#bike-geometry

#bike-geometry

The new Mach 4 SL maintains a familiar silhouette, including the brand's signature DW-link suspension platform, but adds a touch more travel, in-frame storage, notable geometry changes, and several new complete builds to choose from.

Much of the update centers around the front end, where Ventum pulled lessons from its Tempus TT platform to reshape how the NS1 meets the wind. The new head tube now extends forward of the steerer, creating a cleaner leading edge and narrowing the frame's middle through an hourglass profile to reduce frontal area. Meanwhile, deeper fork legs help guide airflow around the front wheel while adding stiffness up front.

For taller riders, proportional bike geometry is essential, and many brands address this by making the front center longer, with little growth at the rear, which can leave many riders, myself included, riding bikes that fit but feel a little lacking. Although this is changing, and many bike brands are offering longer rear-centers, some riders want more. Eric Olsen from Jank Components is one of those riders, but he's also someone with the engineering know-how to remedy this on the Ibis Ripmo and Ripley (and af versions) with the Jank Link.

Whyte Bikes introduces two new gravel models, the Verro and Tourus, featuring a shared frame and distinct builds for gravel riding and commuting.