[CR]Vintage Bike Geometry

(Example: Events:Cirque du Cyclisme:2007)

Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2005 20:18:55 -0800 (PST)
From: "Brian Van Baush" <bvanbaush@ameritech.net>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Vintage Bike Geometry

I have always been very interested in the changes to bike geometry over the many years- seat tube angles that are 74 to 75 degrees in the 80's or 72 to 73 degrees today. Long or short fork rake and trail measurements from 4 cm to over 6 cm. Then there is bike fit - a book by R.C. Shaw published in 1953 and again in 1967 states on page 61, " a few years ago it was fashionable to use quite small cycle frames and use long saddle-stems, because it was said that the smaller frame was more rigid and lighter in weight.... Nowadays, however, there is less enthusiasm for very small frames, and most riders prefer to have the top of the saddle 21/2 to 3 inches above the top of the seat tube." The book also talks about head angles in the 68 to 72 degree range with rakes from 2.5" to 2".

I thought Chuck Schmidt's bike geometry info was very interesting and a reflection of bike design over many years, component changes and the riders.

Brian
Poulsbo, WA (soon to be Denver, Co)