Does anyone besides Dan Empfield have experience with this bike and geometry set-up? I’m interested in the concept of an extremely steep seat angle combined with a slack front end, leading to an ultra stable, easy going ride.
My QR frame setup is close. It has a half degree steeper head angle than Ves’ design, and a 43 fork instead of his 50. For my body size, it’s a very long wheelbase and front-center dimension.
I bought the biggest frame that would still allow me to get low. My saddle is at 82 degrees or so. By lengthening the bike’s front-center (by oversizing my frame), the forward position is still quite stable and easy to drive.
Now that I know I like the setup, I would definitely want a DE Yaqui if I had the money to spend. It’s really hard to argue with that design if you’re going to ride steep. Even the QR (the steepest production frame out there) is too shallow. I have a Profile forward post with the saddle all the way forward on the rails. It looks goofy, but nobody is making 80 degree bikes anymore.
Julien, thanks for the reply. Happily, I do have the money; I’ll call Ves tomorrow and see what we can come up with. I’ll keep you posted.
Yeah, I think you may find the DE geometry appropriate for short course events - sprint & Oly - but for me, it was just too steep. As it is I ride my 78 degree Carbo at close to 82 degrees when I am working it in the aero bars - and this is with a setback post on the thing, riding on the front 3rd of the saddle.
Best to talk to Ves, though. Fill out the form online first, so he has a little info before you talk. No matter what, you will love the ride - I have a custom Mariola DL in addition to the stock 55cm 78 degree Carbo.
JohnA,
I’m thinking of a Yaqui. How tall are you and whats your build like (leg length vs. torso)? Why do you say the DE geometry would be good for shorter courses? I would assume the opposite based on reading DE’s review. How was the DE too steep for you? Seems like you ride your carbo pretty much at a DE angle…How do you feel the mariola and carbo compare? Thanks!
Dave
You will not be unhappy about going with a Yaqui bike - the experience is great, Ves is very wise, and the bikes deliver on fit, comfort and performance.
First, about me. I have a long-ish inseam, short torso (6’0, 34" inseam). Ves recommended the custom on the DL because the riding position demands a higher stack height - it’s basically a road bike. The TT bike is a stock 55cm, 78 degree bike. The stock geometry appears to be different from the geometry posted on the site, it would be best to e-mail him for the specifics. My 55 has a 530mm top tube, a 95mm head tube and a 550mm seat tube.
I am no expert on the DE geomerty, which is why you should really talk to Ves about it specifically. He mentioned that he built up a bike at 82.5 degrees for someone - not sure if this is the DE geometry or not. On my bike, built at 78 degrees with a setback post, I find myself sitting on the front, narrow part of the saddle when I am really working it - which is how I reached the 82 degree number. I have an arione saddle and move quite a bit on it - I probably sit at 77 degrees when I am on the base bars. If I had the bike built at 80 or 82 degrees, I imagine I would end up closer to 86 degrees just to get to the right part - the skinny part - of the saddle. Since steeper means lower, that doesn’t sound comfortable over 112 miles - not on the arms or back as much as the crotch.
The other big difference between my bike and the experiment in geometry bike that Dan built is probably the head tube angle and fork. Dan needs that on this geometry because there is more weight on the front of that bike than on mine. At 82 degrees or wherever I actually am, there is enough weight on the seat to keep things nice and balanced.
Now, about my bikes. I love the two bikes, but the Carbo tri bike is faster - no doubt - but this is because of the geometry. It is stiffer in the rear end, too, and I gotta believe this means better power transfer. It handles great in the aero bars and on straight, steep descents - though I haven’t taken it on a technical descent yet. I don’t know how my fit stacks up in the FIST world, but I am low enough to recruit my glutes and my back is very flat. Most importantly, I am comfortable. I was able to do 82 miles on my first ride, and I felt great afterwards - no back pain, crotch pain or anything like that.
The Mariola is a DL geometry - basically a road bike, but with a slightly steeper STA and some other geometry changes that make it handle well with clip-ons (as a matter of fact, it is simply rock solid when I am in the clip-ons). It is extremely comfortable - there is no comfort difference between the Carbo and the Mariola that I can feel - and handles really well. If you can only have one bike for both road riding and tri, this is the one to get.
As you can tell, I am a very satisfied customer. Let me know of you have any other questions that you think I can answer. Most importantly, talk to Ves about your riding style, about your racing goals, and he will get you on the right geometry - that being 76 degrees, 78 degrees or maybe even 82.5 degrees.