The taper.
12-03-19, 01:10 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Portland Oregon
Posts: 996
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 457 Post(s)
Liked 462 Times
in
270 Posts
The taper.
There is one thing that will always make me smile, and that is the taper. To be more specific, when a bike has the chain on the big ring and the small cog and the distance between the chain at the center of the lower derailleur pulley and the top of the smallest cog is less than the diameter of the big ring, that, just makes a bike look good.
I do not own a bike where this occurs, I do like low gears, thus large cogs, thus rear derailleurs with long cages, thus, no aforementioned taper *sigh*. But, that does not prevent me from coveting bicycles with the taper.
53/11 with a short cage derailleur, man, that just looks good, and fast. There is no way that I'm the only person that feels this way, quite likely there is some other vernacular that describes this that I just don't know about...
And while a single speed, or fixie, or track bike, maximizes this taper, somehow that just doesn't count, the bike needs to have a rear derailleur for it to matter.
I do not own a bike where this occurs, I do like low gears, thus large cogs, thus rear derailleurs with long cages, thus, no aforementioned taper *sigh*. But, that does not prevent me from coveting bicycles with the taper.
53/11 with a short cage derailleur, man, that just looks good, and fast. There is no way that I'm the only person that feels this way, quite likely there is some other vernacular that describes this that I just don't know about...
And while a single speed, or fixie, or track bike, maximizes this taper, somehow that just doesn't count, the bike needs to have a rear derailleur for it to matter.
12-03-19, 07:02 AM
#2
weapons-grade bolognium
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Across the street from Chicago
Posts: 6,344
Bikes: Battaglin Cromor, Ciocc Designer 84, Schwinn Superior 1981
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 985 Post(s)
Liked 2,378 Times
in
891 Posts
I'm hip to this. I first noticed it in bike ads in the late 80s to early 90s.
These days, I run 48-50T and lament the loss of "taper".
BITD pic of my Ciocc with 53/12
These days, I run 48-50T and lament the loss of "taper".
BITD pic of my Ciocc with 53/12
Last edited by thinktubes; 12-03-19 at 07:13 AM.
Likes For thinktubes:
12-03-19, 10:45 AM
#3
Senior Member
Like this? 53-11 Short 7800 Dura Ace.
Likes For TXsailor:
12-03-19, 10:49 AM
#4
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,629
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3871 Post(s)
Liked 2,568 Times
in
1,579 Posts
Likes For P!N20:
12-03-19, 04:48 PM
#6
Master Parts Rearranger
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Portlandia's Kuiper Belt, OR
Posts: 4,403
Bikes: 1982 Trek 720 - 1985 Trek 620 - 1984 Trek 620 - 1980 Trek 510 - Other luminaries past and present
Mentioned: 221 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1556 Post(s)
Liked 2,024 Times
in
989 Posts
Race bikes with big-to-small taper to advertise speed.
(Vintage) touring bikes with small-to-big taper to advertise (load/climbing) capability.
Always fun seeing that in the brochures.
Any more now, when taking a serious photo of my bike, I actually prefer to have no taper (with chain on the big ring), or very little (if the chain is short). I like horizontal lines and matching the top tube.
(Vintage) touring bikes with small-to-big taper to advertise (load/climbing) capability.
Always fun seeing that in the brochures. Any more now, when taking a serious photo of my bike, I actually prefer to have no taper (with chain on the big ring), or very little (if the chain is short). I like horizontal lines and matching the top tube.
12-03-19, 05:00 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Berkeley CA
Posts: 2,536
Bikes: 1981 Ron Cooper, 1974 Cinelli Speciale Corsa, 2000 Gary Fisher Sugar 1, 1986 Miyata 710, 1982 Raleigh "International"
Mentioned: 97 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 930 Post(s)
Liked 1,291 Times
in
487 Posts
The taper is for people who live in the flatlands, or places where all hills are downhills.
So, I'm guessing that this is not a good look for you...
gravel bike showing reverse taper
So, I'm guessing that this is not a good look for you...
gravel bike showing reverse taper
12-03-19, 05:10 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,904
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
Mentioned: 129 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4806 Post(s)
Liked 3,928 Times
in
2,553 Posts
Want taper? Ride a fix gear. Get a nice taper in any gear. You can climbing mountains in a 42-23 and still have plenty.
Likes For 79pmooney:
12-03-19, 05:16 PM
#9
Bike Butcher of Portland
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 11,635
Bikes: It's complicated.
Mentioned: 1299 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4679 Post(s)
Liked 5,797 Times
in
2,282 Posts
Sur la Plaque
__________________
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
12-03-19, 05:17 PM
#10
Phyllo-buster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 8,847
Bikes: roadsters, club bikes, fixed and classic
Mentioned: 133 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2298 Post(s)
Liked 2,054 Times
in
1,254 Posts
Taper represents our memories of youth and strength, living in the big ring for most of the day.
New road bikes still have it.
New road bikes still have it.
Likes For clubman:
12-03-19, 05:31 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Berkeley CA
Posts: 2,536
Bikes: 1981 Ron Cooper, 1974 Cinelli Speciale Corsa, 2000 Gary Fisher Sugar 1, 1986 Miyata 710, 1982 Raleigh "International"
Mentioned: 97 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 930 Post(s)
Liked 1,291 Times
in
487 Posts
You want taper? I'll give you taper!
Sur la plaque!
Sur la plaque!
12-03-19, 05:42 PM
#12
Phyllo-buster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 8,847
Bikes: roadsters, club bikes, fixed and classic
Mentioned: 133 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2298 Post(s)
Liked 2,054 Times
in
1,254 Posts
12-03-19, 05:55 PM
#13
Senior Member
And to think, I was expecting a heretical n-1 thread!
12-03-19, 06:55 PM
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Portland Oregon
Posts: 996
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 457 Post(s)
Liked 462 Times
in
270 Posts
Yes!
None of my bikes have the taper, and I know bikes with the taper wouldn't work well for the riding I like to do (climbing, lots of it, preferably steep), but, like a moth to the flame, I just like it, it looks good!
And sometimes when I get on my fat bike and I have to avert my gaze as the wedge is just so gauche, sure, it gets stuff done, but...
Seems so many have bigger cogs in the back so they have longer cage derailleurs so, *sniff* no taper. I'm sure some do though.
No derailleur, and it's a motor pacing bike, which reminds me, I was going to make one of those, but mine will be a bit different, I still have some details to sort in my head before I upload it to reality.
Whoa whoa whoa, since joining here I've picked up 2 bikes, there will be no N-1 BS for me anytime soon!
Last edited by jackbombay; 12-03-19 at 07:19 PM.
