Re: Reynolds 931 "cheap stainless" -- Michael Press Prize for brilliant marketing

On Sep 9, 6:02 am, James <james.e.stew...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On 9/09/2011 2:35 PM, AMuzi wrote:





James wrote:
On 9/09/2011 11:45 AM, Andre Jute wrote:
http://road.cc/content/news/43047-more-eurobike-goodness-gilles-berth....

and scroll down.

Reynolds 931 "cheap stainless"
Twenty per cent more than 853, ten per cent less than 951, yup, that's
brilliant marketing. Or maybe they really wanted to kill both
successful products, and still leave the customer dissatisfied with
having received only the "cheap" stainless.

I also wonder how stainless it is. But this caught my eye..
"Reynolds is also rolling out to its customers who are typically
custom framebuilders without access to sophisticated computer
modelling tools a programme called eReynolds FEA (Finite Element
Analysis) which will enable them to 'build' their frames in virtual
form to test the feasibility of tubing and joining options before
expensively committing to physical prototypes."

I wonder whether some more adventurous frame designs come about as a
result. Years ago there was a local frame builder who designed what he
called a "Compuframe", IIRC. The seat stays crossed the seat tube and
joined the top tube 4-5 inches along. Although I rode one of these
frames for a while, it didn't stand out as feeling particularly
different from the previous steel frame I had (another locally made
531 lugged frame).

Old design. Hetchins "Hellenic Triangle"

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/bikes/hellenic-kh1a.jpg

Wow!  That's the sort of thing.

I chatted to a mate who's got a:http://www.bmc-racing.com/int-en/bikes/2011/road/model/racemachine/rm...

I looked at it for a moment and said, "I bet it's comfortable."  He said
it is the most comfy road bike he's ridden.

I wonder if a similar design could be made in steel, and whether it
would also be more comfortable than having the stays in the traditional
position.  My guess is it allows the seat post to rotate further under
load.  Only testing would reveal actual differences of course.

--
JS.

I can't say I'm impressed by the length of unsupported seat tube
between where the seatstays join and where the brace joins. It's a
recipe for flex and/or unnecessary weight in the material. Any proper
engineer and any artist would give that construction one look and ask
if the flex is intentional. If not, he'd move the brace or the
seatstays so that the ends me across the seat tube.

Here are some properly designed crossframe bikes
http://www.utopia-velo.de/relaunch/index.a4d
I especially like the Roadster.

Andre Jute
Steel is real, a Brooks hammock seat makes it better, BIg Apples
better still
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Big Book of Weird British Bike Frames
    ... No date for this later and weirder frame. ... 1939 Claude Butler frame with patented bottom bracket shell on lower ... seatstays, above the chainstay bridge: ... Jack Taylor explained that the curved seat tube that allowed ...
    (rec.bicycles.tech)
  • Re: short legs & long torso
    ... waxbytes wrote: ... and a 55/56 seat tube so much as I might like to I don't think I can ... take advantage of old old steel stock.I just had a steel frame built ... steel frame but there is nothing I'm aware of of on the market. ...
    (rec.bicycles.tech)
  • Re: 67 guy needs help looking for a road bike for a 585 Mile 6 DayCharity Bike Ride
    ... Some brands have expanded their upper size range; for example, Trek, ... a 61cm isn't going to fit someone your size). ... knee-over-spindle position on the 64cm frame. ... a slacker seat tube has the ...
    (rec.bicycles.tech)
  • Re: Help! Cracked BB shell lug!
    ... Reynolds 531 1975 Paramount track frame that runs along the entire ... To clarify, the crack is in the lug, not the seat tube, The lugs are ...
    (rec.bicycles.tech)
  • Re: Frame stress from stuck bottom bracket removal
    ... bottom of the seat tube in a Park workstand and I was using a Cyclus ... pro bottom bracket tool with all of my considerable strength to brake ... weight steel frame could result in a front to back S-bend in the seat ... of impact was on the top-tube about 3" in front of the seat-tube joint. ...
    (rec.bicycles.tech)