> Rivendells are spec'd with high trail, because that's the way Grant > likes it. I suspect that there are a number of reasons for his > preference, but I would like to say first and foremost that he > probably considers trail to be insignificant in comparison to other > design considerations; in fact, I've heard him say as much. That said, > some of what I think might be informing that is his preference for > rear loading (the proportion of rear/front load does indeed affect the > way the bike handles), his feeling that toe-clip overlap is not > significant, the speeds he likes on downhills, and that he prefers > stability and the ability of a bike to hold a line well.
Higher skill riders prefer higher trail, because those riders tend to go for higher speeds and tougher cornering situations, in which case the increased stability and ability to hold the line helps keep the bike stable over rough roads or under less than optimal conditions. For those riders, at low speed the increased wheel flop is not an issue, because the rider is skilled enough to to compensate (I can control my circa 1993 Grant-designed bicycle at 2mph climbing a hill no matter what). Toe clip overlap is similarly not an issue. I've attempted to descend with Grant, and he's definitely a very highly skilled descender, but having known his tastes his bikes, I'd say that the feeling of agility and freedom when you get on one of his designs is as much a factor in his design as to achieve such performance goals. Unless you deliver newspapers off the front of the bike (i.e., what Kogswell and Jan Heine seem to want to design for), I see no reason to compromise high speed handling for the sake of being able to carry a front load. -- Piaw Na http://piaw.blogspot.com --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Bicycle Lifestyle" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/bicyclelifestyle?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
