Light weight vs Aero

[Kluckpang]

If I want to spend as many hours as possible on the bike. Should I have an Aerobike or a Light weight bike?

 

[winkybiker]

If I want to spend as many hours as possible on the bike. Should I have an Aerobike or a Light weight bike?

Well, if you are just after hours on the bike, neither. It is just about comfort. But assuming you also want those hours to translate to the best possible performance......

Are you set-up in an aero position on your current bike? Slammed and reasonably long stem? Fair bit of seatpost showing? Do you ride in the drops regularly? If not, an aero bike would be a bit of a waste. You can perhaps work your way into an aero position on your current by working on flexibility and gradual position adjustments. If you can get there, only THEN consider an aero bike.

If you can't get your body aero due to inherent body constraints, forget aero and focus on comfort and weight. And by weight, I mean your weight, not the bike's.

 

[StinkFist]

If you're looking at the new Aero bikes from Scott, Specialised, Trek etc, then you're also getting a lightweight bike.....you're also shelling out plenty of cheddar!

Many hours = comfort and setup / position on the bike.
Are you racing your bike?

You can "buy speed" on a bike up to a certain point, but why not spend that $$ on a training program, nutritional advice, working on your FTP and making your self as light and as powerful as you can be?

Me - I would go for lightweight over Aero, and as Winky says, I would focus on my own weight and not the bikes too much.
I think Wheel / Tyre Combo's are somewhere that gains can be made in your bike setup - have you considered this? Also a key to comfort for long days in the saddle.

One of my good friends rides a Steel Cervelo Prodigy, is over 50yrs old, has been riding since Adam was a Cowboy..... still rips the legs off all the young Punks riding Carbon Aero, Di whatever, Strava blah, blah blah.....yeah, I know we all have one of these stories, but he is the real deal....hairy legs and daggy old kit that needs to be thrown out

There was this guy called Eddy who once said "Don't buy upgrades, Ride up grades"

 

[StinkFist]

Which Is Faster: An Aero Bike Or A Lightweight Climbing Bike?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlz52XW6CMM

 

[ray j willings]

If I want to spend as many hours as possible on the bike. Should I have an Aerobike or a Light weight bike?

Your position on your bike is going to be the most important factor. It won't matter what kind of bike your riding you will need to eliminate any issues that may occur once you start riding longer distances. I have been lucky and never had any issues but most of my friends have had issues with their seat area "sores /rash ". A good seat.

Try as many bikes as you can and see what feels good to you. It really is personal choice or we would all be riding the exact same bikes, don't let others dissuade or persuade you. Make your own decision based on what feels good to you and not a advertising campaign etc. That's how they get ya to spend the big bucks that you don't really need to spend.

 

[Alex Simmons/RST]

If I want to spend as many hours as possible on the bike. Should I have an Aerobike or a Light weight bike?

Your criteria for choice of equipment are unrelated to the characteristics quoted.

 

[42x16ss]

If I want to spend as many hours as possible on the bike. Should I have an Aerobike or a Light weight bike?

You should have a bike with geometry that is designed for very long, all day rides, that is set up specifically to you for long, all day riding.

Weight and aero aren't factors here, comfort and biomechanical safety are.

 

[jmdirt]

You want an endurance bike. All of the bike manufacturers make them now.

This one just won the Velo shootout:
https://www.scott-sports.com/us/en/products/238331022/SCOTT-Solace-15-Disc-Bike/

If you don't want disc brakes, they make the same bike with rim brakes:
https://www.scott-sports.com/us/en/products/238332025/SCOTT-Solace-20-Bike/

 

[JackRabbitSlims]

OP come back with some more details

the more you reveal about your riding ambitions, the more detailed, refined and accurate the replies will be (well, some of them will be)

how many hours are we talking about, what sort of terrain / conditions?....."as many hours as possible" means different things to different people