Originally Posted by
tigrrrtamer
Thanks for that. Time-trial/triathlon frames, and smaller 19" frames, tend to have slacker head tube angles. This bike meets both those criteria: it is a 19", and a time trial/triathlon bike (hence it's "chronos" designation). However, I'd love to be proven wrong on that and would be open to getting measurements of a larger frame, 22" - 24" (56-60cm) if anyone comes across this post.
I think what we need to look for is "Corsa"... I just don't know if my memory is correct on that. But I think it was a Corsa.
My my... this is more difficult than I thought! Thanks anyways for the effort - it's very much appreciated.
actually, my cambio rino is a road bike using classic italian stage geometry and this particular model was named after the rino crono road group with which it was 'factory' equipped. it is not a time trial or triathlon specific design.
you are absolutely correct in that correctly proportioned small framesets will invariably tend to have slacker headtube angles and steeper seatubes than those of larger sizes (ie-the steepish seatubes to match the shorter amount of required setback of the smaller rider and the slacker headtube angle to minimise toe overlap and to maintain a reasonable wheelbase & f/r weigh distribution)
for comparison, my 50.5 cm de rosa of similar vintage has a headtube angle of approx. 73.3 degrees and a seatube angle of approx 75 degrees. all 3 of my modern cinellis, also 50 cm in size have 72 degree headtubes and 74 degree seatubes.
ime, my cambio rino's angles are very representative and typical of many other quality italian road bikes of the time. it's handling is very good as measured by any standard however and imo, it's high quality handling behaviour is most likely attributable to a matching of the fork rake to the given frame size in order to achieve the builder's preferred trail figures. unfortunately i have no reliable means of measuring it's fork rake/offset.
best,
k