The TT length plus stem length defines how stretched out you are - for sustained climbing, most people will prefer a bit more space in the cockpit. A steeper seat tube angle helps achieve this. When climbing, you want your centre of gravity forward to keep the front wheel weighted. When seated, seat tube angle and top tube length define your position fore and aft. (Conversely, shorter chainstays can make a bike feel more playful - quicker to turn and easier to manual - at the expense of wheelbase length.) A lower BB lowers the centre of gravity of the heaviest thing on the bike - you - and helps it carve around corners. You’re then thinking about handling on the descents a slacker head tube angle and longer wheelbase gives stability. Dropper posts mean your saddle position is no longer a factor when descending. When standing, reach and stack define your position over the bike, as your only contact points are your hands and your feet. On a mountain bike, unless you’re XC racing and striving for pure efficiency, you’ll probably focus on handling rather than your body’s biomechanics.Ĭlimbing and descending place different demands on geometry, so it can be useful to think in terms of position when seated (going up) vs position when standing (going down!). We’re not on commission, but we’re convinced enough of the merits to have built a big list of bike fitters, searchable by location. ![]() You’ll find most road race bikes have steeper head angles and shorter wheelbases, making them sharper handling than a more easy-going endurance bike.īecause road bike fit is so dependent on your body’s dimensions and your own flexibility and strength, a professional bike fit is often a good investment. The parameters affecting road bike handling have settled on a formula that’s known to work for each category and differs little between brands. ![]() Racier bikes will be longer and lower… more aerodynamic, but tough to maintain that position for a long time. ![]() You’ll find ‘sportive’ road bikes often have a shorter reach and higher stack, keeping your head up to ease neck strain on a long ride. Comfort or sustainability: higher stack, shorter reach (sitting up).Aero: lower stack, longer effective top tube (flattening your back and reducing frontal area).Power: optimise saddle height (typically high) and fore/aft position relative to BB.
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