Framebuilders - Seatstays. Straight vs. S bend

I am working with a builder now who recomended s bend seatstays over straight to to improved ride quality. He feels the bent seatstays help dampen vibration. (The frame is a 29" wheeled mountain )Any thoughts on this? Thanks.

I'd be keen to find out how two essentially the same stays made out of the same material can have noticibly different 'vibration damping' characteristics. I can't see how they possibly could.

I'd be keen to find out how two essentially the same stays made out of the same material can have noticibly different 'vibration damping' characteristics. I can't see how they possibly could.


wow -
mark this date on the calendar.
i agree with warwicko!

So he's not buying this frame off you then? :p :)

I've had two very very similar bikes - one with s-bend and one with single bend - and I think I actually prefer single bend. I'm big enough to say I don't know why....I think they might have more predictable or linear flex/resonance characteristics, but I'm not a Physicist or Metalurgist so don't quote my seat-of-the-pants report.

Still, probably the biggest reason to use s-bend chainstays is heel clearance if you're a 'heel-in' kinda guy, but honestly, I don't think it really matters which one you choose. If the guy had said "Coz they look cool and that's what Columbus is selling" I'd go "right on", but....vibration damping? I don't think so. You want vibration damping? Get a full suspension bike or take 2psi out of your tires. Both would result in more 'vibration damping' than s-bend seat stays IMHO.

I am working with a builder now who recomended s bend seatstays over straight to to improved ride quality. He feels the bent seatstays help dampen vibration. (The frame is a 29" wheeled mountain )Any thoughts on this? Thanks.

I always thought the reason to use S bent seat stays is to get the cantilever/v-brake bosses closer together so that V-brake pads hit the rim near the top of the brake arm's arc instead of arcing down when used on MTB's with a lot of tire clearance between the seatstays and/or narrow rims. I bought a pair last year for one of my mtb's that I made the seatstay clearance too wide for the brakes to work properly. It is gonna take a much bigger a$$ than mine to get them to flex enough to absorb any vibration

http://www.gypsycycles.com/images/s_bend2.jpg

That's another reason, sure.

Explain to me what these v-brake things are again? ;)

Explain to me what these v-brake things are again? ;)

They is them aluminum thingy's that you adjust everyday to scrap the mud and aluminum off of your rims.

They don't happen to dampen vibration by any chance do they?

I'll have to check with our marketing department and get back to you. ;)