| I was discussing frame geometry with a prominent | | | | bikes. We now are in a time when most nice bikes are |
| coach last week and his perspective on frame | | | | still designed for young professional racers, but are |
| geometry struck a nerve with me so I wanted to | | | | purchased by successful people over 40. I have seen |
| share this topic with you. The nature of my business at | | | | my position change on the bike since I was able to use |
| KGS Bikes is to provide a fitting data set that is so | | | | my setup bike to experiment. I found that the bars |
| accurate that I can build a bicycle to a drawing, ship | | | | really needed to be higher and the saddle needed to |
| the bike halfway around the world to a client I have | | | | be further aft to get the balance points right. |
| met once and have confidence that the bike will fit | | | | I also found that as I got older (and had some injuries |
| perfectly with only a couple of millimeters of possible | | | | on the way) that my tolerance for the more |
| saddle height adjustment because of the density of | | | | aggressive geometry was no longer possible. People |
| the foam in the saddle! | | | | who came into my studio tended to be folks who had |
| I had been riding “stock” frame geometry for | | | | no success getting fitted in other bicycle stores so I |
| decades and the possibilities created by the | | | | had more challenging cases on a day to day basis. I |
| combination of an unlimited fitting system and true | | | | saw more and more people who could not get |
| custom geometry did not exist for me, and thus for | | | | comfortable on their stock bikes and even had to |
| you, until fairly recently. The time honored principles of | | | | abandon the respected WobbleNaught fitting system |
| Knee Over Pedal Spindle, (KOPS), the Lemond | | | | because it tied the individual to an existing bike. |
| method, standover height, saddle height equal to hip | | | | The setup bike began to show me that when one truly |
| height when standing next to the bike and scads of | | | | was in balance that many good things started |
| other techniques were developed to help people | | | | happening. First, saddle problems diminished and |
| choose a bike size that would work for them. | | | | disappeared completely for most people. Second, low |
| We need to look at a bit of history because bikes | | | | back pain went away. Third, hand numbness was |
| were made quite differently in the 1970’s and | | | | diminished. Additionally people’s ability to ride |
| before than they are today. The ‘70’s were a | | | | greater distances improved and incredibly, their power |
| time where road bikes had a much different geometry, | | | | and efficiency improved so they were faster. There |
| with seat angles in the 71-72 degree range. Additionally | | | | was only one problem. The positions that I discovered |
| these bikes were built in half sizes and thus had as | | | | turned out to be very close to the riding position people |
| many as 12 sizes for one model! Today’s bikes | | | | had on the old Raleigh Team Pro! It seems that what |
| have between 3 and 5 sizes so more people are | | | | is old is new again. |
| forced to “fit” a bike that will be less than | | | | It is a long uphill battle to convince production frame |
| perfect. | | | | manufacturers to build bikes that “grown ups” |
| The archetypical road bike in the 70’s was the | | | | can ride, but fortunately a handful of expert custom |
| Raleigh Team Professional, which was arguably one | | | | frame manufacturers exists now. I have great |
| of the best and most comfortable racing bikes ever | | | | success in designing a custom frame based on real |
| made. At this time there were two schools of racing | | | | individual setup data and can work with these experts |
| as well, a European style which was centered on | | | | to create a frame that has predictable ride |
| longer rides and races including mountains. An | | | | characteristics and will be the servant of the rider, not |
| American style developed as well focusing on | | | | the other way around. |
| Criterium racing; shorter closed course races with lots | | | | I still get a few people who are the right size for a |
| of turns and sprints. The American bicycle | | | | stock frame but have found that at this level, almost |
| manufacturers started producing bikes with 73-74 | | | | everyone seems to want a well designed custom bike. |
| degree seat angles and much less saddle setback | | | | People seem astonished when they learn that bike |
| with the logic that our races were shorter and one | | | | riding can be comfortable and much more enjoyable |
| didn’t need the comfort for a 125 mile race if we | | | | than before. The process is simple; get balanced on |
| were racing for 50 miles. | | | | the bike first and put the handlebars in the right place |
| This style of racing bike geometry became popular as | | | | second. The geometry of the bike can be a help or a |
| Americans liked the more aggressive position and the | | | | hindrance to a rider and thankfully there are solutions |
| young racers working in bike shops could sell these | | | | that will allow anyone to be comfortable on a bike. |