Why carry what you don't absolutely need?

Some say i'm obsessive about weight?! Weight of rider, weight of bike, but light is right in the cycling world, whether TT or road and unfortunately finances aren't infinite for the lowly domestic amateur so rather than spending thousands on the latest aero this, light that, it'll save you 30 watts marketing bulls**t, I approached the problem from a different angle:

Get rid of everything you don't use or need!

My main thought provoking culprits for this attitude were Andy Wilkinson's bike, Adam Hansons homemade carbon shoes and pretty much everything Graeme Obree has ever invented.

If you spend enough time looking, thinking, analysing and doing you can sometimes reduce the weight of your racing machinery by 100's of grams, often kilos, and the beauty of it is, the more you remove the more streamlined it generally becomes.  Think, 'what don't I need' and get rid of it, simple!  Here's one example:

Not only are the pair 87g lighter, they are more efficient due to decreased rotational weight and they are more aerodynamic so oversocks aren't required saving a further 44g - total rotational weight saving of 131g (try and shave 131g by buying a new wheelset, it'll probably cost you a couple of hundred pounds)

Why carry all those sprockets on your disc, you probably don't use half of them? Small 44t chainring for flat TT's - do you ever use it?  Bar tape - why? Foam padding inside helmet? Clothing? Aero gloves? and of course the major one........weight of rider? (and don't underestimate the effectiveness of this, or the difficulty in doing something about it)

These are just a few ways you can reduce weight, reduce drag and keep the bank manager happy. 

Give it some thought, take a few risks and YOU WILL go faster.

Disclaimer: All machinery must be safe and comply with race guidelines.