Sloping Vs Horizontal top tube bikes

rjs
rjs Posts: 9
edited January 2008 in Workshop
Performance wise what are the differences between bikes with horizontal and sloping top tubes? I'm looking to get back into racing after a few years out.

looking to buy a Ribble Nero Corsa and a new training bike to go with it (probably a ribble 7005 entry model). The 7005 model is available as sloping or horizontal. For training purposes what would you go with?

Comments

  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    rjs wrote:
    For training purposes what would you go with?

    The one that fits the best? It's a hard choice really - as long as the geometry on either is correct for you I don't think it really matters.
    I like bikes...

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  • aracer
    aracer Posts: 1,649
    rjs wrote:
    Performance wise what are the differences between bikes with horizontal and sloping top tubes?
    Almost unnoticeable. For a training bike I'd suggest it makes no difference at all - though reckon if you're getting a bike just for training you should go for the winter trainer/audax so you have mudguards for when its wet (you can always take them off if they offend when it's dry).
  • Garybee
    Garybee Posts: 815
    A sloping top tube can limit the size of drinks bottle you can put on the seat tube unless you are tall. If you are short you may struggle to get a bottle in there at all. That's something that is important for a training bike in my opinion.

    Also, a carbon seat post is supposed to dampen road vibrations. If it does (which is debateable in my opinion) then leaving more seat pin exposed should make it more comfortable. This would make a frame with a sloping top tube more comfortable than a traditional geometry frame.
    Hypocrisy is only a bad thing in other people.
  • rjs
    rjs Posts: 9
    cool, cheers!
  • cyclingfury
    cyclingfury Posts: 676
    I thought bikes with sloping top tubes were girl's bikes? :wink:
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  • heavymental
    heavymental Posts: 2,094
    I'm sure there's someone like Monty Dog with more knowledge on this but I think they also say that the smaller framed bikes are stiffer as they're more compact. Also I think that they bought in sloping geometry frames as a money saving technique as it meant they only had to produce frames in 3 or 4 sizes rather than cm increments.

    Thats all I can contribute here!
  • Garybee
    Garybee Posts: 815
    Heavymental wrote:
    I'm sure there's someone like Monty Dog with more knowledge on this but I think they also say that the smaller framed bikes are stiffer as they're more compact. Also I think that they bought in sloping geometry frames as a money saving technique as it meant they only had to produce frames in 3 or 4 sizes rather than cm increments.

    Thats all I can contribute here!

    Frames with sloping top tubes are no more adaptable for fit than those with horizontal top tubes. If you raise the saddle to the correct height for your legs/riding style then it will be in the same position relative to the bars/BB regardless of what angle the top tube is at.
    Hypocrisy is only a bad thing in other people.
  • richardjallen
    richardjallen Posts: 691
    I understood sloping top tubes lead to a stiffer frame and therefore less comfortable, having more seat post extended might counter this. I have a small frame with sloping tube and the seat tube is too small to put a bottle cage on so it only has one on the down tube.
  • fizz
    fizz Posts: 483
    I have a compact with a sloping top tube. Its a 56cm frame, I can get my SIS bottles in both the cages on the seat and down tubes, its stiff as a board and its a damn site more comfy to ride than my steel framed traditional winter bike...

    If it were me, I'd just buy the bike that you like best, that has the best spec and that fits you the best, and not worry about whether the top tube slopes or not...
  • JWSurrey
    JWSurrey Posts: 1,173
    The only thing I would add is that you would probably want your trainer and your race bike to be of similar set up, to avoid muscle soreness from having to adopt a different position.
    Therefore, going for two similar geometry/shape frames may be a consideration.

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