For sure, changes to the shape of a bike require changes to ride it, _at least_ mentally. Being more centred on the bike can make it easier to ride well than a shorter bike though, especially for taller folks that have had ill-fitting bikes for so long. But as Joel mentioned with steep STA, the body needs some time to adapt to a different bike, that doesn't necessarily make it a bad thing, it's just different.
I ended up settling on a steeper HTA on the G1 to allow for easier weighting of the front wheel. I did it a number of different ways and depending on whether mix-wheeled (currently) or 29, my setup alters a bit. But both allow me to effortlessly weight the front. I was happy with the 62.5-degree HTA of the G16 but it was 15mm shorter reach. The same HTA on the larger size positions the front wheel a long way out and I've adjusted the geo to suit. But that's because I've been able to. Front centre has heaps more to do with things than HTA numbers on a chart. (I wish more manufacturers would include front-centre and "spread" in their charts. They're both important measurements IME).
Some of the newer bikes w/ longer front centres but not adequately longer rear centres create an issue with weighting the front. The front end gets too far ahead but the rider is trying to ride as they always have, and the short rear centre allows this more. A longer rear naturally forces the weight forward. A stiffer rear suspension can also do it but depending on the bike, this can create issues with grip and necessitates the fork being set up appropriately to compensate, which often puts the rider back again. Then there are individual preferences, body shapes, terrain, the list goes on.
It's a balancing act and there's much to learn when moving to the newer shapes of our bikes. But as you point out, what works for some won't for others.
March 29, 2021, 8:59 a.m. - AJ Barlas
For sure, changes to the shape of a bike require changes to ride it, _at least_ mentally. Being more centred on the bike can make it easier to ride well than a shorter bike though, especially for taller folks that have had ill-fitting bikes for so long. But as Joel mentioned with steep STA, the body needs some time to adapt to a different bike, that doesn't necessarily make it a bad thing, it's just different. I ended up settling on a steeper HTA on the G1 to allow for easier weighting of the front wheel. I did it a number of different ways and depending on whether mix-wheeled (currently) or 29, my setup alters a bit. But both allow me to effortlessly weight the front. I was happy with the 62.5-degree HTA of the G16 but it was 15mm shorter reach. The same HTA on the larger size positions the front wheel a long way out and I've adjusted the geo to suit. But that's because I've been able to. Front centre has heaps more to do with things than HTA numbers on a chart. (I wish more manufacturers would include front-centre and "spread" in their charts. They're both important measurements IME). Some of the newer bikes w/ longer front centres but not adequately longer rear centres create an issue with weighting the front. The front end gets too far ahead but the rider is trying to ride as they always have, and the short rear centre allows this more. A longer rear naturally forces the weight forward. A stiffer rear suspension can also do it but depending on the bike, this can create issues with grip and necessitates the fork being set up appropriately to compensate, which often puts the rider back again. Then there are individual preferences, body shapes, terrain, the list goes on. It's a balancing act and there's much to learn when moving to the newer shapes of our bikes. But as you point out, what works for some won't for others.