Originally Posted by
puddinlegs
Bikes have been raced in 'packs' and in criterium racing for a very very long time. Not sure how lawyers figure into the conversation.
Ordinarily you'd need to read the article I linked to but I will summarise, *roughly.* Sheldon Brown relates that bikes have changed from vintage to modern partly due to
1) Lawyers, leading to
1.1) Stiffer front forks (I have made mine springier, at risk)
1.2) Higher Bottom brackets (leading to hight seatposts for the same seat to BB)
1.3) Minimized pedal/front wheel overlap
2) US preferred short-course Criterium races which are *even more in packs* requiring greater manoeuvrability
2.1) Shorter wheelbase (I have made my effective top tube length longer)
2.2) More upright seat tube
Originally Posted by
puddinlegs
Careful about slamming your saddle back (that was popular in the LeMond era) as it's easy to cause injury making sudden changes to your riding position. Do what your body needs, not what someone else's bike set up looks like.
Thanks, I will experiment with further back saddles slowly.