Hello,
The most important feature of a “custom-made” bicycle is that the geometry of the bicycle is tailored to the user’s body measurements and desired riding characteristics. When we talk about bicycle geometry, don’t just think of the top tube length or seat tube height. The most important thing is that while the bicycle is made according to your measurements, the riding dynamics of the bicycle are also designed to suit you. Especially users with body measurements that fall outside the standard ratios can transfer their true performance to the road thanks to custom-made bicycles.
We can see the best application of this especially in cyclists who are shorter in height. For users shorter than 165cm, I recommend bicycles with 650b wheel size, which have much better ride quality and dynamics, instead of bicycles with 700c (28”) wheel size. These bicycles, which were previously among the models of major manufacturers, have now been removed from production lines due to companies focusing more on profit. Instead, they offer bicycles with steep seat tubes , head tubes laid back to shorten the “reach” distance, and forks with the same “rake” as other frame sizes, negatively affecting the “trail” distance, which is crucial for the bike’s riding character.
So, what is this trail distance?
As seen in the figure below, trail is the distance between the fork axis and the point where the tire touches the ground. Road bikes have less trail (50-60mm), while touring bikes, mountain bikes, or cyclocross bikes have higher trail distances (55-65mm).
Road bikes, thanks to their short trail, allow for quicker direction changes, providing a more agile riding dynamic, so to speak. When you stand up, you can shake the bike much more easily and dance with it. A touring bike carrying heavy loads or a bike used on rough and loose terrain, on the other hand, provides a more stable ride thanks to its longer trail, but their direction changes are more cumbersome.
However, with a custom-made bicycle with a 650b wheel size, these disadvantages are eliminated, and you can always enjoy the riding pleasure of a bicycle with the best geometry in sizes 56-58.
Above, I only mentioned trail distance as an example, but other geometric details such as chainstay length, bottom bracket height, wheelbase, head tube and seat tube angles are also important in changing the bike’s ride feeling. When all these measurements are designed according to your body measurements and what you expect from the bike, the enjoyment you get from the bike will multiply.
As an engineer who has ridden hundreds of thousands of kilometers with many bikes of different riding characteristics over the years, at Soulrider Frameworks, I strive to produce the bike with the ideal riding pleasure for you. You can follow the kilometers I have ridden here.
Cheers
Yasin C. Bingöl