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69 lines
4.6 KiB
Markdown
69 lines
4.6 KiB
Markdown
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title = "The Quiet Revolution of Low Stack Frames"
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date = 2025-05-02
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categories = ["Gear"]
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tags = ["frames", "geometry", "comfort", "bike-fitting", "touring"]
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slug = "the-quiet-revolution-of-low-stack-frames"
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image = "low-stack-frame.webp"
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description = "Why some riders are quietly moving toward low-stack touring and gravel bikes — and what it says about comfort, fit, and long hours in the saddle."
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keywords = ["bike frame geometry", "stack and reach", "low stack frames", "touring comfort", "gear trends 2025"]
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drafts = false
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> Touring comfort isn't just about soft saddles and upright bars — it's about how your bike listens to your body over distance.
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There’s a quiet shift happening in the touring and gravel community. It’s not loud like a new drivetrain launch or as glamorous as the latest carbon wonderbike. But if you look closely at the setups of those who've gone the farthest — who sleep beside their bikes on the high plains, who carry their lives in canvas and cordura — you’ll notice something subtle.
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**Low stack frames.**
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Not slammed, aggressive race bikes. But also not hybrid, riser-bar city bikes. These are machines with modest head tubes and balanced cockpits — where the bars sit just a notch below the saddle, inviting you to lean in, not hunch over.
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---
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### Why Low Stack Matters
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“Stack” is the vertical distance from the bottom bracket to the top of the head tube. Lower stack means your handlebars sit lower, and that means your position leans more forward.
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This seems counterintuitive, right? Wouldn’t you want to be more upright for comfort on long tours?
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Yes — but not always.
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---
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### The Case for Low Stack Touring
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When you’re spending eight hours in the saddle across changing terrain, comfort becomes about **distribution**, not uprightness. A low stack lets your arms and core share more of the load. It stretches your back just enough to keep blood flowing. You’re less of a sail in headwinds. And on fast descents or off-road tracks, your center of gravity feels planted, not perched.
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> "I used to ride a high-stack steel tourer with swept-back bars. Felt comfy… until I started descending at speed in Ladakh. Switched to a lower cockpit, and the bike just *clicked*. More confident, more flow. Never going back." — Ankit R., solo rider and mechanic, Leh.
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Many experienced bikepackers discover this evolution naturally. They start with spacers and risers. Over time, stems flip. Bars drop. Eventually, they’re riding a setup that looks fast but feels measured — not aggressive, but in tune.
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---
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### Bikes That Get It
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Here are some of the best low or mid-stack touring/gravel bikes you can get in 2025. These frames favor a lower handlebar position without sacrificing comfort — ideal for riders who want flow over uprightness.
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#### **Low Stack Touring & Gravel Bikes (2025 Edition)**
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| **Bike** | **Size** | **Stack (mm)** | **Reach (mm)** | **Stack:Reach Ratio** | **Notes** |
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|----------------------------|----------|----------------|----------------|------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| **Surly Midnight Special** | 54 cm | 560 | 389 | 1.44 | Steel all-road frame; responsive handling with ample tire clearance. |
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| **Salsa Vaya GRX 600** | 55 cm | 609 | 364 | 1.67 | Upright touring geometry; ideal for comfort with drop bars. |
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| **Mason Bokeh Ti** | 54 cm | 568 | 376 | 1.51 | Titanium frame; versatile for fast adventure and bikepacking trips. |
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| **Triban RC 520 Disc** | L | 603 | 385 | 1.57 | Affordable endurance setup; mod-friendly geometry. |
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| **Kona Sutra SE** | 56 cm | 632 | 395 | 1.60 | Classic steel tourer; known for comfort and load stability. |
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*Always check manufacturer charts — some sizes vary between model years.*
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---
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### Closing Thoughts from the Saddle
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Riders who embrace low stack are often hard to spot. They’re not boasting watts or KOMs. They’re just riding — far, quiet, alone or in pairs — on bikes that fit not just their bodies, but their *intent*.
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So if you find yourself fighting your cockpit, if your back aches halfway into a ride, or if your descents feel sketchy, don’t just swap your saddle or bar tape. Look deeper. Maybe your stack’s too high.
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And maybe — just maybe — you’re ready for a different kind of comfort.
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