Stack and Reach question.
07-29-16, 07:30 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
Stack and Reach question.
I just found out about and read up on Stack and Reach. So I measure my 3 road bikes to compare.
Bike 1 Stack = 61.1cm, Reach = 39.4cm
Bike 2 Stack = 58.5cm, Reach = 37.5cm
Bike 3 Stack = 55.0cm, Reach = 40cm
I find all 3 bikes comfortable, and all 3 are set up with same seat height, handlebar to seat tube, etc.
Are these differences a big difference?
Should all 3 feel comfortable?
Which is more important, Stack or Reach? or are they just 2 more measurements to help you find the right size bike?
Bike 1 is a 2016 Cannondale Synapse, size 58
Bike 2 is a 1984 Trek 720 size 22.5 inch
Bike 3 is a 2000 Mercier Aquilla, size 58
Bike 1 Stack = 61.1cm, Reach = 39.4cm
Bike 2 Stack = 58.5cm, Reach = 37.5cm
Bike 3 Stack = 55.0cm, Reach = 40cm
I find all 3 bikes comfortable, and all 3 are set up with same seat height, handlebar to seat tube, etc.
Are these differences a big difference?
Should all 3 feel comfortable?
Which is more important, Stack or Reach? or are they just 2 more measurements to help you find the right size bike?
Bike 1 is a 2016 Cannondale Synapse, size 58
Bike 2 is a 1984 Trek 720 size 22.5 inch
Bike 3 is a 2000 Mercier Aquilla, size 58
Last edited by Bolo Grubb; 07-29-16 at 09:50 PM. Reason: typo on Bike 1 measurements, should be correct now
07-29-16, 07:54 PM
#2
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First of all, you're the victim of the "I just measured something, and things are off" plague. I hear variations on this theme every time someone starts measuring stuff for the 1st time.
That said, 17cm difference in reach seems like an awful lot, so I'd make sure I measured bike 1 correctly. 2-3cm difference isn't rare and is easily enough made up with the stem. Likewise, the various head tube stack heights can be made up with spacers and stem angle.
IMO- frame dimensions are the coarse adjustment which gets you to the right ballpark, then fit is fine tuned with adjustments to the saddle position and changes to stem length, angle and spacer stack.
That said, 17cm difference in reach seems like an awful lot, so I'd make sure I measured bike 1 correctly. 2-3cm difference isn't rare and is easily enough made up with the stem. Likewise, the various head tube stack heights can be made up with spacers and stem angle.
IMO- frame dimensions are the coarse adjustment which gets you to the right ballpark, then fit is fine tuned with adjustments to the saddle position and changes to stem length, angle and spacer stack.
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FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
“Never argue with an idiot. He will only bring you down to his level and beat you with experience.”, George Carlin
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FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
“Never argue with an idiot. He will only bring you down to his level and beat you with experience.”, George Carlin
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
07-29-16, 09:53 PM
#3
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Thread Starter
Originally Posted by FBinNY
That said, 17cm difference in reach seems like an awful lot
07-29-16, 10:08 PM
#4
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
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Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
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Originally Posted by Bolo Grubb
Typo on Bike 1, I copied down the number wrong. All 3 bikes are within 3 cm of each other.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
“Never argue with an idiot. He will only bring you down to his level and beat you with experience.”, George Carlin
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
“Never argue with an idiot. He will only bring you down to his level and beat you with experience.”, George Carlin
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
07-29-16, 10:16 PM
#5
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Thread Starter
and I have them pretty well fined tuned now. The only real difference between them all is the handlebars sit higher on the cannondale giving me a more upright position that I am pretty comfortable with.
I guess I was expecting the stack to be closer then it is, but so far I am comfortable on all of them. The Cannondale does have a much longer head tube then the other two. It puts the handlebar at the same level as the saddle, on the other 2 bikes the handlebar is slightly lower then the saddle.
I guess I was expecting the stack to be closer then it is, but so far I am comfortable on all of them. The Cannondale does have a much longer head tube then the other two. It puts the handlebar at the same level as the saddle, on the other 2 bikes the handlebar is slightly lower then the saddle.
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