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Oddly, I find “modern” geometry OK on teh flat as long as I am hammering along with my shoulders forward to get my weight over the pedal when I am pushing it. The problem is when I want to pootle and sit up a bit – I can’t because the handlebars are too far away.
I'm not that bothered over reasons... but my experience is I either maintain a speed or it drops right off. I guess the reason I'm not that bothered over the why's is the solution seems easy.
I have an old school XC HT as well and the main difference I find is in the intermediate speeds between pootle to pushing on.
Oddly, I find “modern” geometry OK on teh flat as long as I am hammering along with my shoulders forward to get my weight over the pedal when I am pushing it. The problem is when I want to pootle and sit up a bit – I can’t because the handlebars are too far away.
A valid point which I have also found. Modern bikes are far more comfortable when ridden hard. Uncomfortable, poorly handling (and dull) when pootling.
Bit of a double whammy when you get near the end of a big ride and run out of energy though! Riding ability and enjoyment drops off a cliff.
You try pedalling a recumbant up any sort of slope then.
I've found that going from a very layback position [thudbuster /Inbred' to a 75 Big Dog] that, although I have raised the handlebars a lot, I still get more wrist pain. Out of the saddle I only just clear the saddle nose, and that's with the saddle rammed back. So I wouldn't buy a frame with a seat angle of more than 75, preferably 74, because I climb a lot out of the saddle. I have a very very short torso so I'm not averagely proportioned. Overall I like the new position though.
Folks get wound up by the numbers but modern dropper inline posts steepen the seat angle. One can still move the saddle rails which is perhaps a 2 or more degree difference either way
As a tall person, the steep seat angle has been a massive improvement over older bikes. A few years ago my weight was over the back axle and applying any sort of force to he pedals made the front want to lift up.
New bikes with a steeper seat tube and more reach mean I and not cramped and my weight is far more central on the bike making climbing a lot easier, even with more rear travel than I had before.
I don't think it is just down to the seat angle. The modern geometry overall is a big improvement climbing technical tracks, but then the Big Dog like the Solaris has long chainstays; on a short chainstay bike seat angle may be more relevant. Depends in part on how much the overall longer wheelbase is affecting things..