Cyclist Stack and reach explained: How to measure them and why they matter Stack and reach values, first championed by bike maker Cervélo, simplify frame geometry down to just two measurements that focus on what matters most in bike fit – the position of the front end. Stack and reach numbers don’t tell the whole story of how a bike will fit you, but they provide a very useful shortcut when you’re comparing similar bikes. In this guide we’ll explain why stack and reach are important, how they’re measured, and the limitations to using them for comparisons between different bikes. Related Posts How to find the right saddle position What is a bike’s head angle? Bicycle gear ratios explained What is a bike’s wheelbase and how does it affect handling? What stem length do I need? What’s the best crank length for cycling? Why do stack and reach matter? To understand the importance of stack and reach for cyclists it helps to ask, ‘Why is it that you can be a size nine in one brand of shoe, but a size ten in another?’ And why isn’t there a standardised sizing system to tell us whether or not a shoe will fit before we try it on? It’s a similar, if much more expensive, quandary for cyclists. Not only do brands have different ways of sizing bicycle frames, but the most common method isn’t particularly effective at indicating whether a bike will fit or not. Traditionally, frames were sized by the length of the seat tube, usually measured from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the tube itself. Once upon a time this number would have been something like 21in, these days it’s more like to be expressed as 53cm. As with shoes, this figure is little more than an arbitrary number, so most bike manufacturers also provide a lot more detailed sizing information, packaged up in the geometry chart. Except then there’s a danger that data overload will confuse anyone without a proper understanding of bike fit. That’s where stack and reach come in. How are stack and reach measured? Stack is the vertical height between the bottom bracket centre and the top of the centre of the head tube. Reach is the horizontal distance between the same points. ‘It’s not like these are new metrics – they’ve always existed,’ says Tom Sturdy, head of education at the Bicycle Academy. ‘If you’re designing a frame you can’t do it without those measurements. But the industry hasn’t done a great job of explaining them to the consumer, which is a shame because stack and reach are certainly a more accurate way of defining the size of a bike than traditional measurements.’ Their benefit is twofold: firstly, they allow a bike fitter or framebuilder to accurately match your measurements to an ideal bike setup irrespective of any stated frame size. Secondly, they allow precise comparison between bikes. The latter makes stack and reach a valuable tool if you’re in the market for a new bike and want to compare the fit of, say, a Trek Émonda with that of a Specialized Tarmac. For argument’s sake, let’s compare the size 56cm for these two very popular choices. The Tarmac has a given stack of 555mm and a reach of 398mm. The Émonda has 563mm stack and 391mm reach. Thus the Trek’s front end position is 8mm taller vertically and 7mm shorter horizontally. That means (assuming equivalent bars and stems) the Tarmac has the more aggressive riding position, which may sway your choice of bike depending on your riding preferences. Shortcomings of stack and reach Yet there is another issue. ‘The main failing of stack and reach is that they only refer to what is happening in front of the bottom bracket,’ Sturdy says. ‘If two frames have the same measured reach but one has a slacker seat tube angle [putting the seat further back], that creates additional reach, which isn’t taken into account. ‘We’re seeing a trend towards slacker seat tube angles in search of more comfort and it throws up a flag that the front end looks short [in its reach value] but once built that won’t be the case. That’s the caveat.’ He adds that you need to consider stem length and handlebar dimensions with off-the-peg bikes too. ‘These can alter reach a lot. To my mind a slightly more accurate way to represent the fit would be to measure stack and reach from the centre of the bars, not the head tube. ‘Or even more useful would be to reference the actual contact points.’ One or two brands already do this, most notably Canyon, which uses what it calls Stack+ and Reach+ to account for cockpit differences. It hasn’t caught on across the industry, however, so at the moment it’s mainly useful for comparisons within Canyon’s own range. ‘For now though, stack and reach is still the most concise way to sum up whether a bike will be in the right ballpark.’ Confident you’ll be able to use stack and reach to find a bike that fits? Make sure you know how to set it up once it arrives with our guide to saddle position.  This article first appeared on Cyclist in 2019 and has since been updated with input from the Cyclist team. The post Stack and reach explained: How to measure them and why they matter appeared first on Cyclist.

Having won Liege-Bastogne-Liege the last two years through Remco Evenepoel, Soudal - Quick-Step's hopes of making it a hat-trick seem unlikely given the Belgian's absence.“We are without our two leaders for this race," admits sports director Klaas Lodewyck as he reveals a somewhat depleted lineup fo...

Founded in 2015 by Kyle Ng, Outer Shell prides itself on function-forward bag designs, minimalist style, and products that encourage customers to develop a deeper connection with their environment. We stopped by their San Francisco workshop to learn more about the Outer Shell origin story, meet the small team, and take a quick look at three staff bikes. Find it all here… The post Inside Outer Shell: Unity, Duality, and Spreadsheets appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

In some rather dramatic preparation for La Fleche Wallonne, Tiesj Benoot and his partner Fien welcomed their second daughter to the family. Despite the lack of sleep, the Belgian thrived in the bitterly cold conditions to secure a top-10 finish. "Together with my family, I decided to start here. I a...

