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Compact Geometry and Long Distance
How does compact geometry affect comfort over long distances? if at all.
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#2
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Compact Geometry and Long Distance
It allows you to have a higher headtube relative to the standover height.
Thus, it is easier to have higher bars. But the seatpost has to be longer making the bars relatively lower. Stick with a traditional geometry for comfort- Compact geometry is just a way for bike companies to produce three sizes and get as many suckers on them as they can. A bike 1 cm large or small is easy to deal with but compact frames mwke fitting much more difficult |
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Compact Geometry and Long Distance
"Steve" wrote in message news:O9fXa.72576 "B" wrote in message How does compact geometry affect comfort over long distances? if at all. It allows you to have a higher headtube relative to the standover height. Thus, it is easier to have higher bars. B B, I think that there is a distinction between frames designed as compact frames that frames that have higher head tubes. Both have sloping top tubes, but a compact is designed to be smaller ("compact") than a standard level top tube frame for a given rider size, while the bikes like sloping top tube Rivendells are not "compact" relative to a level top tube frame. They are bigger if anything, with similar seat post extension to level top tube frames, but higher head tubes. Sloping top tubes do no necessarily equal "compact". True in theory, but as built, most compacts simply shorten the seat tube. The top tube length is the important measurement and assuming the TT is correct for a particular body, you will get plenty of (somewhat useless) standover height with a very long seat post and no more additional height on the headtube and handlebar then on a standard diamond frame. There might be others, but Rivendell and Heron are the only manufacturers (I'm not doing much research, mind you) that I'm aware of, that deliberately make a longer head tube that has the top tube rising to the head tube, as opposed to a typical compact that has the TT dropping to a shorter seat tube. The Riv's and Herons do this so as to get the handlebar up the same height of the seat without resorting to a long quill stem (so goes the theory). This is a much different theory then found on compact designs where you still have to resort to a couple of inches of stack height spacers on the steerer tube (assuming it came un-cut) to get the handlebar up near the saddle height. SB I wouldn't the Rivendells "compact" frames. They are bigger, not smaller than standard level top tube frames. |
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Compact Geometry and Long Distance
Compact geometry is just a way for bike companies to produce three sizes
and get as many suckers on them as they can. Y'all ever heard of Specialized? Checked out their sizing lately? Compact frames in 1cm increments! Mike |
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Compact Geometry and Long Distance
Y'all ever heard of Specialized? Checked out their sizing lately? Compact frames in 1cm increments! Thats's new most are S,M,L, . I still wouldnt want to get beat up on a harsh aluminum framefor 50+ miles though |
#6
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Compact Geometry and Long Distance
[This followup was posted to rec.bicycles.tech and a copy was sent to the
cited author.] In article , says... Y'all ever heard of Specialized? Checked out their sizing lately? Compact frames in 1cm increments! Thats's new most are S,M,L, . I still wouldnt want to get beat up on a harsh aluminum framefor 50+ miles though I have a compact frame tourer which I find very comfortable over long distances. It has normal height head tube (ie a real compact frame) so the seat post is a bit longer which I think softens some of the bumps a bit. The frame is CroMo. Chainstays are longer than a road bike. Angles are not extreme and it is stable at 85 Km/hr with panniers. Nothing fancy or expensive but I'm happy enough. Bruce Graham |
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Compact Geometry and Long Distance
jason- How does compact geometry affect comfort over long distances? if at
all. BRBR If the bike fits ya, none at all...in fact it really does nothing, when compared to a non-sloping top tube frameset...if both fit ya..It was the stuff of the finance department...saves some frame makers $$$ Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St. Boulder, CO, 80302 (303)440-3535 http://www.vecchios.com "Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene" |
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Compact Geometry and Long Distance
On Sun, 3 Aug 2003 13:04:35 -0400, Jason T wrote:
How does compact geometry affect comfort over long distances? if at all. It may be a little tougher to fit properly, or at least, your LBS may not have as much experience fitting compact frames; and nothing is worse over long distances than a bad fit. I can't imagine any other noticable effects. You're likely to end up with a long seatpost and/or stem, so they could conceivably have more flex to them than shorter ones; this could be more or less comfortable for you. My compact has a rather short wheelbase, and that probably rides differently than if the wheels were farther apart. Advantage to the compact: I've never hurt my balls on the top tube... -- Rick Onanian |
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Compact Geometry and Long Distance
On 03 Aug 2003 17:22:39 GMT, Pete Hausner wrote:
How does compact geometry affect comfort over long distances? if at all. It doesn't...except perhaps, in decreasing available water bottle space/access in smaller sizes. Good point. My medium Giant TCR2 fits two 28oz standard-shape water bottles in standard cages, but the one on the seat tube is a bit tough to get in and out, so I swap them when the one on the downtube is empty. PH -- Rick Onanian |
#10
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Compact Geometry and Long Distance
Jason T wrote:
How does compact geometry affect comfort over long distances? if at all. I have and try to ride now after a very long hiatus... a Masi Record TT. The geometry is very compact. The ride is much better than I remembered it to be. It is extremely responsive to the point of dangerous. The bike has an extra long seat tube. I ride a 55-56 road frame configured normally. This bike is a 62cm frame and I have mavic horn bars on it and for a HB stem I use a Specialized 120mm MB style stem that has about a 125 degree (guessing) compared to a road stem that has about a 75 to 80 degree (guessing) angle. It keeps my fat gut from hurting and makes the bike rideable to me... It may not be "aesthetically correct" but I like it. The more my chest is over the handlebars tends shorten the time I like to be on the bike. So, depending on the length of the TT or ride depends on the type of HB stem I use on the bike... The bike is 4-5 lbs lighter than my road bike (both are 12 years old atleast). IMHO, NS |
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