What makes the frame of Cannondale Synapse relaxed?

bikeboon

When compared to other road bikes (not TT).

Thanks.

Hierotochan

From the blurb on their site it looks like when they say 'relaxed' they mean a bit more comfortable.
There is a bit on there about the carbon absorbing some of the shock with their S.A.V.E. design (longitudinal flex through curved/tapered stays/fork) & a bit to do with how they build the carbon layers.
That coupled with some less extreme geometry = 'relaxed' apparently.

colsoop

Probably a longer head tube and less steep angles on the fork.

BruceG

Or maybe, sittiing with feet up having a beer or two whilst watching a favourite movie?

bikeboon

BruceG wrote:

Or maybe, sittiing with feet up having a beer or two whilst watching a favourite movie?

Tried that (on a turbo, lol)

Looking closely at some roadies I noticed that some frames look more like cyclecross ones.

The standards for an aggressive, pronounced road frame were e.g. colnagos c40, c59 as well as many cannondales. When looking at the other end of the spectrum Boardman road bikes (to me) look more like cyclocross compared to colnagos.

Hence not sure why Synapse was branded as "relaxed"...

MattC59

Canabis ?

Anonymous

Relaxed geometry is a taller headtube, slacker fork angle, longer seat/chainstays.

MattC59

NapoleonD wrote:

Relaxed geometry is a taller headtube, slacker fork angle, longer seat/chainstays.

By fork angle, I'm assumeing that you mean a combination of head angle and rake ?

jgsi

I wasnt really thinking about geometry and trigonometry at this time............ : just thruandoffmetry

Bar Shaker

bikeboon wrote:

The standards for an aggressive, pronounced road frame were e.g. colnagos c40, c59 as well as many cannondales. When looking at the other end of the spectrum Boardman road bikes (to me) look more like cyclocross compared to colnagos.

Hence not sure why Synapse was branded as "relaxed"...

2010 Boardman Team Carbons and Pros are anything but relaxed. It is the exact same frame geometry that Nicole Cooke won her Olympic gold medal on. Publicity photos of the bikes always have the saddle set very low, perhaps to play this down a bit.

I am not sure if this has changed on the 2011 models.

Anonymous

MattC59 wrote:

NapoleonD wrote:

Relaxed geometry is a taller headtube, slacker fork angle, longer seat/chainstays.

By fork angle, I'm assumeing that you mean a combination of head angle and rake ?

Yef.

MattC59

NapoleonD wrote:

MattC59 wrote:

NapoleonD wrote:

Relaxed geometry is a taller headtube, slacker fork angle, longer seat/chainstays.

By fork angle, I'm assumeing that you mean a combination of head angle and rake ?

Yef.

Thought as much, just checking

Monty Dog

'Comfortable' geometry = shorter toptube + longer headtube + increased trail = longer wheelbase and more stability. Specialized Roubaix probably led the way in this respect and is worth comparing geometries.