Old 05-23-13 | 12:08 PM
  #12  
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Puget Pounder
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Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Seattle, WA
Keep in mind a couple of things about matching fit... For a bike with EQUAL top tube lengths:

1. Changing the angle by 1 degree, adds/subtracts 1 cm from the TT length. Steepening the STA by 1 degree, effectively makes the TT physically 1 cm shorter. Steepening the HTA by 1 degree, makes the TT physically 1cm longer.

2. Despite the info above, the one with the steeper seat tube angle ends up being being effectively longer if you are trying to achieve the same saddle setback (which is important for fit). The steeper STA puts you further forward, but you need to offset that by moving your saddle backward, or getting a more setback post.

Take a look at the angles between touring bikes and racing bikes. The touring bikes will definitely have more slack head tubes than the race bikes, decreasing the effective length of the TT. Don't go by TT length alone, bikes with different angles and TT lengths will fit more closely than at first glance.
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