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๐Ÿ“ What Is the Ideal Stack-to-Reach Ratio for Comfort?

on May 09, 2025

๐Ÿ“ What Is the Ideal Stack-to-Reach Ratio for Comfort?

The stack-to-reach ratio is one of the most valuable โ€” yet overlooked โ€” tools in bike fitting. It tells you how upright or aggressive your position will be on a given frame and helps compare geometries across bikes of different sizes, styles, and brands.


๐Ÿ“ What Is Stack-to-Reach Ratio?

  • Stack = Vertical distance from bottom bracket to top of head tube

  • Reach = Horizontal distance from bottom bracket to top of head tube

Stack-to-Reach Ratio = Stack รท Reach

This gives a normalized indicator of a bike's fit posture โ€” useful across brands and frame sizes.


๐Ÿง  Why It Matters

โœ… Higher ratio โ†’ More upright, comfort-oriented geometry
โœ… Lower ratio โ†’ Lower, aggressive, race-style fit
โœ… Great for comparing road, gravel, endurance, or touring bikes
โœ… Eliminates confusion between inconsistent size labels (like "54 cm" or "M")


๐Ÿ”ข Whatโ€™s the Ideal Ratio for Comfort?

โœ… General Guidelines by Bike Type

Bike Type Stack-to-Reach Ratio Fit Style
Aero Race Bike 1.35 โ€“ 1.45 Low, stretched, aggressive
Standard Road Bike 1.45 โ€“ 1.55 Balanced performance
Endurance Road Bike 1.55 โ€“ 1.65+ Upright, comfort-focused
Gravel / Touring 1.60 โ€“ 1.75+ Relaxed and upright
Flat Bar / Hybrid 1.70 โ€“ 1.90+ Maximum upright comfort

๐Ÿ’ก For long-distance comfort, aim for 1.55 or higher โ€” ideally 1.60+.


๐Ÿงฉ Real-World Examples

๐Ÿ›ฃ๏ธ Example 1: Endurance Road Bike

  • Stack: 580 mm

  • Reach: 370 mm

  • S:R = 1.57 โ†’ Comfort-oriented for long rides

๐Ÿ Example 2: Race Road Bike

  • Stack: 520 mm

  • Reach: 390 mm

  • S:R = 1.33 โ†’ Aggressive, efficient but less forgiving

๐Ÿ•๏ธ Example 3: Touring Gravel Bike

  • Stack: 610 mm

  • Reach: 360 mm

  • S:R = 1.69 โ†’ Ideal for relaxed posture and long touring days


๐Ÿ“ How to Use This Ratio When Buying a Bike

๐Ÿ”Ž Check geometry charts before buying โ€” donโ€™t rely only on frame size labels
๐Ÿ“Š Use S:R ratio to compare bikes across brands
๐Ÿ”ง Helps guide decisions on stem length or bar height adjustments
๐Ÿšฒ Especially important for gravel, endurance, and touring riders


๐Ÿงพ Conclusion

If comfort is your top priority โ€” whether for commuting, endurance rides, or multi-day touring โ€” aim for a stack-to-reach ratio of 1.55 or above. It promotes a more upright position that reduces strain on your neck, back, and wrists, especially over long distances.

โš™๏ธ While low-ratio frames work for racing, most riders benefit from a fit that balances performance with all-day comfort โ€” and S:R ratio is the key.

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