Originally Posted by Banzai

Frames can absorb high frequency vibration. Chip seal is (depending on the size) is beyond vibration...it's high frequency impact. No frame is going to make that much prettier.

What you need is squooshier tires. If a frame could soak up chip seal, it would noodle when you pedaled too.

One of these days, when I'm rich with lots of time on my hands, I'm going to get some identical bikes and try to disguise them. Then I'm going to find some people - preferably magazine reviewers - and I'm going to feed them marketing claptrap and then send them out on a ride. I'll await their return, where they will say different and amazing things about the ride qualities of the various, and identical, frames.