Top tube preference - Horizontal or sloped?
02-14-11, 11:52 AM
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So, is everyone in agreement that the top tube makes no difference other than looks? Is the whole comfort vs. racing frame myth busted?
02-14-11, 12:08 PM
#27
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However, on my 40 cm c-c seat tube, I can use a large bottle with a top load cage fine. Well until I put a battery under the top tube or a frame pump.
Orig 40 cm seat tube bike, mounted pump by fork:
Pump mounted:
Current bike - works fine if no pump under top tube:
As far as slope vs level, with short legs I like sloped top tubes. My tall former teammate, former leadout man, best man, etc, rides a 64 cm frame and likes level top tubes.
Handling/comfort-wise the top tube angle makes little/no difference. It'll be in the headtube angle + fork rake + overall front end rigidity (for handling up front), chainstay length (handling rear), tires rims bars saddle position (comfort). Normally untouched but something that affects stability is BB height.
cdr
02-14-11, 12:20 PM
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Virtually all modern race bikes use a sloping top tube. The only difference is in the degree of slope. So if horizontal top tubes are faster, then someone needs to tell the pro peloton to start scouring ebay for old 5200s and CAAD 8s.
The advantages of sloping top tubes are some small measure of stiffness, lower frame weight (but not necessarily lower bike weight since seat posts then need to be longer), and the ability to fit more riders on fewer sizes. The last is a pretty big deal for manufacturers as it lowers both manufacturing and inventory costs.
The advantages of sloping top tubes are some small measure of stiffness, lower frame weight (but not necessarily lower bike weight since seat posts then need to be longer), and the ability to fit more riders on fewer sizes. The last is a pretty big deal for manufacturers as it lowers both manufacturing and inventory costs.
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02-14-11, 12:22 PM
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Take a look at the geometry charts. They all slope. The last CAAD, for example, with a horizontal top tube was my 2005 CAAD 8.
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02-14-11, 12:27 PM
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However, ISP pretty much negates this fact.
Colnago still offers a horizontal top tube option in their top tier bikes AFAIK.
02-14-11, 12:31 PM
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Edit: kimconyc beat me to it.
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02-14-11, 01:09 PM
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The only issue I can see with a sloping tube is a longer exposed seat post. But I don't see that as a problem. I guess it was back in the day with low-grade seat posts. Other than that the seat/pedals/handlebar geometry is the same. I bet if you superimposed those two photos those three elements would match.
02-14-11, 01:14 PM
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I imagine manufacturer's design plays a part. Some manufacturer's don't place the cage bosses low enough. I've seen some frames where one bottle would interfere with the other. Tsunami obviously takes the time to consider the placement of the bosses.
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02-14-11, 02:53 PM
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sloping is for girls.
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02-14-11, 04:29 PM
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Virtually all modern race bikes use a sloping top tube. The only difference is in the degree of slope. So if horizontal top tubes are faster, then someone needs to tell the pro peloton to start scouring ebay for old 5200s and CAAD 8s.
The advantages of sloping top tubes are some small measure of stiffness, lower frame weight (but not necessarily lower bike weight since seat posts then need to be longer), and the ability to fit more riders on fewer sizes. The last is a pretty big deal for manufacturers as it lowers both manufacturing and inventory costs.
The advantages of sloping top tubes are some small measure of stiffness, lower frame weight (but not necessarily lower bike weight since seat posts then need to be longer), and the ability to fit more riders on fewer sizes. The last is a pretty big deal for manufacturers as it lowers both manufacturing and inventory costs.
My two road bikes have horizontal top tubes but they are custom.
02-14-11, 04:59 PM
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It's sloping. Therefore, it's not horizontal, "basically" or otherwise. It's easily noticeable when you compare a 2005 CAAD8 to a current model:
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Last edited by halfspeed; 02-14-11 at 05:04 PM.
02-14-11, 05:10 PM
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Exactly, sloping top tubes make it easier to fit, fewer frame sizes,and in the case of carbon frames, fewer molds. Big cost savings I would think.
02-14-11, 05:19 PM
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I have a Synapse and a SuperSix and I don't care if the SS slightly slopes therefore isn't horizontal. That's splitting hairs. When I ride them they're totally different so to me, the owner, the SS is stiffer because of the whole bike design and part of that is a Horizontal TT (+/- 3 degrees). There, happy? 
02-14-11, 06:56 PM
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I have a Synapse and a SuperSix and I don't care if the SS slightly slopes therefore isn't horizontal. That's splitting hairs. When I ride them they're totally different so to me, the owner, the SS is stiffer because of the whole bike design and part of that is a Horizontal TT (+/- 3 degrees). There, happy?
Perhaps one of the reasons that there's a misconception that a sloping top tube is there for "comfort" comes from Rivendell. Rivendell was one of the first manufacturers to use a sloping top tube. They use a slight slope (ironically similar to that on the "horizontal" Cannondales) to give riders more standover on larger frames to get a higher front end.
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02-14-11, 09:18 PM
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Cheers.
02-14-11, 09:34 PM
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It looks different and sporty, therefore it sells. Seems like a marketing gimmic to me. Add some fuzzy logic and you have the perfect ad campaign.
02-15-11, 05:34 AM
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02-15-11, 08:11 AM
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My personal Waterford has a level TT out of aesthetic preference, but as a bike fitter, sloping top tubes can be very helpful when I have a guy with short legs who needs a long TT. The sloping TT allows for a lower stand-over height which means I can get him into the TT he needs without either racking him, or forcing him to go with custom geometry.
02-15-11, 08:58 AM
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02-15-11, 09:11 AM
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All my road bikes have level top tubes as long as I'm riding on level ground.
02-15-11, 09:17 AM
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For us shorter-legged people, sloping tubes can really make a difference. Obviously a proper fitting (and a proper fitting frame size) will make either frame work, so then it just comes down to preference.
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02-15-11, 11:51 AM
#49
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Need a steel frame for that though! Odds are, if you have a steel frame, it wont have a sloping top tube!
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02-15-11, 12:01 PM
#50
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I wanted a level top tube, but when I got fit at spectrum we found that I needed a 1.5degree slope.
I don't believe that I will notice it to much.
I don't believe that I will notice it to much.