ChrisEyles
Guru
- Location
- Devon
I've been thinking a lot about MTB geometry and set-up recently having just built up my third MTB. All three of my bikes are set up slightly differently in terms of reach, bar height etc, but they are all relatively old-school in terms of frame geometry, with short-ish top tubes and steep-ish head angles. I've stuck a short stem/wide bar cockpit on one, which worked out well but is a smidge cramped. The other two are stretched out arse-up-head-down jobbies, with the obvious compromises this entails going down hills.
I've read a lot online about long/low/slack modern bikes being very different to ride. Currently taking this with a large pinch of salt, but sounds like they are supposed to be "better" (or at least more stable) on rough downhills, with possibly some slight compromises on climbing and tight twisty stuff, and a generally different cornering mechanic.
Would love to give one a go, but all my riding buddies have similar age bikes (late 90s to early 2000s) to me, and I don't know of anywhere local that rents out anything suitable.
Interested to hear people's thoughts on the benefits - especially curious whether the new geometry tweaks are oriented towards trail centres rather than xc bridleway riding, as I always seem to spend the majority of my rides climbing rather than descending!
I've read a lot online about long/low/slack modern bikes being very different to ride. Currently taking this with a large pinch of salt, but sounds like they are supposed to be "better" (or at least more stable) on rough downhills, with possibly some slight compromises on climbing and tight twisty stuff, and a generally different cornering mechanic.
Would love to give one a go, but all my riding buddies have similar age bikes (late 90s to early 2000s) to me, and I don't know of anywhere local that rents out anything suitable.
Interested to hear people's thoughts on the benefits - especially curious whether the new geometry tweaks are oriented towards trail centres rather than xc bridleway riding, as I always seem to spend the majority of my rides climbing rather than descending!