Over the decades, as bike construction and geometry have changed, so have rider positions and preferences. Some things are relatively obvious how they affect riding styles, such as handlebars getting lower in relation to the saddle. Older bikes had higher bars, and the drops were in a position that was more comfortable for spending lots of time in, and the brake hoods were not as comfortable to ride on top of. As handlebars got lower, the drops got usable for a smaller percentage of the time, but the brake hoods got bigger and more designed for holding onto from above.
I'm curious about other ways that riding styles or techniques have changed over the years. Has thinking changed about crank length? Cadence? Seat tube angle? How have bikes changed or changed back to favor one style of riding versus another? How have riding styles changed to favor one type of bike design versus another?
I'm just curious what you all have to throw out there, be it speculation, hearsay, or from refutable sources.
Emily O'Brien
Medford, MA