Various Questions about Biking

[markhosking]

I have been biking to and from work (~1 mile away) and the grocery store (2.5 miles one way) for the past year or so on a Zizzo Campo folding bike (I have no car). My area is suburban and somewhat hilly. I don’t know much about biking, and have some questions.

1. Firstly, how much does bicycle weight matter? My bicycle weighs ~30 pounds, including a rear rack and seat cushion. When coming home from work, I have a ~12.5 lb backpack (including laptop, lunch box with glassware, canteen, etc.). When coming home from the grocery store, the combined weight of my containers (basket, pannier bag, backpack) and groceries is usually 40-50-ish pounds. I myself weight around 150 lb. Would cutting 10 lb from my bike‘s weight make a noticeable difference while riding?

2. Secondly, how much does wheel size matter? My bike currently has 20-inch wheels, because it is a folding bike. Would going to a more standard wheel size make any difference?

3. My bike folds, which lets me get it into my apartment’s shower in order to wash it and apply degreaser and lubricants. If I get a non-folding bike, how should I deal with that?

4. Why is my endurance so low? I bike to work every day and to the grocery store most weekends except during the winter, and have been doing so for almost a year, but my commute home still tires me out. I hear people can bike for 10+ miles in hilly terrain, but a 1300 foot, 5% grade stretch on my way home is strenuous when I am lightly dressed (dress shirt, dress shoes, dress pants) and completely exhausting in the winter when it is below freezing (coat + 1-2 jackets, 1-3 layers of thermal underwear, hat, gloves, scarf, in addition to the previous stuff). When going to work, even though most of the path is downhill, I still end up sweaty upon arrival. Biking home from the grocery store is also pretty tiring. I don’t do any cardio other than riding my bike, though.

5. What should I do regarding various minor problems with the bike? The handlebars sometimes make creaking noises when I move them with force. I have talked to Zizzo’s customer support, but they were unable to diagnose the problem over email. Also, when going uphill, the pedals sometimes make snapping noises when I pedal.