riding the "old" bike
I currently have 2 road bikes, a Dean titanium with the more aggressive geometry and my "old" (1990)c-dale aluminum sports tourer with a longer wheelbase and shallower angles. I typically ride the Dean and leave the c-dale leaning up against the dining room table. This year, however, I find myself riding the c-dale a bit more and rediscovering how comfortable it is to ride. I use the same tires (25-Bontrager hard cases) on both bikes but find that the ride on the older bike is a lot smoother. I know that we've discussed this before but it, at least to me, provides real world evidence at how significant bike geometry really is.
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Material isn't immaterial (sorry) but you're right. Geometry rules.
Here's what Wikipedia has to say about bicycle dynamics. |
How much longer is the "old" bike? And if it's noticeably better, why wouldn't all bikes have the longer wheelbase?
I'm a mountain bike guy myself, riding the same GT Xizang titanium bike since new in 1995. I still love my bike and have been morphing her to use more for touring and recreational. I keep wondering if something more like what I had as a kid - the Schwinn with the big spring in the front - wouldn't be more stable. I remember as a kid, I could pedal and ride for a long distance with no hands on the handlebars. What's the difference? |
Originally Posted by xizangstan
(Post 11530220)
...if it's noticeably better, why wouldn't all bikes have the longer wheelbase?
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Two bikes and I will use Boreas in preference to the TCR----up to around 60 miles. That means most rides in other words. It is comfortable- fits like a glove and it goes. But above 60 and a few aches start to come in. Not much but a bit of back and butt ache.
The TCR is CF and gives a harsher ride- Bars are a bit higher- wheels are heavier but give a bit of suspension- is a couple of lbs heavier and has a triple fitted. It also has to be eased down the fast downhills as it does not handle as good as Boreas at speed. But it does have a few saving graces. The triple comes in handy when the legs start getting tired towards the end of a ride and it goes uphill a treat. May not seem much but definitely my Century bike out of the two. But my "Old" Road bike is an OCR3. A Bike that got me through the learning curve when I changed over to road bike and has done a few holidays to the mountains. Not a bike I like to ride nowadays as I have progressed above it's ride capabilities but it still gets taken out occasionally. Not often as when it does go out- I remember why I replaced it. |
Originally Posted by xizangstan
(Post 11530220)
How much longer is the "old" bike? And if it's noticeably better, why wouldn't all bikes have the longer wheelbase?
? Oh well, change is good and healthy. Goven time, I 'll probably never want to ride the old bike again. |
xizangstan-the Dean has a wheelbase of 98.6cm the C-dale is a bit over 104cm. As Pamestique
points out, the shorter wb gives a much more "responsive" ride. |
Originally Posted by rck
(Post 11530108)
.... and leave the c-dale leaning up against the dining room table..
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I still love my old steel Tomassini, I have been riding and racing it since 1988. not sure how much longer I will find replacement parts for it though..It will be a sad day when I can no longer ride it. My mates have worn out and broken a lot of bikes during the last 22yrs, but my classic Italian is still going strong.
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