Boulais echos this, saying “Since [trail] bikes are getting longer and slacker, that
front end was getting further away and the front wheel felt too light on steep climbs
, so bringing the rider back toward the front end with a steeper seat tube angle helps front wheel traction and control when climbing steeper grades.”
What is slacker mountain bike?
A “slack” angle is
anywhere from 63 to 66 degrees
. This means the fork of the bike is going to stick out farther, creating a more stable ride at high speeds, but also be slower handling.
Are modern mountain bikes too long?
Why are mountain bikes so slow?
Mountain bikes are slower than road bikes and gravel bikes because
they typically have larger tires, less aerodynamic body position, longer frame geometry, heavier bike weight, suspension, and even slower gearing
. However, you may be able to increase the speed of a mountain by making some general changes to it.
Why are MTB getting longer?
According to Cocalis,
steeper seat tube angles
“really started with longer travel bikes and the need for some of the key (4-bar) suspension designs to gain more clearance at full travel.
Is it better to have a bike too big or too small?
Check your Ape Index
If your arm span is longer than your height, go for a bigger frame
. If it's shorter, get the smaller one. On a bigger bike, the reach to the handlebars will be longer. If you have proportionally longer arms, you are likely to feel more comfortable on a bigger frame.
Does 1 degree head angle make a difference?
TBH
1 degree dont make a difference
. It feels the same, unless you change your stem and handlebar and then your bike will feel a bit more of a difference.
What does long low and slack mean?
Long/Slack/Low. It corresponds to
greater stability; benevolent anti-OTB descending attributes and better cornering agility
. What I don't understand, are the actual numbers. If you are lionising a geometry trend, evidence should be tabled, with exact numbers.
How do you make a slacker on a mountain bike?
How do I know if my MTB is too big?
- Struggling in Tight Turns. …
- Lack of Front Wheel Grip. …
- Challenging to Lift the Front Wheel. …
- Feeling Like a Passenger. …
- Not Comfortable. …
- Feeling Squashed. …
- Feeling Unstable at Speed. …
- Not Comfortable.
What if my MTB is too big?
If you're current bike seems too big, you can get some relief by
pushing the stem further down the seat tube and adjusting the saddle position to compensate for the larger frame
. For example, lowering the handlebars and saddle height and removing all the spacers from the seat post may help the bike fit a little better.
Why does reach matter on a mountain bike?
The easiest way to determine your frame size is by height, but many riders find that they are between sizes. Choosing to go up or down a size depends on your personal riding style and body proportions.
A bike with a longer reach will have a longer wheelbase. That makes it more stable, especially on high-speed descents
.
Are mountain bikes OK for street riding?
Mountain bikes are good for riding off-road
– however, many people ride them on road. This is essentially what they are designed for, after all. There are different types of mountain bikes for different kinds of riding, but they all pretty much fall under the banner of being built for off-road cycling.
Are mountain bikes slow on pavement?
Mountain bikes are harder to pedal and slower on pavement
. But they have a cushy ride, an upright riding position, and can travel easily on a wide variety of surfaces. Hybrid or cross bikes are almost as fast and easy to pedal as a road bike, while being almost as comfortable and versatile as a mountain bike.
How much slower is a mountain bike on the road?
Quick Answer. Mountain bikes can be slower by
15%
than road bikes on super flat terrain when on a 5% grade climb mountain can be slower by 12.7% the main factor is aerodynamic.
How do you know if your bike is too long?
“
If your arms are dead straight
, this indicates the reach is too long and you may end up with neck pain as the shoulders and neck take the brunt of road buzz and bumps. “Your shoulder or arm flexion in relation to your torso should also be around 90 degrees.”
What is aggressive bike geometry?
Aggressive geometry
puts your upper body down lower for aerodynamics and the bikes tend to favor a more twitchy handling traits
. Relaxed geometry has you sitting in a more upright position and the bike is setup to feel more stable at speed.
How do I make my mountain bike longer?
Is it better to size up or down for mountain bikes?
Reach. When it comes to sizing, reach tends to be what changes more from Small to Large than stack.
If you have a proportionally longer torso, you'll want to size up your mountain bike in order to get a more natural fit
. Flexibility and range of motion in your hips is also something to consider.
Why do pros ride smaller frames?
Pro cyclists choose smaller frames
to acquire a more aerodynamic position thanks to the lower head tube
. Also, compact frames are more agile, easier to manipulate, and have a shorter wheelbase resulting in more stability when cornering.
Is 21 inch bike too big?
A 21 inch bike frame is an XXL size
suitable for people over 6 foot 2 inches tall
.
How do I increase the angle of my head tube?
Flip the bike upside down in the stand. Grease the offset lower cup and sit it on the head tube. The ‘-‘ should be at the front if you want a slacker head angle. Use the notches on either side of the cup like a gunsight to line it up centrally with the down tube.
How much difference does head angle make?
With a 63-degree head angle, turning the bars by 10 degrees will steer the contact patch by 8.9 degrees about the vertical axis
; with a 70-degree head angle, the contact patch will steer by 9.4 degrees. In other words, the steeper the head angle, the faster the steering response.
How does head tube angle affect handling?
In simple terms, head tube angle dictates how much effort is required to turn the front wheel.
As head angle increases, the front wheel becomes easier to turn
. It is also possible to make a sharper turn, and thus, the manoeuvrability of the bike generally increases with the angle of the head tube.
What makes a bike slack?
A “slack” geometry means that these
angles are lower
, which in effect moves the rider further back in relation to the center of the bike and the front wheel is further out in front. At the extreme end of this design concept is the downhill bike.
Does stem length affect bike handling?
Stem length is one of a number of factors, along with head tube angle and fork rake, that affects a bike's handling. Generally speaking,
a shorter stem will result in faster handling, while a longer stem will result in slower, more predictable handling
.
How does stack height affect bike handling?
The height of your handlebars affects the way a bike rides.
If the stack is low it keeps your weight over the front, if its higher it means you sit up more and your weight shifts backwards
.
