When did bikes become so 'angled'?
11-27-16, 09:11 PM
#51
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I remain amazed at how little the safety bicycle has changed over more than a century since it's introduction. And... at how every tiny little change, modification, or improvement has been fought from some direction... for some reason. I myself can find my opinion of a bicycle altered... simply based on the paint color/scheme.
But they should be thanked for that (even if their intentions are evil). I like that kind of rack system. I love my vintage bikes.... AND the modern bikes that I ride near daily. But when I picture a bicycle in my mind.... It looks like the steel bikes built when I was a kid in the 60's. Yet I also have been lusting after a road bike with disc brakes. I live very happily with both contrasting paradigms living together in my head.
11-27-16, 09:33 PM
#52
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Archaic: adjective Very old or old-fashioned.
I remain amazed at how little the safety bicycle has changed over more than a century since it's introduction. And... at how every tiny little change, modification, or improvement has been fought from some direction... for some reason. I myself can find my opinion of a bicycle altered... simply based on the paint color/scheme.
...
I remain amazed at how little the safety bicycle has changed over more than a century since it's introduction. And... at how every tiny little change, modification, or improvement has been fought from some direction... for some reason. I myself can find my opinion of a bicycle altered... simply based on the paint color/scheme.
...
...But when I picture a bicycle in my mind.... It looks like the steel bikes built when I was a kid in the 60's. Yet I also have been lusting after a road bike with disc brakes.
Last edited by expatCanuck; 11-27-16 at 09:36 PM.
11-27-16, 10:29 PM
#53
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Sloped top tubes are a means of saving money by offering fewer sizes and unisex-ing the frames. Now bikes are androgynous, or is it metrosexual. J
11-27-16, 10:46 PM
#54
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If, as rubiksoval claims, the TCR was the start of the sloping top tube idea for road bikes, then Giant would have been following the trend as the TCR series was introduced in 2003.
As for "originating" the modern trend of sloping top tubes, that can be disputed. As I pointed out, Pantani's Bianchi had a modern sloping top tube in 1998. Although the bike was a custom build, I doubt that Bianchi was using rebadged Giants.
And, as ThermionicScott pointed out, examples of sloping top tubes go back to the beginning of the safety cycles.
As for "originating" the modern trend of sloping top tubes, that can be disputed. As I pointed out, Pantani's Bianchi had a modern sloping top tube in 1998. Although the bike was a custom build, I doubt that Bianchi was using rebadged Giants.
And, as ThermionicScott pointed out, examples of sloping top tubes go back to the beginning of the safety cycles.
11-28-16, 02:24 AM
#55
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12-01-16, 04:01 PM
#56
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Dave, do you classify the modern Giant TCR as a "safety bike" due to its sloping top tube? I dont really understand what your point was in that last post. Maybe I'm just too tired.
I do however see a similar look between some of the old frames and the newer ones. But considering all aspects of the frames, they still seem worlds apart.
I do however see a similar look between some of the old frames and the newer ones. But considering all aspects of the frames, they still seem worlds apart.
12-01-16, 10:51 PM
#57
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Well if we count the old Schwinn musclebike designs back when they were welded, or the 'camel back' forms, a somewhat sloping top tube isn't exactly a new thing, just now a different way of designing it. I personally like the look on either a musclebike or a modern bike.
12-01-16, 11:37 PM
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At 5'10", I'm comfortable with up to 60 or 61 (or maybe 62) cm frame. And I have short legs. I have a habit of sitting on the horizontal TT.
You're looking t this backward. There's nothing magical about a horizontal top tube.
Horizontal TTs became the norm nor because of any frame design requirement, but because seat post strength was a limiting factor. BITD an 8" 200mm post was the norm, and allowed the saddle to be roughly 5-7"' above the top tube. This limited the range of fits to a few inches between inadequate ground clearance, and maximum saddle height.
Horizontal TTs became the norm nor because of any frame design requirement, but because seat post strength was a limiting factor. BITD an 8" 200mm post was the norm, and allowed the saddle to be roughly 5-7"' above the top tube. This limited the range of fits to a few inches between inadequate ground clearance, and maximum saddle height.
As many people mentioned, vintage MTBs had horizontal TTs, but they quickly evolved to slope for a number of reasons.
At the same time, there was experimenting with oversized tubing, especially with aluminum and other frame materials. This OS tubing may have also allowed taller/stronger seat posts.
What size of seatpost did Schwinn use? I couldn't imagine one of those pencil seat posts sticking up 2 feet
The smallest frame sizes (sub 49cm?) may have benefitted the most from a sloping TT.
There has been a gradual shift from level bars/seat to at least a moderate drop from seat to bars on most racing bikes. I.E. undersized frames. I can't say they would require a sloping TT, but they would need longer/stronger seat posts. Perhaps this is also in part because of a shift from riding in the drops to riding almost exclusively on the hoods.
On the other hand, there is also a greater number of casual bikes entering all categories from hybrids to comfort road bikes. These naturally have the bars higher than the seat. I suppose with the threadless stem, one could put on a foot worth of spacers, but the front end of these comfort bikes would be stronger with a taller head tube. So one ends up with a short seat and high headset. And, thus perhaps they're required to have a sloping TT.
12-14-16, 05:12 PM
#59
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*This* for me! I don't like the looks of sloping/curving top tubes. Combine the slopes/curves with the handlebars and the praying mantis-on-wheels look doesn't work for me. Ugly! I do like a vintage Schwinn step-thru with the top tube curving to the seat tube, though.
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