Originally Posted by
Andrew F
Picchio, are you 100% on that? I am developing a bit of interest in early frame geometry and have noticed a rather slack geometry that gets tighter as the years progress. Here is a cut from the 1896 Star cataloge and shows both the Path and the Path/Road with the same relaxed frame, looks (less then 68 degree) . The difference is noted that the Path/Road is studier and heavier. Also, wouldn't slack frame have an advantage over tight geometry on an unstable surface such as truff or dirt? Just askin'?
You are correct in that, back when they were called "path racers" the geometry was slacker than now, when we call them track bikes. However, that's not a design feature inherent to path racers or track bikes, just a difference between how bikes are make now versus then.