Naturally, carrying a light bike up the stairs is much more enjoyable compared to a heavier bike. Are there any other aspects of a bike which are affected by its weight?
For example, would the weight affect handling at low speeds? Higher speeds? Turning? Stability in strong crosswinds, heavy rain or other adverse weather conditions?
What does the weight say about a modern bike's components? About its durability or dependability? Maintenance? Wear and tear?
Are lighter bikes always better? What would be a reasonable weight threshold below which gains are diminishing?
As an inexperienced cyclist looking for a new bike, I'm unsure how much I should be paying attention to its weight.
UPDATE: what specific weight ranges should I be looking for these days? What would be considered very heavy, reasonable, and at what weight do we enter the multi-thousand-dollar pro racing bikes?
I found a cheap made-in-China fixie in Singapore (where I live); when I learned it weighs 17kg I realized why it's so cheap!