On Tue, Dec 30, 2008 at 17:39, Piaw Na(蓝俊彪) <[email protected]> wrote: > >> 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. > --
So, are you implying that riders who want to carry a front load are unskilled? Well, that may apply to me, but I don't think it would apply to Jan Heine or Joel Metz, and I don't think it would apply to Matthew Grimm either. Jan felt that the very low trail fork (30mm trail) was uncomfortable to ride, and I suspect the reason for this was coming down a slope and not having the kind of stability one expects from a high-trail bike. However, if your purpose is not bombing down the Swiss Alps, why sacrifice the ability to carry groceries home on a front rack? -- How often have I lain beneath rain on a strange roof, thinking of home. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ 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 -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
