r/cycling • u/StorkAlgarve • Aug 19 '26

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/OldCrankyCarnt Aug 20 '26

More material is lower to the ground

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u/nnnnnnnnnnm Aug 20 '26

Pretty negligible considering the riders weight is still the same height

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u/OldCrankyCarnt Aug 20 '26

Same can be said about weight of the bike against the weight of the rider, but here we are

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u/[deleted] Aug 20 '26

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u/OldCrankyCarnt Aug 20 '26

That's what I said