Originally Posted by
adam_mac84
I know that wheelbase will be a function of top tube length and steer tube angle... my question is, does wheelbase effect steering radius (how tightly can turn) solely, or are there other considerations.
i look specifically at similarly sized specialized secteur and allez... in a 61cm bike, the difference in steerer angle is 0.5*, and WB is 2-3cm... i know that the allez is the 'road race' geometry... when looking for a new bike if it is not listed as a 'comfort' or 'road race' bike, can this be determined somewhat by wheelbase in it's responsiveness? i would like to find a bike that i could ride in a cat 5 crit as well as cruize on a century
Yes, turning, leaning and balancing:
The farther forward (closer to front wheel) the center of mass of the combined bike and rider, the less the front wheel has to move laterally in order to maintain balance. Conversely, the further back (closer to the rear wheel) the center of mass is located, the more front wheel lateral movement or bike forward motion will be required to regain balance. This can be noticeable on long-wheelbase recumbents and choppers. It can also be an issue for touring bikes with a heavy load of gear over or even behind the rear wheel.[15] Mass over the rear wheel can be more easily controlled if it is lower than mass over the front wheel
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