Framebuilders - Downsides to short seat stays?

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3v1lD4v3
10-08-11, 09:45 PM
I find that I like the look of short seat stays, as if hellenic stays (http://www.hetchins.org/403.htm) were attached and ended at the seatpost. I realize that most of these are aluminum or carbon fiber, but are there problems with building such a frame from steel?

unterhausen
10-08-11, 11:20 PM
it's generally a good idea to reinforce the area where the seat stays intersect with the set tube with a sleeve. Same with the top tube. If the top tube and seat stays don't intersect close to each other, you need two reinforcement sleeves.
pkpyro
10-10-11, 11:07 AM
Most steel frame bikes have steel seat stays as well, so I don't see why not you wouldn't be able to build a seat stay with steel.

How short you are planning to make it might be the question here.

3v1lD4v3
10-16-11, 02:05 PM
I am aware of the need to sleeve the seat tube or use a thick wall non-butted seat tube.

I haven't actually laid out the geometry but I can't see the seat stays being longer than 20 inches. Can I assume that this would give a stiff ride if the seat stays aren't sufficiently tapered?
unterhausen
10-16-11, 02:13 PM
I don't think I would worry about that if the structural concerns are taken care of
3v1lD4v3
10-16-11, 07:20 PM
So the longer stays are just because it's easier and less work?
unterhausen
10-16-11, 09:15 PM
it's a better structure to have the seat stays meet the top tube. Many bikes have broken at the seat tube/seat stay/top tube junction. It's probably just as common as breaking at the bb and more common than breaking at the head tube.