Great article! I have been slow to adapt, but part of this is what I will refer to as the intermediate geometry, which falls between old school and new school. Bike companies have been making bikes longer and slacker incrementally. I get it, get people use to it and then make it slightly longer. However, this intermediate geometry that mixes old school and new school riding posture doesn't work as it requires a lot of work/balance to maintain control and grip. It took me a while to figure it out.
I moved up to a newer school 140mm geometry and my riding suffered. I went into bike depression, my skills and confidence fell apart. Because of this, I went backward toward bikes that optimized older riding positions. However once you taste the longer geometry, you recognize its benefits, but it needs to work for you.
Along the way, I got the Specialized Enduro 2020. I was scared of this bike because it was even longer. I thought there is no way I can ride this bike. Even though this bike is a beast, my riding position moved more forward and with more confidence. I am loving it and I needed that step further in geometry to improve my riding position. Surprisingly, I am in a similar position with a shorter travel Ibis Ripley V4 because of the steeper head angle, longer reach. They support each other in similar riding positions. I have tried other bikes and find a lot of the 140-150mm travel bikes have geometries that fall between the Enduro and Ripley V4, and these bikes are actually harder to ride. The reason they are harder to ride, is I believe the positioning forces you into an older school form, yet you need more weight on the front for grip. The bike fights your instinct and weighting. It becomes a difficult balancing act.
Therefore, bike geometry will influence riding style, it forces you in position based on balance. You will know immediately whether it forces your butt backward or if you are more forward and balanced. Even if I wanted to change riding style, I couldn't because of weight balance.
I am bike nerd with geometry. I know what I like with respect to fit. I can adjust weighting with spacers, stem, bar rotation etc, but some bikes force you into position that is very difficult to overcome with reasonable stem, bars, etc even when you know what you are trying to achieve.
May 27, 2020, 8:55 a.m. - Dude@
Great article! I have been slow to adapt, but part of this is what I will refer to as the intermediate geometry, which falls between old school and new school. Bike companies have been making bikes longer and slacker incrementally. I get it, get people use to it and then make it slightly longer. However, this intermediate geometry that mixes old school and new school riding posture doesn't work as it requires a lot of work/balance to maintain control and grip. It took me a while to figure it out. I moved up to a newer school 140mm geometry and my riding suffered. I went into bike depression, my skills and confidence fell apart. Because of this, I went backward toward bikes that optimized older riding positions. However once you taste the longer geometry, you recognize its benefits, but it needs to work for you. Along the way, I got the Specialized Enduro 2020. I was scared of this bike because it was even longer. I thought there is no way I can ride this bike. Even though this bike is a beast, my riding position moved more forward and with more confidence. I am loving it and I needed that step further in geometry to improve my riding position. Surprisingly, I am in a similar position with a shorter travel Ibis Ripley V4 because of the steeper head angle, longer reach. They support each other in similar riding positions. I have tried other bikes and find a lot of the 140-150mm travel bikes have geometries that fall between the Enduro and Ripley V4, and these bikes are actually harder to ride. The reason they are harder to ride, is I believe the positioning forces you into an older school form, yet you need more weight on the front for grip. The bike fights your instinct and weighting. It becomes a difficult balancing act. Therefore, bike geometry will influence riding style, it forces you in position based on balance. You will know immediately whether it forces your butt backward or if you are more forward and balanced. Even if I wanted to change riding style, I couldn't because of weight balance. I am bike nerd with geometry. I know what I like with respect to fit. I can adjust weighting with spacers, stem, bar rotation etc, but some bikes force you into position that is very difficult to overcome with reasonable stem, bars, etc even when you know what you are trying to achieve.