Confused by stack and reach? Learn what arguably the two most insightful bike geometry measurements mean so you know your next bike is going to fit you properly... cycling
Stack and reach are terms that get bandied around all the time in the bike world, but what exactly do they mean and why are they useful to know?
A frame size used to refer to the length of the seat tube but it gives you no more information on the ride position you're likely to get. Then sloping top tubes came in and complicated matters further by shortening seat tubes, and there's the massive variation in top tube and head tube lengths between different models to consider... A 54cm Cannondale SystemSix race bike has a very different fit from a 54cm Cannondale Synapse endurance bike, for example.
A frame's stack and reach, though, can't be changed and they're very important in determining your ride position. These figures refer to the frame only, leaving components out of the equation. Say that it's time for a new bike. If you're happy with the ride position of your current bike, comparing stack and reach allows you to determine whether you're likely to be able to get a similar position on any new model.
The 56cm version of Specialized's Roubaix, which is an endurance road bike designed with a focus on comfort, has a stack height of 605mm and a reach of 384mm. Stack and reach don't take into account the headset system used; some add more height to the front end than others . You need to factor this in when comparing different bikes.
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Bike geometry 101: Find out why stack & reach are importantConfused by stack and reach? Learn what arguably the two most insightful bike geometry measurements mean so you know your next bike is going to fit you properly... cycling
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