[jyl]

I plugged my numbers into a bike calculator. To climb a 10% grade at 8.5 mph requires 400 watts for me at 185 lb. At 175 lb, I would need 5% less watts. At 170 lb, 7% less. That is a pretty significant difference, especially if you have to keep it up for an hour.

I know even the mild grades on my commute feel quite different on my normal commute bike (35 lbs as-ridden) versus my fun bike (20 lbs). If I could only lighten myself by 10 lbs . . .