Total weight of Ride

[elkhunter0813]

I have a Trek520 after a few bicycle trips i was looking thru the owners manual and it says the weight  total is 275lbs of every thing.  i guess i need to loose 20 lbs. LOL

Do most people when riding across country carry more weight than there manuals say ?. i am riding on blacktop roads . 

[Westinghouse]

I never paid much attention to those guidelines. I just took what was minimally needed, loaded it, and went. It worked for me. 30-35 pounds of gear should be enough. shelter, bag, pad, clothes, communication, water, food, cooking, utensils etc.

[Pat Lamb]

I weighed about that when I started my cross-country trip, and was also carrying too much of a load.  Aside from the bike frame breaking the first day, I didn't have any problems with the bike and my weight.     The REI guy who replaced the bike said it was an obvious welding issue since it broke in the middle of the dropout.  The replacement bike carried me and my load across the country with no further problems, and I'm still riding that replacement some 24,000 miles later.

Slightly more serious answer, those weight limits are the company lawyers at work.  As long as you don't jump curbs or get into competitive pothole jumping, you should be OK on pavement.

Most serious answer: if you can lose 20 pounds, and take another 20 pounds off your load, climbing will be somewhat faster, if no less painful.  Your climbing speed is usually limited by how much you're willing to suffer.

[BikeliciousBabe]

When I crossed the U.S. I put my bike on a scale at a truck stop. Entire thing weighed 90 lbs. I was maybe 195 at the time. The frame itself held up fine. The wheels were not up to the task.

[hikerjer]

On my last tour my total weight - bike, panniers, gear, two days of food and three full water bottles plus myself (171 lbs) was 254 lbs.  I was on a Kona Sutra and I experienced no weight related problems whatsoever.

[WindyNava]

I don't think there will be many problems with the weight. As far as you are comfortable with yourself, you can ride. I too had put on more weight as per the guidelines for my last ride and didn't face any problem.