Not as much as you think.

When you ride for hours and climb steep hills, you may feel that the weight of the bicycle under you is seriously slowing you down. However, reducing a few ounces (which usually involves buying more expensive parts) will only save you a few seconds. This is certainly not the most effective or cost-effective way to pursue speed.

Jim Gourley, a triathlete with a degree in aerospace engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy, discusses this topic in his book "Faster: Demystifying the Science of Triathlon Speed." In fact, he did mathematical calculations to see how much speed a cyclist could save with a lighter bicycle.

First, he estimates that switching from an entry-level road bike or hybrid bike with an aluminum frame to a top carbon fiber race car equipped with the lightest parts on the market can save you about 3 pounds. Then he calculated how long it would take for a cyclist to ride four different bicycles—15 pounds, 16 pounds, 17 pounds, and 18 pounds—to climb a mile-long mountain.

Even on the steepest slope he tested (7%), a one-pound difference between bikes could only save about 2.5 seconds—and the lightest bike was only 7.5 seconds faster than the heaviest bike. "During a race that lasts for hours, a few seconds per climb is not a significant advantage," he wrote, at least not for amateur cyclists or age group triathletes. (If you are participating in the Tour de France and keeping pace with your competitors, that is another matter.) And, it is worth noting that even these small advantages will disappear as the track becomes flat.

"Many equipment manufacturers will tell you that their handlebars are 20 grams lighter than competitors' handles," Gourley said. "But you need to measure the difference in weight to make any noticeable changes. The 20-gram difference is important for NASA's moon landing, but it is no different to you who are trying to leave."

Dr. Jim Martin, associate professor of sports and exercise science at the University of Utah, said that one reason bicycle weight is not important is because it is only a part of the total weight you carry. “Looking at a 20-pound bike and a 15-pound bike, it’s easy to say, ‘Wow, I saved 25%!’” he said. "But in fact, the weight of your bike plus your own weight plus your clothes, your water bottle, and your gu, you only lose 5 pounds on everything on the bike. So it ends up better than it looks. Much smaller."

Although lighter bikes have a slight advantage over heavier bikes, any lead it takes on slopes will be partially offset on the way downhill. (A heavier bicycle does not make up for all the differences, especially when you need to brake when going downhill, but it will accelerate slightly faster than a lighter bicycle.)

Gourley said that a more effective and economical way to reduce weight is to lose weight, not to reduce the weight of the bicycle. (Assuming you have to lose at least a few extra pounds of extra weight-honestly, most of us do.) Not only can it reduce your overall weight by a larger percentage, but it will also increase your maximum oxygen uptake. This can automatically give you more power. Strengthening the legs is also very important.

"Everyone wants a sexy, ultra-light bike, but good legs are also sexy," he said. "I see a lot of people riding expensive bicycles, but their legs are cheap. It's like driving a Corvette with a two-cylinder engine."

If you really want to upgrade your current ride without spending a lot of cash, then you should focus on one thing: aerodynamics. "There is a saying in the bicycle industry that aerodynamics is better than weight, and I totally agree," Martin said. Although shaving your legs or buying an aerodynamic frame, helmet, or wheels can make you a little faster, if you race on a track where they are allowed, you will get the most benefit by adding air bars and adjust your performance. The position on the bike.

"If you can reduce the front area by 10%, you will also reduce that much resistance," he said. "The position of the elbow pads, the position where you put your arms on the barbell, the way you hold your head - these are the most important things, and they are usually easy to fix."

He added that no matter what speed you ride at, this is correct. "There is a general belief that if you ride at a speed below a certain speed (for example, 18 or 20 miles per hour), aerodynamics does not matter. Ironically, for slower riders , This may be more important because they spend much longer on the track.” He explained that reducing the drag by 10% in a 90-minute 40K ride can save 9 minutes; for those who finish in 50 minutes Say, it only saves 5 minutes.

Bottom line: A lighter bike can save you a few seconds each time you climb a hill. However, if you really want to be faster, there are better ways to consume your energy and money, such as reducing weight, upgrading wheels, and making your bike more aerodynamic.

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