 You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Is there a magic formula for correct reach - I know most will say whatever is comfortable but does every bike have a designed reach? What your tried and tested method? Genuine question.... Smart arses need not apply 😉
if i bang my knees into my handlebars when i'm stand-up-pedalling, the reach is too 'short'.
if i [u]can't[/u] bang my knees into my handlebars, the reach is too 'long'.
or at least it's somewhere to start.
Hahaha
Feel, on everything except the road bike where I guess a modicum of Science might be involved (aerodynamics Vs power output), but in the real world outside of pro TT's, just feel.
I think if you can get your weight well off the back wheel (manuals, drops) as well as climb well enough and have a seated position that puts your weight in a neutral / balanced place, the reach is about right.
(Reach as in reach from BB to bar horizontally, a good thing to look at but not always listed and varies with fork length / sag)
ahwiles's point is pretty good too )