Cannock Chase Gravel X 12th October 2024 | Rugeley Long Route 79km | 1250m Medium Route 49km | 800m BOOK NOW Ride Overview As the leaves fall and the 2024 gravel season comes to an end, join us in the beautiful Cannock Chase for this glorious 79km & 49km  gravel sportive. Taking in a mix of gravel trails through the forest and quiet backroads, this season ending ride is suitable for riders of all abilities and is a lovely route with a mix of flat, fast sections, some exciting bits and a few climbs to give you one last big ride in 2024. Highlights Stunning off:road forest sections through Cannock Chase. Free camping available on the Friday night at the lovely Tackeroo Campsite.A nice early season mix of flat, some exciting sections & a few climbs to get you ready for bigger rides ahead in the gravel season. Included in Entry Fully Signed Route Our team work tirelessly to create the best gravel routes in the UK. All courses are fully signed so you can just enjoy the ride. Checkpoints with Proper Food An epic ride deserves proper support. We have tea, coffee and cake at the first feed and sandwiches & crisps at the main feed. Checkpoints are approx every 30 - 35km Accurate GPX Files A few days before the ride, we will send GPX files for all of the route options so you can follow the course on your GPS as well as the signs. Mechanics Available At the rider village & at selected feed stops we have mechanics available to help with any bike issues. We also have spare inner tubes, CO2 & more . Rider Support Vans We are here to make sure you have a great day on the gravel. If you have any major mechanicals or need collecting, support vehicles are a phone call away. Beer at Finish Line You will be greeted at the finish line with a beer & food available from our food truck. Perfect to chat about your day with fellow riders. Event Program 10th October: GPX files and pre ride briefing sent by email to each rider. 12th October – 8.15am: Ride village at Tackeroo campsite opens. Collecting your ride number takes approx 10 mins. 12th October – 8.30am to 9.30am: Ride start. We will give you a short ride briefing and set you off in small groups. 12th October – 5.30pm: Rider village closes 12th October – 7pm: Link to ride times & rider photos sent to each participant by email Long Route The route starts with a few kms of great meandering trails in the forest before gaining momentum on some quiet back lanes on the way to the first feed stop.After the first feed stop, the route takes more back lanes and farm tracks before climbing back into Cannock Chase.The second feed stop provides a chance to refuel before tackling some more classic Cannock forest trails and gravel roads. Feed well as the second half of the ride has a few climbs along the way! Percentage of Route Off Road: 65% Distance: 79km Elevation: 1250m Difficulty:  3.5/5 Medium Route The medium route follows the long route but chops off the final lumpy 30km. This makes the medium a great option for new gravel riders or those looking for a quick route to do in the morning. But be warned, all the climbing is at the end of the route! Percentage of Route Off Road: 65% Distance: 49km Elevation: 800m Difficulty:  2.5/5 Short Route The short route follows the medium for the majority of the day but cuts off a section in the middle and near the end to make this nearly 20km shorter. With some nice variety on the off road sections & very little climbing, this is ideal for riders of all abilities.Percentage of Route Off Road: 55% Distance: 47km Elevation: 350m Difficulty:  1/5 Bike Selection & Packing List Bike Choice: With some longer sections on back roads and most of the off road on smooth forest trails, this ride is ideal for gravel bikes. Mountain bikes will be fine but slower, road bikes are not allowed. E-bikes are allowed on all of our rides.  Tyre Choice: We will send an update on conditions closer to the ride. The terrain holds up well to rain so a fast rolling or all rounder 35mm to 40mm tyre should be ideal. Packing List: Bring equipment to be self sufficient on the route (inner tubes, sealant, multi-tool, pump or CO2 etc). We recommend a bell to warn walkers / runners of your presence. Clothing: Likely to be fresh at this time of the year so layer up accordingly (arm & leg / knee warmers, gilet, waterproof jacket etc). Helmets are mandatory, you will not be able to ride without one. FAQs Where does the ride start / finish? The ride starts and finishes at Tackeroo Campsite. There is free parking onsite as well as toilets & refreshments. We will send the ride village address by email.  Are E Bikes Allowed? Yes, e-bikes are allowed on all Glorious Gravel ride. These must comply with UK law. What Happens if I have a mechanical / accident? We have first aiders & mechanics at the feed stops. There will be a phone number on the back of your ride number – call this if you need collecting. Can I Start with my friends? Yes, we start between 8.30am and 9.30am and set people off in small groups so the off road sections are not too busy. Please come to the start line with anyone you want to ride with, we will give a short ride briefing and set you off. The post Graean Cymru appeared first on Glorious Gravel.

With downhill crashes a massive talking point in the cycling world currently, there has sadly been another brutal reminder about the dangers of the descent on stage 4 of the Tour of the Alps. Attacking and attempting to put time into race leader, Juan Pedro Lopez, Team Jayco AlUla's Chris Harper hit...

This February, more than 30 riders showed up for the 11th annual group ride of The Queen's Ransom route beyond Phoenix, Arizona. This was Julian Urbina's third bikepacking trip ever, and he put together a detailed reflection that's a must-read for anyone interested in the route or group ride. Find his story and photos here... The post The Queen’s Ransom: A Buffet of Surfaces appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Unique in offering a heads up display for cyclists, but not without a few areas for improvement

Simon Carr has sealed victory on stage 4 of the 2024 Tour of the Alps with a sensational effort, having attacked solo with 45km still to go on an incredibly mountainous day. After the horrific day weather-wise yesterday on stage 3, the peloton was thankfully greeted with dry roads for stage 4. Not s...