How much top tube slope is too much?
04-05-19, 02:27 PM
#26
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Any more than this is too much.
04-05-19, 02:37 PM
#27
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This is likely considered too much.
04-05-19, 02:41 PM
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04-05-19, 08:33 PM
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None. A friend of mine used to be an engineer and Cannonade, and they were quite annoyed at the trend toward bikes with sloping top tubes. The sloping tubes mean longer seat posts, and more seat flex, meaning a longer and thicker seat post was needed, the extra length and thickness actually made their prototype stope tube bikes heavier than their standard top tube design. The sloping top tube phenomena was form over function, which Cannondale disliked, Cannondale were the last to get on the sloping tube band wagon, and their current bikes have as little slope as possible.
Personally, I have never paid any attention at all to standover height, as I seldom stand when I'm out riding. If I stop, I keep my butt on the seat, and put a foot on the curb, or keep both feet clipped in, and put my hand on a sign or traffic light post or poll, if there is no curb or pole, I keep one foot clipped in, put the other on the ground, and keep my butt over the right side of the top tube.
Personally, I have never paid any attention at all to standover height, as I seldom stand when I'm out riding. If I stop, I keep my butt on the seat, and put a foot on the curb, or keep both feet clipped in, and put my hand on a sign or traffic light post or poll, if there is no curb or pole, I keep one foot clipped in, put the other on the ground, and keep my butt over the right side of the top tube.
I've seen other riders out there sit on the seat with one foot on the ground at a stop light, and I've wondered how they do it. I mean, if the bike fit is correct, the seat should be high enough that when your pedal is at its lowest position your legs should be almost straight. So the height difference doesn't compute. Also, I've never been comfortable leaning on a pole or curb because of all the stuff on the road or weeds/plants, or some other obstacle. At a stop, I usually unclip my right foot and put it on the ground, leaving my left foot clipped in. So I have to stand to support the bike.
But I do agree that road bikes should have as small of a top tube slope as possible. Actually, a fully level top tube looks a bit out of style, so maybe less than 5 degrees of slope is ideal. But definitely not sloping so much that it starts to look like a mountain bike.
04-05-19, 08:38 PM
#31
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04-05-19, 08:40 PM
#32
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04-05-19, 08:42 PM
#33
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04-05-19, 08:49 PM
#34
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Horizontal & vertical skew (crudely) corrected. Leaving the tilt alone. This accentuates the slope right to left...So it could be worse. 
BF-Bike by Richard Mozzarella, on Flickr
Here is your bike tilt corrected, then the skew touched up. The top tube slope is minimized.
BF Bike2 by Richard Mozzarella, on Flickr
I guess what I'm saying is it's all in your perspective.
BF-Bike by Richard Mozzarella, on Flickr
Here is your bike tilt corrected, then the skew touched up. The top tube slope is minimized.
BF Bike2 by Richard Mozzarella, on Flickr
I guess what I'm saying is it's all in your perspective.
04-05-19, 08:52 PM
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04-05-19, 08:53 PM
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04-05-19, 10:01 PM
#37
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04-06-19, 12:26 PM
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So I've had my custom Seven Axiom SL titanium road bike for a few years now. It's been the best bike I've ridden so far. I've already posted on this forum before about how perfect my Ti bike is.
However, a recurring thought nags me. It's about the aesthetics of the bike. I chose a slightly sloped top tube because I felt the standover height would be too high if the top tube were level. But then I've always felt the slope ended up a little too much on the "ugly" side. The spec sheet says it's estimated to be 5 degrees. Here's a picture.
How much top tube slope do you guys have on your bikes, and what do you think is the acceptable limit beyond which it starts to look uncool?
However, a recurring thought nags me. It's about the aesthetics of the bike. I chose a slightly sloped top tube because I felt the standover height would be too high if the top tube were level. But then I've always felt the slope ended up a little too much on the "ugly" side. The spec sheet says it's estimated to be 5 degrees. Here's a picture.
How much top tube slope do you guys have on your bikes, and what do you think is the acceptable limit beyond which it starts to look uncool?
I prefer a sloping top tube and 5 degrees is just about perfect in my book. I have a custom frame that I had built and that was done with 5.4 degrees of slope.
But the real test is the ride. If that bike fits you perfectly - and it seems it does - and you enjoy the heck out of riding it, then it's right. Form follows function in my book - you've apparently nailed the function aspect; so there's your answer.
j
j.
04-06-19, 12:32 PM
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04-06-19, 12:54 PM
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04-06-19, 02:03 PM
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04-06-19, 05:40 PM
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04-06-19, 05:54 PM
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I'm pretty sure the ideal is a straight line from headtube to rear dropouts.
04-06-19, 06:05 PM
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UCI limits slope to 15 degrees. Or was that 16? anyway, I doubt anyone at a race will point to your custom frame and say it's forbidden if it goes beyound that.
04-06-19, 07:01 PM
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04-06-19, 07:36 PM
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So I've had my custom Seven Axiom SL titanium road bike for a few years now. It's been the best bike I've ridden so far. I've already posted on this forum before about how perfect my Ti bike is.
However, a recurring thought nags me. It's about the aesthetics of the bike. I chose a slightly sloped top tube because I felt the standover height would be too high if the top tube were level. But then I've always felt the slope ended up a little too much on the "ugly" side. The spec sheet says it's estimated to be 5 degrees. Here's a picture.
How much top tube slope do you guys have on your bikes, and what do you think is the acceptable limit beyond which it starts to look uncool?
However, a recurring thought nags me. It's about the aesthetics of the bike. I chose a slightly sloped top tube because I felt the standover height would be too high if the top tube were level. But then I've always felt the slope ended up a little too much on the "ugly" side. The spec sheet says it's estimated to be 5 degrees. Here's a picture.
How much top tube slope do you guys have on your bikes, and what do you think is the acceptable limit beyond which it starts to look uncool?
When I'm riding my bike and I look down at the top tube, I cannot tell how much slope it has. And I'm usually looking down at it because I don't want to see how much further that 16% grade I've got to cover.
If you are really worried about it, get a 90's time trial bike and ride that.
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04-06-19, 08:32 PM
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