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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!we13!ihnp4!dual!jeff
From: jeff@dual.UUCP (Jeff Houston)
Newsgroups: net.bicycle
Subject: Re: The Case for Clunkers
Message-ID: <448@dual.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 17-Apr-84 17:12:33 EST
Article-I.D.: dual.448
Posted: Tue Apr 17 17:12:33 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 18-Apr-84 07:31:54 EST
References: <6586@uiucdcs.UUCP> <1442@sunybcs.UUCP> <6570@umcp-cs.UUCP>
Organization: Dual Systems, Berkeley, CA
Lines: 21


A bicycles stability depends a lot upon the angles of the frame when it was
built - These differ quite a bit depending upon the bikes intended use :
racing, touring, or whatever.  The tube angles in question are those of the
head tube and seat tube of the bike.  The average 10/12 speed will have the
two tube angles at around 72 degrees which will give the bike a fairly com-
fortable ride - not stiff but also not real mushy.  A racing bike will have
these tubes at about 74 to 75 degrees giving quick response but you tend to
feel just about every shock the road has to give.  

I think that riding a 10-speed bike is tougher to master but they can deliver
much more speed - I've never seen a fat tire bike in the Tour de France...
Once you learn to handle the narrow tires and the drop handlebars and the
different riding position needed for a 10-speed then you will probably have
mastered stable riding and should be able to cruise around saying, "Look Ma
no hands" all you want.

	Jeff Houston
	Dual Systems Corp., Berkeley, CA
	{ucbvax,ihnp4,cbosgd,amd70,zehntel,fortune,decwrl}!dual!jeff