BIKE GEOMETRY 101

More than just fi gures on a spreadsheet, a bike’s angles and dimensions are the key to the way it rides; understanding how they interact will help you choose the right machine and unlock its potential

- Alan Muldoon

Bike geometry can be daunting, but it doesn’t need to be. And by looking at it through the lens of weight distribution (bike plus rider), we can simplify geometry dramatically without having to dumb it down. Step by step, we’re going to take a closer look at all the key aspects of bike geometry to see how they impact the rider’s weight distribution. After all, we are looking at a system, and without considering the rider, the numbers make much less sense.

In many ways the individual aspects of bike geometry can be seen as the building blocks on which handling is created. And in the same way that you learn your ABCs before writing complete words, understanding how all the seemingly independent aspects of bike geometry change our weight distribution, will allow you to better understand how and why your bike rides the way it does.

And don’t think for a minute that the purpose of this feature is to transform everyone into bike engineers. It’s more about inspiring you to think about what’s going on beneath you as you ride. And once you start to notice where your weight is on the bike, and the effects it’s having on handling, you can then think about changing it.