What is " PLANING " ?
 

On one of the threads today, someone mentioned "planing". I have no idea what this is. I must have slept through that part of cycling 101 class. I googled it and a Rene Hearse study pops up, something about certain tube thicknesses make certain riders faster??? Huh?

It is a term coined by Jan Heine to describe the pedaling efficiency of certain steel frames. If I recall correctly, in essence it means that the slight movement in the frame is beneficial and is returned as energy into the pedaling stroke. I don't believe it has been proven in a lab setting, so it is based on anecdotal evidence only.

fa63 distilled it well. As someone who grew up boating, I find it a pretty weak analogy. But, I can't really think of anything better, though I haven't really tried.

I think "impedance matching" is a more appropriate term to describe the effect, but probably too technical.

Magic Carpet Ride = Planing

My understanding is the flex in the tubing matches your power output and weight so the tube flexes and the spring back matches your cadence and output creating a pendulum like effect in your pedal stroke.

It means "good" flex when pedalling feels good and so does handling (although when planing is mentioned it is usually followed by front end shimmy).

This.

I thought of hydroplaning when I first read it

Certain frame builders would mix/match sl/sp tubing if the rider was heavy or super strong

We use to refer to bikes responsiveness as being either stiff and dead or spongy and springy

Ideally you wanted a bike that was springy but not spongy, too much flex in the bottom bracket

The only way to find your frame was to ride a lot and try different frames for the correct feel

You'll know the one when she shows up

Ask a group of 10 cyclists what planing is, expect 12 different answers.

Ask a group of 10 cyclists what planing is, expect none of them to know what you are talking about.

Don't forget skittish and twitchy

it's when you're pretty damn sure
 

that the forces of cycling = the bike and the fit put a smile on your face and you suddenly hear your favorite song playing beautifully in your mind as you cruise or hammer that thing down the road. it climbs the best, it does chip seal the best...and you still wonder if it's simply good tires.

Low trail is an evil French plot, planning is a frame with a spring in it's step
and a song in its heart. You can have one without the other.:banana:

Can you wax your chain and plane, or are the two religions incompatible?