Nine different ways to make your bike lighter:

1) Get a lighter frame. Your frame is the heaviest part on the bike so it stands to reason that this is where you can lose most weight. Most modern frames seem to sit around the 6.5lbs mark which is grand, but if you want to go super-light, you could always go for a Fly Diablo (5lbs 8oz, about £220), a Jim Cielencki Kink frame (5lbs 10oz, about £430), a Standard TRLS 250s OX (5lbs 8oz, about £450) or a Standard Bullit (5lbs 9oz, about £475).


2) Get lighter wheels. Being right at the front and right at the back of your bike, amplifies the the weight of your wheels. Heavier wheels are also harder to spin, due to their 'radial' weight. You can test this by taking a wheel off, spinning it, holding it by the axle and then turning it. See how it resists? Well it'll resist even more if it's heavey, so get yourself some nice, light wheels:

Rims: The new Odyssey Harzard Lite rims are great, and Gary Young rides them so they must be good. Many people (including Taj) also opt for the good ol' Big City rear rim with an Araya Super 7X front.


Hubs: Low flange hubs seem to be de rigour at the moment and companies like Primo and Odyssey are all bringing out versions. Running a cassette hub at the rear lets you run smaller cogs at the back and therefore smaller, lighter chainrings.


Spokes: Going from 48 spoke wheels to 36s will save you about one ounce per wheel if you're really that bothered.


Tyres: Dirt tyres like the Primo Dirt Monsters are a lot lighter than street tyres. Some companies have also started making tyres with a Kevlar bead. These are more expensive but lighter and stronger.


3) Take your pegs off. This one will take LOADS of weight off your bike and won't even cost you any money. You'll even look all cool like Garret Byrns and everything! Alternatively, you could always run a set of titanium pegs, but these are about £60 a set.

4) Swap your chromoly seatpost/axles for aluminium/titanium versions. You can get an ally seatpost for about £15 but Ti axles are well expensive and a lot of people are concerned about the strength/weight benifits.

5) Go brakeless. Brakes can weigh a lot, so why not take them off and be cool like Edwin Delarosa? Be careful not to die, though. Also be prepared to buy new trainers more often.

6) Swap all your parts (stem, bars, seat blah blah) for the shinier, lighter more expensive, modern equivalent.

7) Fill your tyres with helium. Ruben does.

Go on a diet.

9) Have a dump. You could loose at least a pound.

10 good thngs bout mountain bikers!

1: They have strong fingers
2: They always know when to slow down and speed up
3: They have tremendous stamina and endurance
4: They always wear proper protection
5: They have the fastest 'lap' times
6: They know how to work their tools
7: They Love getting dirty
8: The harder and faster they go the better.
9: They know how to work around tight areas with ease
10: They're always practicing so they can become better