Bicycle weight seems to have a big impact on how easy a bike is to ride, particularly when accelerating and riding up hill. But is there any difference in extra weight of the bicycle frame itself, compared to extra weight the rider is carrying?
Based on my own observations, riding a bike that weighs an extra 4 pounds seems to make a big difference, but I don’t notice that same difference when riding with my 64-oz camelback (also ~4 pounds). People are willing to spend thousands more to get a slightly lighter bike, but don’t worry about carrying an extra 16 oz of water.
That said, I can think of no reason why it would make any difference if the weight is on the bike versus the rider. Can anyone provide a definitive answer on this, not just personal anecdotes? I realize my own experience might be more a matter of, lighter bike are more expensive and have better components all around (including wheels), and are therefore easier to ride because of this and not so much the weight.
Also, I understand why wheel weight and design does make a big difference, because of angular momentum. I’m asking only about the frame.