noodle soup

Sometimes it's more aero, sure. Other times it puts the drops out of useful reach.

Bianchi10's bars aren't ridiculously low. MyTi is just attacking other bikes, because his got panned.

jitteringjr

This is an over simplified response. Sorry but the 'look' is how high the saddle raises above the top tube. One can choose to ride a classic steel bike and the seat will be lower over the top tube than a Giant compact type frame at a given BB to saddle distance. That is a look you can choose. Also you can choose in a given frame to go with a medium sized frame with a longer saddle to bars distance with either longer stem or bars with a longer reach. Or you can choose to go with a large sized frame and have shorter stem or less reach bars. This this case the medium frame will have the look of a higher seat height over the top tube than the large with a given BB to saddle height.

redlude97

The majority of slammed stems I've seen are for the look, and the riders can't hold a 90 degree elbow bend on the hoods with flat forearms for more than a min at a time which is the most aerodynamic position. But I do love the look of a slammed stem

69chevy

LAJ

That's still a lot of seatpost showing for an older bike. Just an observation, not a critique.

canyoneagle

Fair game, IMO if the stem is slammed. I used to ride with a similar saddle-bar drop, which in the olden days meant alot of seatpost. My old steed. My neck would not be able to handle it now that I'm older. It doesn't look like it, but the stem is as far as the curve would allow.

MakiNn

I can with my slammed stem and so called "High" seat post, its how I was fitted and how I race

slowjamz

I don't know why but this killed me I'm happy this thread devolved into its former glory.

That Marinoni is spot on.. Chrome chainstay + skinwalls is such a classic touch for a modern road ride.

nycphotography

Even without holding a 90 deg elbow bend, it's still more aero as the back and head is lower. And the rider has the option of going lower by bending the elbows as needed.

redlude97

for a given torso angle that a rider can hold, a 90 degree bend is more aero is the point, but most riders ime dont use this position very much. Racers yes, but the average slammed stem on a group ride arms are straight even when on the front pulling.

robbyville

That Schwinn is sticking in my head, love it. Great way to modernize it flows perfectly IMO

kbarch

On the whole "look" of slammed stems: I'm of the opinion that one or two little spacers is a good thing, appearance-wise, because with none at all, a bike can wind up looking not merely lean, but sort of emaciated. If it's not clearly a race bike, it just looks mean in a cheap way, just like a big stack of spacers looks silly on a race bike.

SpeedofLite 

Yeah, and if the older bike still has the body to show a lot of seatpost, more power to it. We all should be so fortunate.

MyTi

Seat way too high! Find a bike that fits you.

Remove saddle bag. Not digging the hot pink unless you are a girl, when I see your bike I think of a fruit loop cereal box. Would you ride fruit loops on the road? Didn't think so. So it might look ugly, but I bet it tastes/rides good. Unless you are a good looking blonde girl, that pink is not hot. Too much yellow, does not go with the hot pink color which is cringe worthy enough. This is the Hot R not thread and your bike is not hot due to the color combo.

Crank looks classic. Don't know how I feel about it but it's growing on me because it looks so clean and shiny. Bar tape is so dirty, shouldn't use yellow bar tape it picks up dirt like crazy, might as well use white bar tape. Do you wash your hands before your ride? How the cable goes across the top tube is a sloppy mess. If you stripped the frame and repainted it would look much better. Overall, I like your bike, and it is probably the best steel bike in this thread. Just needs a little TLC, like a new color. If it was a nice blue color....with those lugs...it would look exquisite.

noodle soup

It's internally routed, so I'm not sure what you are looking at.

Pizzaiolo Americano 

Bradleykd

You know how you feel when you are in a room and someone says something off-the-wall and inappropriate and you stand there not sure what to say but you just feel really awkward?

That's how I feel right now....

nycphotography

Cool story bro. Um. I think I need a drink. Or to pee. Or somethning.

Talk to someone else please while I avoid eye contact with you for the rest of the night.

canyoneagle

Dude. Chill. Bike was not pink. Photo coloration is off - the bike was actually fire engine red. Here's a better photo of the frame before I built it.
I agree, the frame would be too small for me now, but in the olden days alot of racers had to go smaller on frames to get a desired saddle-bar drop. In the late 80's and early 90's this was not uncommon. Different vibe for sure than in Mercx's day with the classic "fistful of seatpost", which is a better gauge of proper fit for most.
I'm 6'2 and change, with long arms and legs, so back then this is what worked for me. Check the date - this photo was taken a while ago.
I no longer race, and am older (in my 50's, anyway), so I'm more into a 2-3" saddle to bar drop, MAX, if any at all.

Also, apologies for the crappy photo quality.


Here ya go: Still not spot on with coloration, but a better sense of it all.

cat0020

I'm sure it's a nice bike back in 1999 when photo was taken? those tires turned brown after first ride?

Color may be off, maybe adjust the color saturation closer to original color before posting; what I see is pink and yellow reminds me a clown car... especially that pink/yellow bar/finishing tape, not hot... maybe flamboyant porn-star-wanna-be-Cipo would approve.

Seat height is highly personal, as handlebar height, stem length and pedal choice.
I wouldn't detract those from hotness the bike, as long as it's not disproportionate (or discolored) from frame fit within tolerance of rider.

canyoneagle

Nailed it.
In the late 90's bikes were pretty colorful / flamboyant. Mine was full-on Italian flair, as was the trend in those days.
Anyway, blast from the past.

seau grateau

How to show everyone you are the worst.

growlerdinky

slow clap

growlerdinky

your bike still sucks.

noodle soup

POTD