![]() ![]() “Most consumers I encounter have a tendency to buy bikes too long and too low,” says James. What is something most people get wrong about bike geometry? James also understands the importance of looking good on a bike and says that a bike that is fitted properly “will not only handle better, it will generally look better as well.” Something we all take into account before splashing out on a new piece of kit. We’ve seen riders fall out with their teams in recent years over the designs of their sponsor-issued bikes and micro-adjustments to position lead to World Championship victories. Painstaking care is taken over every possible geometric detail when it comes to producing elite competition bicycles, with the tiniest difference leading to massive gains (or losses). When you sit for hours on a bike that fits badly – even if the misalignment seems infinitesimal – the fact that you are repeating the same action of pedalling over and over could lead to serious discomfort or even injury.Įqually, a correctly fitted machine with the suitable geometry can lead to major performance gains. We posed this question to expert bike fitter James Thomas who told us, “Bike geometry can make an enormous difference.”Ĭrucially, the difference between a bike that fits and a bike that doesn’t could mean the difference between being in pain and not. How much difference can bike geometry make? We hope that by the end of it you will take those IKEA looking charts you get with your bike a bit more seriously and understand the importance of a bike’s geometry. Here we will endeavour – with the help of expert input – to explain bike geometry and how each measurement is taken and how that then influences the ride quality. If you can understand these confusing charts and geeky nuggets of bike tech lore, then you’re on to a winner. Yes, ultimately different types of models are used for different types of riding, with a more aggressive, ‘lower’ frame, useful for racing and a relaxed geometry frame, useful for long rides and touring. The two most prominent styles are race and endurance. Couple that with the fact most bike brands’ geometry charts are different from one another and you have a real problem on your hands. Peppered with jargon and oddly labelled angles, these charts can be a little difficult to decode. Your first exposure to this arcane science will no doubt be from a bike geometry chart, a confusing image of lines and measurements of a standard looking bike that can begin to make you feel a bit out of your depth. The geometry of a bike is hugely important when it comes to making a new purchase, as it directly affects the way you ride, and the optimal geometry is different for different types of cycling. Getting the basics of bike geometry right will help your cycling.
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