How much top tube slope is too much?
#1
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How much top tube slope is too much?
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?
#2
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Aesthetically I think the sloping top tube is fine.
A bigger fail is the extended head tube and headset spacers but if that is your fit requirement there isn't much to do about it.
For a new frame I would keep the top tube slope similar but raise it around an 1 1/2".
A bigger fail is the extended head tube and headset spacers but if that is your fit requirement there isn't much to do about it.
For a new frame I would keep the top tube slope similar but raise it around an 1 1/2".
#3
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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?
#5
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Yeah, custom fits are always a compromise between different needs, so it is what it is. Like I said, it's perfect fit for riding. I just don't like the slope top tube on road bikes... makes them look like they're going to morph into a mountain bike.
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My old Felt Z35 looks like a mountain bike with drop bars and skinny tires. Much more steeply slopped than yours. Doesn't look as good as level but the standover height is nice when commuting.
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A flat TT is a bit easier to work with when photographing, not better just easier.... Your photo in the OP, playing with it in PS....no matter what you get clashing conflicting lines that are probably what are bothering your eye. Level the column--you get an even more unlevel bike (now that I do it) as well as a very tilted column, level the bike you get an even more skewed horizon and column. Also having the photo taken from above the bike (even slightly) makes the TT sloped more than it really is (a 5 degree slope isn't that much)
#13
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Little things make huge differences in composition....and composition is all about making a given thing look good not just to yourself, but to others.
A flat TT is a bit easier to work with when photographing, not better just easier.... Your photo in the OP, playing with it in PS....no matter what you get clashing conflicting lines that are probably what are bothering your eye. Level the column--you get an even more unlevel bike (now that I do it) as well as a very tilted column, level the bike you get an even more skewed horizon and column. Also having the photo taken from above the bike (even slightly) makes the TT sloped more than it really is (a 5 degree slope isn't that much)
A flat TT is a bit easier to work with when photographing, not better just easier.... Your photo in the OP, playing with it in PS....no matter what you get clashing conflicting lines that are probably what are bothering your eye. Level the column--you get an even more unlevel bike (now that I do it) as well as a very tilted column, level the bike you get an even more skewed horizon and column. Also having the photo taken from above the bike (even slightly) makes the TT sloped more than it really is (a 5 degree slope isn't that much)
#14
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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.
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All my drop bar bikes(road, touring, gravel) are level top tube. The gravel frame I am going to build late this year will most likely have 6 degree of slope to help reduce the number of spacers. Instead of a 65cm seat tube, i could have a 63cm seat tube and still have the top tube set to where I could remove a 5mm spacer or so.
There is no real need, but its something I want to try and see how it ends.
There is no real need, but its something I want to try and see how it ends.
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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.
Last edited by base2; 04-05-19 at 08:13 AM.
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Too much for me would be when I can no longer fit a 24oz bottle on my seat tube.
#22
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They hurt my eyes and my soul.
Spacer stack, stems pointing up, sloping top tubes, SMP flaccid seats, all make me cringe.
But tastes differ, and mine is mine.
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Hard to tell from the angle, but there is some. Just not a lot.
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