Interesting to say the Optic was sort of a kick off seeing as the bikes came out at relatively the same time. I heard they were working on a "crazy" version of the optic where they let the design team do "whatever they wanted" a couple years before it came out, so maybe those experiments and projects inspired the current gen Sight... but they still came out to the public as MY2020 bikes.
I actually don't think the Optic should have a steeper STA. STA is a dynamic number now like many others on the bike and should change relative to the discipline. It makes sense that a bike thats only going up stupid steep fire road climbs have a stupid steep STA, but a bike that's more well rounded, more XC-ish (sorry optic), or generally meant for more standing efforts will benefit from a slightly slacker seat tube angle. I've had this discussion with top level XC athletes and they say that during testing, super steep seat tube angles actually make it harder to climb that sort of stuff at an elite level. Sure, they help the average shmuck get in a better climbing position, but I'd like to think the Optic invites a more athletic approach to some climbs.
Aug. 6, 2020, 9:36 p.m. - Lu Kz
Interesting to say the Optic was sort of a kick off seeing as the bikes came out at relatively the same time. I heard they were working on a "crazy" version of the optic where they let the design team do "whatever they wanted" a couple years before it came out, so maybe those experiments and projects inspired the current gen Sight... but they still came out to the public as MY2020 bikes. I actually don't think the Optic should have a steeper STA. STA is a dynamic number now like many others on the bike and should change relative to the discipline. It makes sense that a bike thats only going up stupid steep fire road climbs have a stupid steep STA, but a bike that's more well rounded, more XC-ish (sorry optic), or generally meant for more standing efforts will benefit from a slightly slacker seat tube angle. I've had this discussion with top level XC athletes and they say that during testing, super steep seat tube angles actually make it harder to climb that sort of stuff at an elite level. Sure, they help the average shmuck get in a better climbing position, but I'd like to think the Optic invites a more athletic approach to some climbs.