I'm no expert in, nor do I closely monitor, the bike industry.
But I love seeing weight reduced.
I have been researching road bikes lately, and would love to build a Litespeed fixie with the lightest components. Between the Ghisallo frame, carbon post & bars, etc. etc., it would be outrageously ultralight. Can you imagine a 10-pound bike?!
Recumbents are bizarre bikes, but incredibly efficient. Perhaps the ultimate long distance road machine? Check out the Kettweisel TT, in titanium of course. I wonder who will be the first to blend an ultralight approach to gear with an ultralight recumbent to ride Sea-2-Sea unsupported? How about without resupply? Cross country bike tours are old news, but this one is ripe for the taking.
What's next? There's a market for really cool, ultralight bicycle-like gear, I'm sure (ahem). Kid's trikes, jogging strollers, unicycles, the list goes on.
Keep your eyes peeled: bicyclists and manufacturers are figuring all this out as fast as we are.
Hi-
Along these same lines, check out:
http://www.m2racer.com/info.php?entry=bike
-Mike
PS -- I like the new blog!
Posted by: Mike Martin | November 16, 2005 at 03:09 PM
Well, crap! You've got me drooling like an idiot. For the real challenge, find a set of wheels that can bring the weight down and still make it across the country.
As far as making it across the country without resupply, I think it's doable right now for the *cough* more adventurous among us. A quick google maps search shows that San Diego, CA to Jacksonville, FL (probably one of the shortest routes from Atlantic to Pacific) is 2341 miles. Assuming that you can ride directly between those points (which assumes some highway shoulder riding, FUN!) and an adequately ridiculous pace of 150 miles a day, that's 16 days of riding. The biggest supply issue would be water, but maybe our adventurer wouldn't mind breaking into vehicles at rest stops to grab bottles rolling around in the back.
Posted by: Kit Waal | December 29, 2005 at 08:43 AM
litespeed actually use to make a titanium tricycle. they took the parts off a john deere trike and attached them to a ti frame they made. that was about 8 yrs ago. i have a litespeed ultimate and appalachian as well as several steel fixies. if you were looking for lightweight it's all about carbon fiber these days in the bike industry.
Posted by: jeremy | February 07, 2006 at 07:40 PM
Ryan- I work in the bicycle industry and monitor it very closely (in fact, that's pretty much my job). The ultralight trend in biking (both road and mountain) and in the outdoor industry have some really interesting intersections and diversions. Also, consider the fact that you're looking at *road* gear (M2 racer doesn't approve any of its products for off-road use), whereas the gear you use for trekking can withstand 1000Km treks through Alaska. Also, I realize it's off topic for this thread, but I wish you a speedy recovery from your unfortunate accident during the Arctic1000. Shoot me an email if you're interested in reading any long-winded diatribes about my impressions of UL in different industries while you recover.
Posted by: Jordan Hurder | June 22, 2006 at 02:16 PM
Some links to fellow lightweight bike loons..
http://www.light-bikes.com/
http://forums.mtbr.com/forumdisplay.php?s=c2bce70d4403602a5748b98dd9857380&f=49
http://weightweenies.starbike.com/
Posted by: Andrew (terra from BPL) | November 10, 2007 at 02:45 PM
Here's a link to a functional geared road bike that weighs 7.04 lbs. http://www.light-bikes.com/bikegallery/BikeListing.asp?id=1507
Browse that site and check out the uber light bikes.
Posted by: Thomas Bennett | November 23, 2008 at 09:38 PM