Road Cycling - What does lugged mean in a steel frame?

I keep reading about lugged steel, what is it?

I have a Jamis eclipse 2002. It doesn't say that it's lugged. What are the benefits of lugged?

Thanks,

Sean

This should answer your questions.

http://www.rivendellbicycles.com/html/101_lugs.html

http://www.rivendellbicycles.com/html/bikes_rivendellframes.html

Lugs are metal "doo-hickeys" that cover tube connection points. Check out the picture of the whole bike on the Merlin Cielo thread to see what I'm talking about. Generally, from what I have read & experienced, they stregthen the connections between the tubes. Many bikes (including mine) have them, but they just don't say so. Most of the time, you'll see them on steel frames, and on non-one-piece carbon bikes (like the Merlin Cielo).

Don't fret if it doesn't say "Lugged" - even the 'cheap' road bikes today are halfway decent; there is no such thing (today) as a K-Mart road bike. I could be wrong about that, esp. with Schwinn turning in to a K Mart - type brand...:rolleyes:

Sean,
Most classic road bike frames are lugged frames, look at how the tubes are joined at the head tube and bottom bracket, the fancy metal work is the lug. The tube is slipped into the lug then brazed into the lug. The lugs on some of the better frames are works of art in themselfs, look at some JP Wiggiel (sp?) frames. Lugged frames cost more to built, you need diffrent lugs for each size frame. And if some one wants a diffrent seat tube angle, you need a speical lug. I've built two frames with lugs, its a lot of work, but well worth the work.

Your Jamis frame is most likley TIG welded. look at the tube joints, you will see the weld puddle. Many of the bikes built today use TIG welding for the frame.

henryjames.com is a lug-maker with lots of stuff on framebuilding.

These
http://www.bohemianbicycles.com/homepage.htm
are the about the best examples of lugged frames Ive ever seen.
Do take a look, they are awesome.

Michael, that is a great site. i thought the lugs on my bikes were good.

My mate has a curly stay Hetchins Magnum Bonum and the lugs on that are fantastic ( if a little too ornate for me)

Thanks guys. Those were some good sites too. I now know that my bike has TIG welds, I think.


Cheers,
Sean