09/15/2026
The bike’s geometry should be considered in the bike fit: Darren Baum’s approach isn’t simply about putting a rider in the “correct” position; it’s about understanding how that position affects the bike's handling. This makes a lot of sense to us considering how much the geometry can impact the ride.
Center of gravity is a powerful part of bike fitting:
Measuring the rider center of gravity in real time and using it to understand front/rear weight distribution, handling characteristics, and even tire-pressure recommendations. We are big fans of this, as it can make all the difference between discomfort in the saddle and discomfort in the hands.
Modern tires are changing the rules of bike geometry: Much of traditional geometry was designed around getting enough weight and grip onto the front tire. With today's wider, grippier tires, designers have more freedom to rethink those assumptions. It will be interesting to see what this results in for geometries, and how that will impact bike fitting.
Shorter chainstays aren't necessarily better: The industry's preference for short chainstays originated partly from the need to make older steel frames sufficiently stiff and not because short stays inherently produced better handling. Modern materials allow stiffness and chainstay length to be considered separately.
Longer chainstays = predictable handling: Baum's testing suggests a longer rear end can help the rear wheel follow the front wheel more naturally through corners. On gravel, this can produce a controlled, stable slide rather than the rear wheel pushing the bike into understeer.
Van Rysel's all-new Gravel bike implements this approach but with a focus on serious racers.
Starting with high-modulus carbon and engineered for racers who refuse to just endure the race, the RCR-G redefines the rules of performance gravel.
By merging World-Tour-derived aerodynamics with explosive agility, it delivers a radical edge: the power to shatter the status quo, slice through the dust cloud, and ride alone at the front.
