Classic & Vintage - No skinny-tubed bicycles with a sloping top tube?

Why are there no skinny-tubed bikes out there with a sloping top tube?

aesthetics

Why are there no skinny-tubed bikes out there with a sloping top tube?

If you're talking about Classic and Vintage it's because sloping top tube are mostly a modern thing. If you're talking about steel frames there are plenty. Salsa is one I think of off the top of my head.

If you're talking about Classic and Vintage it's because sloping top tube are mostly a modern thing.

Carryover from MTB design.

I think that all of Rivendell's diamond frames have a slightly sloping top tube. I believe that this was one of Grant Petersen's innovations for road bikes, back when he was designing for Bridgestone; so those might have slightly sloping top tubes as well.

i always think those 'modern' road bikes look like girls bikes...lol...

Fred DeLong of Bicycling magazine had a custom built frame with sloping top tube back in the 70's. I recall an article on bike fitting that he wrote and used his bike to demonstrate correct fit. When the modern sloping top tube frames became popular I remembered his bike and how far ahead of his time he was regarding bike design.

Fred DeLong of Bicycling magazine had a custom built frame with sloping top tube back in the 70's. I recall an article on bike fitting that he wrote and used his bike to demonstrate correct fit. When the modern sloping top tube frames became popular I remembered his bike and how far ahead of his time he was regarding bike design.

I believe that bike was displayed at Cirque in '06 (and won an award) - a fillet-brazed Schwinn Paramount.

Weren't we just fretting over the new Rivendell Sam Hillborne (http://www.rivbike.com/products/list/bicycle_models#product=50-700)? Sloping top tube, lugs, relatively "skinny" tubing. Or does the OP have something else in mind?

Neal

The classic diamond frame had skinny tubing and a horizontal top tube. The sloping top tube and fatter-diameter tubing both are more modern developments, so they tend to be seen together.

plenty of the jamis designs have slim steel tubes and sloping TTs

Not sure if 20 years is vintage, but Kona (mtb) fits the bill...

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/gallery2.php?g2_itemId=12064

plenty of the jamis designs have slim steel tubes and sloping TTs

Look at Jamis carefully - they are MOSTLY aluminum. The Eclipse series are steel, but they are not thin tubes. They (and some others) use what they call Size Specific Tube Design, which essentially implies non-standard tubes.

I'm saying nothing about their quality, I'd take a Jamis steel bike readily, for the right price and application.

sloping top tubes hurt my eyes. The only modern bike I own has one though...I just try not to look at it straight on from the side.

+1 the rivendells all have a slightly sloping TT, as do Velo-Orange frames.

if it weren't for the top tube, I'd probably consider buying a Rivendell.

Oo, oo, here's one;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/collectvelo/3493870399/

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because

UGLY!!!!!

:twitchy: :twitchy: :twitchy: :twitchy: :twitchy:

Ok which to you think is more comfortable on a Century ride?

http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.com/images/bikes-and-gear/frames/road/1234365519748-lmbysnht812h-798-75.jpg

Ok which to you think is more comfortable on a Century ride?

What does the top tube have to do with that? Not sure I understand the question.

Ok which to you think is more comfortable on a Century ride?

In which Century?

In which Century?

touche