The geometry choices that underly the design of all Skog bikes are (in brief) rooted in the following physical relationships. To avoid making this the length of a thesis statement much detail is omitted, maybe to be added at a later date. Contact if interested in further discussion on the topic.

Riding bikes downhill involve a great number of actions that cause the weight of the rider to shift forward towards the front wheel; merely being on a descending slope, braking, hitting bumps, cornering. Thus in great part, the rider must accommodate these forces by shifting their weight (with the right timing) rearward to counteract the forward shift, to avoid changing the weight distribution of the rider/bike system. For this to be possible the rider must have enough range of motion (and strength in these positions) to be able to statically (and dynamically) position their weight increasingly rearward in response to steeper slopes, harder braking, or bigger bumps, and naturally this rearward shift requires changing the body’s position.

The geometry choices that let a rider have a large range of motion, and particularly a rearward shifted one, are directly in opposition to some current trends of mountain bike geometry, particularly the continual increase of reach and simultaneous increases in chainstay length. In addition to this the effect of the position (rotation), height and width of bars and stem length on the weight distribution. The reason for these trends are likely many, but some misunderstandings that definitely contribute are the conception that it is important to add weight to the front in order to get grip for, for example, cornering. Another likely culprit is that bikes are both presented (stats of kinematics or geometry) and “ride feel” tested on mostly flat slopes, like parking lot tests. It does not seem apparent that an optimal feel should not be the same for flat ground as it is for a descending trail.

This is the way in which Skog’s bikes fit a missing segment, in their geometry. The shorter reach, slack head angle (and recommendation of tall and narrower bars) all relatively make possible a more rear-ward biased riding position, without having to crouch down. Standing tall and not “stretched out” increases the range of motion about this position, allowing greater adaptation to the riding situation. Now in a position not already forward biased, it is possible to use chainstay length to help ease the way in which weight distribution is handled, between rider and bike. Increasing chainstay length allows a greater control of front wheel weight through the pedal interface, and decreases the impact of weight on the hands, allowing that interface to have greater finesse due to lesser force. Slack head angles and shorter stems allow for a longer front center when higher speeds are desired, without moving weight forward.

Skog’s bikes are optimized towards steeper/faster trails more so than flat ones. That means the compromise of choices will mean that if you primarily ride flatter, slower trails, these bikes will not be for you. Likewise, though the seated pedaling position makes gravel climbs pretty optimal, the technical climbing ability is not, as it would necessitate a negative compromise on descending. A consideration of riding style and riding purpose for each prospective customer will be made before a final design is met.