Originally Posted by
Peterpan1
The main advantage of sloping top tubes on agressive bikes is that you don't fall on them when you come off, or can put your foot down in certain situations. There are other features like weight but the crash aspect seems the main one. The same clearance is beneficial in bikes that may suit riders in non-sport clothes etc... So the look is the same but not for the same reason. I've been riding MTBs from the begining but I'm no expert on their frames.
so, are there other differences like wheel-to-wheel distance? seems like the comfort bike could easily become a decent hardtail or totally rigid set-up if one simply put on knobbies...a MTB seat, lowered the stem, adjusted it forward, possibly change the handlebars....?
or do they make such frames less durable?