Cane Creek, Angle Set

This product has been designed around suspension bikes to adjust and tweek the angle to make sure that you get the exact ride dialed in. This got me thinking, could the same process be applied to road bikes?

So often Teams are required to make slight changesd to stock bikes for certain races, normally those that feature in the Northern Classics, where altering the wheel base has a massive effect on the handling of the bikes. Typically these days it is made possible by lengthing the fork blades and adjusting the trail on the dropout to give a slightly longer feel to the bike. A similar proccedure is carried out in the rear. Another possible application is in the use on TT bikes where a Team mechanic could adjust the head angle to suit the rider or course.

So what does this mean for the rest of us. Well I think potentially there are some interesting advantages. One being choice, many times a manufacturer will choose a head angle, and you may or may not like it, too twitchy, too laid back, but with this headset you should (theorectically) be able to change the handling of the bike. This also opens up a host of fitting options for the consumer. Where a steeper head angle may not suit a Sportive rider this adjustment opens up te performance of a high end frame but with angles that would be more long distance friendly. Not being an engineer these are my thoughts rather than a sound tried and tested approach, but it'll be interesting to see if they are employed anywhere in a pelotoin near you.