J
John Thompson
Guest
In article <[email protected]>, Peter wrote:
> But prior to Klein's popularization of large diameter tubes for aluminum bike frames there were
> several makes of aluminum frames with 'normal' diameter tubing, of which the best known was the
> Vitus. These frames were known as being rather lightweight, but not at all stiff. They were
> described almost exactly opposite to the popular descriptions used now for aluminum - i.e. that
> they might be comfortable but that they flexed too much on climbs.
Heh. So why is it so many Columbians won mountain stages on Vitus frames?
> So durable aluminum frames can certainly be made that are not particularly stiff. It is an
> engineering choice by Klein, Cannondale, and others to use large diameter tubes which provide more
> lateral stiffness, but it's not a requirement for all aluminum frames.
Another reason for the larger tubes is a larger weld area. Welded aluminum frames with
standard-diameter tubes fail very quickly at the joints.
--
-John ([email protected])
> But prior to Klein's popularization of large diameter tubes for aluminum bike frames there were
> several makes of aluminum frames with 'normal' diameter tubing, of which the best known was the
> Vitus. These frames were known as being rather lightweight, but not at all stiff. They were
> described almost exactly opposite to the popular descriptions used now for aluminum - i.e. that
> they might be comfortable but that they flexed too much on climbs.
Heh. So why is it so many Columbians won mountain stages on Vitus frames?
> So durable aluminum frames can certainly be made that are not particularly stiff. It is an
> engineering choice by Klein, Cannondale, and others to use large diameter tubes which provide more
> lateral stiffness, but it's not a requirement for all aluminum frames.
Another reason for the larger tubes is a larger weld area. Welded aluminum frames with
standard-diameter tubes fail very quickly at the joints.
--
-John ([email protected])