters how light I can CLAIM it is, right?.... Seriously though, nice job; appreciate the accurate info.
- Rich, Delaware
