High speed handling problems are caused by"

Too little trail
A low center of gravity
A laid back seat (low bike/rider moment of inertia)
A forward center of gravity

Low racers need to have a proper trail and a rearward center of gravity
to handle properly. This is not too much of a problem for front drive
bikes, because weight shift on hills isn't an issue.

Your high seat bike needs to have the center of gravity forward to
prevent front wheel slip when climbing hills. But the high seat solves
some of you high speed handling problems.

The moment of inertia of most bike wheels is of no importance. So wheel
size isn't an issue. Although the high speed guys at Battle Mountain add
lead weights to their wheel rims for better high speed handling.

I have computer programs that give more quantitative information, and I
would be glad to share them. They don't directly apply to Flevo style
bike, however.

Bill

Jim Rolfe wrote:

>
>
>
>
> Bill
>
> Thanks for your comments. My goal is to build a very fast bike for high
> speed, hilly century races and general training. I am a strong rider and
> currently ride a Trek Y-Foil up to 45kph on the flat, and regularly go
> over 70 kph downhill.
>
>
>
> I believe the right ‘bent’ will give me about 5kph more speed on the
> flat, and maybe 10 downhill. I don’t want to go to a low-racer, as I
> also want to be able to cruise with my buddies on their uprights and be
> visible in traffic.
>
>
>
> Would a good option for best speed/stability be a Flevoracer with 650
> wheels, 70 degrees head tube, 14cm trail?
>
>
>
> Jim
>
>
>
>

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