Fat Frames and Straight Forks
I'm an old guy needing to replace a stolen 10-speed drop-handle bike after about 25 years, so I'm a bit out of date. I look at all the bikes around now and I don't understand two things.
1) Why are all the frames so fat and HUGE? All that extra metal must weigh a ton. And it can only add to the cost of manufacture. Certainly the old skinny frames were plenty strong enough. I had plenty of accidents without ever bending the frame. So why on earth would I buy these new tanks?
2) For a hundred years the front forks always had a forward curve at the bottom. This has something to do with stability and tracking and turning freedom. Now all the front forks are perfectly straight. Was everyone wrong for a hundred years? Are they simply the price necessary to have shock-absorbers?
Any help letting me understand the new designs will be appreciated.