What is "stage race geometry"?

[caleb]

How is it different from other geometries?

[e-RICHIE]

it's a mythical niche born out of the misinformed writings of
cyclojournalists for whom riding was a hobby at best atmo.
i feel better now.

[jeffg]

Originally Posted by e-RICHIE

it's a mythical niche born out of the misinformed writings of
cyclojournalists for whom riding was a hobby at best atmo.
i feel better now.

Can you do the same for crit geometry atmo?

Originally Posted by jeffg

Can you do the same for crit geometry atmo?

crazy north american misinterpretation of bike design

[FATBOY]

No no no, stage race geometry is the math required of team docs to keep blood values below that magical %50.

[taz-t]

.

just cause i'm bored

and i know somebody will get fired up about it

both terms were advertising junk born out of an infant american bike market

the stage race bike: slacker sta, lower bb, longer stays, hta in the 73 degree range, medium/longer trail (5.5-6.0)

the crit bike: steeper sta, higher bb, short stays, steep hta, low trail (4.5-5.0)

the crit bike feels nervous and it is. ain't any faster in a crit. the stage race bike feels confident and relaxed.

if you had a gun to your head and had to buy one, get the "stage race" bike. really, its just a good bike with a neat-o marketing name.

[Ti Designs]

Originally Posted by Fat Robert

the crit bike feels nervous and it is. ain't any faster in a crit. the stage race bike feels confident and relaxed.

Before they can call a bike a crit bike or a road race bike or a climbing bike, shouldn't they first qualify the rider?

I had two riders I coached on the same bike - same size, same model, same color. One would slow to a crawl at any bend in the road, the other would push it to the limits in corners. Is one a crit bike and the other not? I've always found that the best bike matches the skills and ability of the rider. Crit bikes (bikes with steep angles and less rake) don't feel nervous under the riders who have the reflexes to get the most out of them. My own bike is almost track geometry with road drop-outs, but I think of it as the all purpose bike.

Calling a bike crit geometry or stage geometry is just a marketing ploy to sell to those who the name appeals to, nothing more. Comfort comes from fit - why not say size 10 shoes are the most comfortable? They are for me! The only thing more common in the bike industry than chinese carbon fiber is marketing BS. Stage geometry - sounds like it should be on Broadway. Women's Specific Design - specificly doens't fit many women. Optimal geometry - for whom??? There's marketing and there's cycling - the two have very little in common.

[e-RICHIE]

Originally Posted by Ti Designs

Calling a bike crit geometry or stage geometry is just a marketing ploy to sell to
those who the name appeals to, nothing more. <cut> There's marketing and
there's cycling - the two have very little in common.

atmo -

[zeroking17]

Just to piggyback on the previous responses, "stage race geometry" is defined as shallower seat and head angles, lower bottom brackets, and longer chainstays compared to the insane, cock-eyed, terminator-like "crit/tri" geometry of several US mass-production framebuilders.

[avalonracing]

Originally Posted by zeroking17

Just to piggyback on the previous responses, "stage race geometry" is defined as shallower seat and head angles, lower bottom brackets, and longer chainstays compared to the insane, cock-eyed, terminator-like "crit/tri" geometry of several US mass-production framebuilders.

When racing crits I loved the 74 degree seat tube angle on my 57cm Klein and my 58cm Coppi. It made riding the rivet a hell of a lot easier to do. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a bike with a 74 degree STA again.

[zeroking17]

Originally Posted by avalonracing

When racing crits I loved the 74 degree seat tube angle on my 57cm Klein and my 58cm Coppi. It made riding the rivet a hell of a lot easier to do. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a bike with a 74 degree STA again.

That's because crits tend to favor riders who have insane, terminator-like urges during the race.

ps I'm not kidding -- much.

[saab2000]

My best racing bike is my Look. I would be happy to race it in a stage race or a criterium.

I don't know quite what the difference would be.

That said, my Serotta CIII would probably be more suited for road races than Criteriums and the diving into corners at high speed.

Originally Posted by saab2000

My best racing bike is my Look. I would be happy to race it in a stage race or a criterium.

I don't know quite what the difference would be.

That said, my Serotta CIII would probably be more suited for road races than Criteriums and the diving into corners at high speed.

yeah

your look has a 72.5 sta, 74 sta...probably 5.0 of trail...and a very trad 7cm bb drop

[fiamme red]

Didn't Serotta make a criterium frame? The Davis Phinney model, I think it was?