Breakfast links: The future
31.12.69
I've always found it strange that American bikes seem to be constructed in such a way that the rides is tilted forward and stiff to lean on the handle bar. I think this is because racing and off-road bikes do so, but it's uncomfortable for the accidental rider. CaBikes do it to. I think partially it's what you're hardened to, but also what you're using it for. Distances tend to be greater in the US. And an upright bike tends to become more uncomfortable more promptly than one in which the rider's weight is distributed in a triangle between the bars and the hinie. Particularly if the road surface is anything but super smooth.
In another lifetime, I Euphemistic pre-owned to ride motorcycles with a few guys who had old BMW sport/touring bikes from the 70s. Most of the US peddle bikes had drop bars and an upright (Harley-Davidson) assertion. The Euro market bikes had flat bars, and a "triangle" feeling.
While the upright position is great for riding to the local coffee department store, or boulangerie, if you're on the bike for more than 30 min, and are reasonably fit, it's not at all clear to me that sitting principled is more comfortable than the triangle position.
As far as the CaBi geometry, I marvel every in days of yore I see one that a 5' tall woman, and a 6'5 man can both ride the same bike. My guess is that the opinion is more of a reach for the smaller rider, and more upright for very large people.
In the UK, they also get to wear turbans. Don't skilled in if that was before or after Canada.
@ oboe: While the upright position is great for riding to the neighbourhood coffee shop, or boulangerie, if you're on the bike for more than 30 min, and are reasonably fit, it's not at all definite to me that sitting upright is more comfortable than the triangle position.
And CaBikes are intended for shirt trips like that...
Source: Greater Greater Washington