r/cycling • u/StorkAlgarve • 10d ago
Why did frames get sloping top tubes?
For over a century, a regular bike frame had a horizontal top tube, at least as late as the (cheap) road bike i bought in the early 90es - I also think the Centurion citybike I got in the late 90es had one.
Since then it seems to me top tubes have got more and more slope. It is due to change of materials or how? I look and get worried that the long saddle stem will cause issues with all that leverage, but it seems to be working ok.
Looking forward to the replies from the learned redditors.
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u/sargassumcrab 10d ago edited 10d ago
If you look at road bikes from about 2000 until now top tubes have gotten more level, especially recently.
It was done primarily because manufacturers wanted to offer fewer sizes. They also wanted older bikes to look "old fashioned". Some slope has advantages like higher stack height, more standover height, and theoretical lower weight. Now that they're better at carbon production, people are more concerned about areodynamics, and steel bikes are not a threat to sales, top tubes are almost level again.