How To Interpret Road Bike Geometry

Head tube angles range from about 66 degrees gravity oriented mountain bikes to 74 degrees razor sharp road bikes.

How to interpret road bike geometry. A bike geometry chart can be useful in a number of ways including ascertaining your most suitable frame size complete bike fit component compatibility and handling characteristics of the bike if you know how to read the information coates says. I say can be because for many people. Compare different bikes and sizes side by side. Welcome to the world s biggest open database of bike geometry.

You can now search by numbers enter your geometry criteria and see the bikes that match. Search for bikes by geometry numbers. Bikes with a long head tube raises the front end of the bike putting the rider in a more upright position. Handlebar width on road bikes is measured either centre to centre and referred to as c c or outside to outside and referred to as o o.

Other things being equal a bike with a steeper head angle with steer more sharply and a bike with a slacker head angle will be more inclined to travel in a straight line. The head tube length is measured from the bottom to the top of the head tube. Today most companies offer two types of frame geometry one with a higher focus towards racing and another with a little more bias towards comfort for longer days in the saddle. This is the distance between the centre of the bottom bracket to the centre.

Bikes with a short head tube lower the front end of the bike reducing the frontal profile of the rider improving aerodynamics. Using the same principles you can measure to the nose of the bike seat and seat height and setback. Centre to centre is the most common method of measurement and is often horizontally measured from the centre of the bar ends. In our examples bike 2 has a reach 2cm longer than bike 1 and 3cm taller stack.

Road bike steering is tuned to be fast with its low trail geometry. If your bike isn t listed yet you can add it. Understanding bike frame geometry wheelbase. The angle of the head tube affects a bike s steering and riding position.

This is a paid feature but it s not. A touring bike s geometry is optimised so that it s stable carrying front and rear loads. Mountain bikes will generally have a slacker head tube angle than road bike to provide greater stability on rough technical trails. Run through the same five steps for bike 2 and contrast the measurements.

The first thing to consider is what you intend to use your bike for.