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Definitely, because it all comes down to your power-to-weight ratio. If you weigh 90kg but can hold 360W (4.0 W/kg), you will easily pull away from a 70kg rider who can only produce 210W (3.0 W/kg).

Weight becomes the 'king' of stats once the road tilts above a 6% grade because you're fighting gravity more than wind. On flatter roads or shallow 2% grades, your raw power and how small you can tuck into the wind matter much more than a few extra pounds.

Keep a close eye on your FTP; if your weight drops by 3% but your power drops by 5%, you're actually becoming a slower climber. Your goal is to keep your Watts per Kilogram (W/kg) moving upward, which means you need to eat enough to fuel your hard interval sessions.

As a general rule, losing 1 kg (about 2.2 lbs) will save you roughly 60 seconds for every hour you spend climbing. If you have a 20-minute local climb, losing that same kilogram would shave about 20 seconds off your time without you having to push any harder.

Focus on your body weight and 'system weight' first, as it's much cheaper than buying new gear. Dropping 1 kg of body fat has the same physical effect on a climb as spending thousands on a featherweight carbon frame or wheels.

Yes, because your body accounts for about 80% of the total wind resistance you face. By simply moving from the tops of your bars to a tucked position with horizontal forearms, you can save 2 to 3 minutes for free.

You can save anywhere from 30 seconds to over 5 minutes over a 40km (25-mile) ride depending on your setup. If you optimize your body position and gear, you’ll see a massive jump in speed without needing to increase your power output.

You will likely see your speed climb by 1-2 mph immediately on flat roads without pushing a single extra watt. If your FTP is 250W and you usually cruise at 20 mph, this simple tuck could jump you up to 21 mph instantly.

You’ll likely save between 30 and 60 seconds over a 40km ride with deep wheels, especially in crosswinds. While they look fast, they are less cost-effective than fixing your body position or wearing a skinsuit.

It feels slow because you're building the engine, not testing it. Think of it as widening the base of your fitness pyramid; the wider that base is, the higher your peak can eventually go. By staying at 55-75% of your FTP, you're becoming a more efficient fat-burner, which saves your 'sugar' fuel for when you actually need to go fast.