Originally Posted by 12XU
I find various track bikes and various touring bikes to be both difficult and easy to handle no-handed and at high and low speeds. I don't think there's one golden variable that makes one type of bike this or that way in certain situations. It seems like a skilled rider can do exactly what he or she wants if he or she knows how the bike might respond to very particular movements.
All of these conversations are completely academic... but still, I think it's interesting to know how this stuff works in theory and then see how well theory conforms to practice. ie, for the frame I just made myself, I started with the measurements of my 3rensho and tried to achieve certain results by adjusting some elements of the geometry while leaving others well enough alone. Also, in cases like Queerpunk's wacky Pogliaghi, I like being able to listen to his account of how it handles and then think about it in terms of how the bike is designed. You're right though, as in almost all cases the engine is the most important thing and a skilled rider can make any bike work to certain extent. On the other hand, it's definitely an oversimplification to think that there aren't specific things that make "track" geometry different from "cx" geometry. Anyway, I'm rambling.