4 ms·

I don't get the whole stiffness argument. If the frame is not stiff then some of my energy goes into flexing the frame back and forth as I pedal, and eventually

by litoE 4y ago

I don't get the whole stiffness argument. If the frame is not stiff then some of my energy goes into flexing the frame back and forth as I pedal, and eventually gets wasted as heat. This is bad if I'm into some sort of competitive riding. But if I ride the bike just for the exercise, then I'm interested in wasting energy and I don't care too much about how it was wasted.

abrookewood 4y ago
A stiff bike is an efficient bike, but not a comfortable one. I once rode in the Gong Ride (Sydney to Wollongong) and, determined to set my bike up as efficiently as possible, pumped my tyres up to 120 PSI. The bike felt incredibly fast ... but my testicles went numb.
- fluoridation 4y ago
  Tips: 1. Wear cycling shorts and pull your boys up so that you're not sitting on them when you ride. 2. Don't put so much weight on the saddle. The saddle is not a seat, it's meant as an extra point of control to lean the frame. Put your weight on the pedals. Also, is the saddle at the correct height? I ride tires at 115 PSI daily and have never had issues with numbness anywhere on my body.
- nl 4y ago
  > but my testicles went numb This is about the seat you are using and the time you are spending on it, not the stiffness of the frame or ride. There is a reason why male seats have cut-outs. You just need to find one that works for you.
- jlarcombe 4y ago
  Didn't feel much stiffness for a while after that then
ak217 4y ago
Not only that but a frame that's not stiff is going to result in more play in the chain and cables that lever against the frame. That means uncommanded or skipped shifts, uneven brake feel, sloppy braking and cornering feel as the frame gets loaded/unloaded in different directions. The real reason a frame should not be optimized entirely for stiffness at the expense of everything else is material fatigue. A frame that maximizes stiffness is a frame that puts its materials under more stress. So if you dial up the stiffness all the way, you'll get less longevity and eventual stress fractures or worse. What most riders think of as stiffness/springiness/feel in their bike comes from the flex (or lack thereof) in their tires, seat, seatpost, spokes, and the harmonic response of their frame to vibrations from the ride. That response is actually a key part of subjective rider satisfaction, I think because we subconsciously feel more in control (because we can feel what the bike is doing better) when the vibrations are more pronounced.

by litoE 4y ago

abrookewood 4y ago

A stiff bike is an efficient bike, but not a comfortable one. I once rode in the Gong Ride (Sydney to Wollongong) and, determined to set my bike up as efficiently as possible, pumped my tyres up to 120 PSI. The bike felt incredibly fast ... but my testicles went numb.

fluoridation 4y ago
Tips: 1. Wear cycling shorts and pull your boys up so that you're not sitting on them when you ride. 2. Don't put so much weight on the saddle. The saddle is not a seat, it's meant as an extra point of control to lean the frame. Put your weight on the pedals. Also, is the saddle at the correct height? I ride tires at 115 PSI daily and have never had issues with numbness anywhere on my body.
nl 4y ago
> but my testicles went numb This is about the seat you are using and the time you are spending on it, not the stiffness of the frame or ride. There is a reason why male seats have cut-outs. You just need to find one that works for you.
jlarcombe 4y ago
Didn't feel much stiffness for a while after that then

ak217 4y ago

Not only that but a frame that's not stiff is going to result in more play in the chain and cables that lever against the frame. That means uncommanded or skipped shifts, uneven brake feel, sloppy braking and cornering feel as the frame gets loaded/unloaded in different directions. The real reason a frame should not be optimized entirely for stiffness at the expense of everything else is material fatigue. A frame that maximizes stiffness is a frame that puts its materials under more stress. So if you dial up the stiffness all the way, you'll get less longevity and eventual stress fractures or worse. What most riders think of as stiffness/springiness/feel in their bike comes from the flex (or lack thereof) in their tires, seat, seatpost, spokes, and the harmonic response of their frame to vibrations from the ride. That response is actually a key part of subjective rider satisfaction, I think because we subconsciously feel more in control (because we can feel what the bike is doing better) when the vibrations are more pronounced.