Originally Posted by asgelle

And then that would only tell you how that frame performed, not a measure of "goodness." That's because there is no single standard of performance for frames. Some designers are trying for a very "soft" or "compliant" frame others want "stiffness" above all else. For the vast majority, the goal is some balance in the middle. To that end, they will specify frame geometry, tube geometry, thickness, material, gussetting, and the list goes on and on. All these factors will influence the performance of the final product. As consumers, the best we can do is find the frame which most closely matches out personal preferences and not worry about how the designer accomplished that result.