warnette

In lurking a common theme/trend/wtf ive noticed is the claim that a frame "isnt aggressive enough" and it honestly makes no sense. While a track frame with its geometry may have its advantages on a TRACK i see none for street usage.

Maneuvering to me frankly is BS. If i can get a a mtb with its slack angles, upright/back riding position, and 4" of suspension to easily navigate tight single track switchbacks.

Such a riding position is also unapologetically masochistic in anything but a but a trendy jaunt around town in an attempt to generate hipster steez. A person may be able to complete a daily commute like this, but I see it as far from the right tool for the job.

When in traffic why do you want to be in a position that makes it so hard to be aware of surroundings?

This is in no way against single speed/fixed gear, just the over popularization of impractical frames for "everyday" street usage while playing bike messenger dress up.

Not trolling, looking for something im possibly missing.

rustybrown

You beat around the bush with the hipster steez, but failed to factor in coffee shop posing, but drove the point home in the end.

Don't think you're missing anything. Some go places by car. I don't feel the need to complain about it.

HandsomeRyan

I think this thread could universally be answered with, "It's my bike, I'm the only one who has to ride it, and that is how I want it set up." This goes for anything from frame geometry to handlebar choice to coloway selection. One mans jackass tarck bike is another mans dream ride.

jdgesus 

my trek t1 is the most comfortable bike i own, i do about 40m a day on it.
it fits me like a slanket.

(i bet this thread will be lol, thx)

warnette

Vague and subjective subjective. Ex. using the T1
People buy this


But ride it like this. Lower the seat and raise the bars=make it less aggressive grrrrrr

EpicSchwinn

We ride what makes us happy. Problem?

warnette

wooooooooooord playa aint got nothin on my irony

EpicSchwinn

Also, pics of your utilitarian bike or b&

warnette

Gotta have fenders. Nothing says badass like fenders. Brakes cause im medic and know better.

jdgesus 

i love a reason to post a pic of my t1 with my "lowered seat" and "risers"



this bike is so great for me, it is now my daily commuter

ImChris

X2. My T1 is just as comfortable as my Trek 1.2 and I am also still 'aware' on my track bike as well.

To justify why i ride my 'torture rack', well its pretty simple. 1) I enjoy riding fixed more than geared. Is it always the best option? No. but its what I enjoy and since I enjoy it, i'll keep doing it. 2) As a beginner coming into the road bike scene, fixed appealed to me because it was simpler to work on and maintain. Not saying that a geared bike is a crazy thing to maintain either, but for me (IMO) as a beginner a fixed gear was just nicer to learn the basics of bikes on.

I also enjoy a mtn bike fender on my track bike that i daily ride on the street. No photo though because it looks stupid..haha






.Chris

JohnDorian

I like aggressive geo's for the same reason I like riding bikes. It's fun. If I wanted comfort, I would drive, or take the bus, or carpool. I ride my bike because it's fun, all the other benefits are just icing on the cake.

I Have a Bike

See, but whats wrong with wanting to do something you think is cool that you enjoy?

Are you a person who doesn't do things you find entertaining or cool?

Why is someone doing something, of their own free will, that they enjoy and makes them happy a problem for you?

Squirrelli

I don't need to justify what I like to anyone on the internet.

/thread

Though, I do like your Tri-Cross with fenders. Fender indeed.



I just change my crankset and cog about 30 minutes ago, no pictures until I feel like taking some.

warnette

Because im curious and was looking for objective reasons why?

Why is someone doing something, of their own inquisitive will, that they are curious about cause so much hostility?

Fender love! @ ImChris!

carleton

My torture rack:

Squirrelli

I like your B&W stuff.

carleton

Thanks!

adriano 

for ballpark figures, the maximum sensible amount of bar drop is 0.15 times your height. a more moderate estimate is 0.9 times.

blickblocks

Sexy bike, awesome photo!

carleton

I'm not debating with you. Is this a real calculation? I remember there being a saddle height calculation that is some number times the rider's height.

Saddle to bar drop can vary with SEVERAL factors. Namely:
- Femur length
- Seat Tube Angle
- Saddle Position (effectively fine tunes the seat tube angle)
- Stem Length
- Crank arm length (the shorter the arms, the lower you are allowed to go)

I think seat tube angle is probably the most important factor. This rotates the rider using the BB as an axis. Even if the rider's physical position is locked, increasing the seat tube angle will raise the saddle and bring it closer to the bars which will in turn require the bars to be lowered dramatically increasing the saddle to bar drop...and putting weight on the rider's hands.

This is why you rarely see aggressive saddle to bar drops on road bikes...even race road bikes because the seat tube angles are around 73 or 74 degrees. Now with a track sprint bike the angles are up to 76 degrees which rotate the rider forward and gives the aggressive look.

Squirrelli

^ Also the rider's flexibility and physical features.

adriano 

its just a ball park for sensible reach and seat tube angle. id say upper arm length is the most important body metric that would change that approximation.

carleton

+1

Flexibility for obvious reasons, but physical features also play a role. Thin guys (track/road endurance) with small chests and thin legs can get really low. Big guys (track sprinters) with big chests and large thighs will bang their thighs on their chests if they are too low and hinder their leg speed.




Also, going too low hinders the use of the hip flexors and extenders. There's a balance in there for everyone.

Plus, aero only matters if you are time trialing or going over 30mph (ballpark figure). Comfort and efficiency trump aerodynamics in most cases.

91MF

as you can see by this photo, i set my bikes up with a saddle to drops difference of half-a-bike.