dbduke

Taken from Rivendell site

Lug Primer


1. What is a lug?
A sleeve of metal that surrounds the frame tube at the joint, strengthening the joint. Most modern frames don't have them.


2. How come?
They're more expensive to build with; and from a strictly practical point of view, they're unnecessary.


3. What does a lug do?
It strengthens the joint by adding material to the stressed areas, and distributes the stresses over a large area. And it adds an artistic element to the frame joint. And it allows tubes to be joined by brazing, rather than welding.


4. Why brazing rather than welding?
Less heat, mainly, and one of the benefits is that the tubes themselves are not melted. So, if you crash and bend a top tube, for instance, it can be replaced and the frame made good as new.


5. Are all lugs alike?
No. Some are well-designed to eliminate stresses. Others cause stresses. Some are thick, some are thin. Some fit the tubes well, others don't. Some are rather plain, some are rather ostentatious. Some are generic and available for purchase by anybody, others are proprietary and unique to one brand of bike. Some are hand-cut and one-of-a-kind. In addition, lugs can be made by any of several methods, including but not limited to investment casting, stamping and welding, die casting, and machining.


6. Is there any reason to get a lugged frame over a glued or tig-welded frame?
Well, it depends. From strictly a functional perspective, in the short-term life of a bicycle, it makes no difference whether the frame is lugged or not. And, if you plan to get a new frame every couple of years, then the long-term benefits of a lugged frame (durability and the ability to replace bent/crashed tubes) don't work for you. Likewise, if you prefer the appearance of tig-welds, then you won't be talked into lugs, no matter what.


We love lugs. We don't build frames without them. We like the look, the art, the way they're made, and we like designing smart, beautiful, and unique ones. We also like knowing that a the frames we make will be identifiable even in 300 years, because of the lugs beneath the paint.
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Marmalade

I like the looks of that bike.

Sounds like luga are more aesthetic than practical?

Marmalade

OK, thanks. That answers my question.

Gene James

There used to be a frame builer in Seattle. The bikes were called Davidson's. They used to be very good bikes.

zonatandem

Co-Motion, Eugene, OR. Put 57,000 miles on one of their tandem frames!

Marmalade

Just a note to say I finally made up my mind and went with the Bianchi Veloce. Got a great price on a 2005 and can't wait to break it in. Thanks for your input.

slotibartfast

Great choice, Marmalade! Of course, I'm biased with your decision. You'll love the bike! Welcome to the celeste army! What color? Where did you buy it? I really dig the Campy groupo. Pictures**********?

Marmalade

No pictures yet, it's being shipped. I got it on a close out from a shop in CA through ebay. Only $1000 brand new. I went to my lbs and paid for a fitting, so I knew the size. They don't carry Bianchi and didn't have a steel bike in my price range, so that's why I went the ebay route. The lbs will get the business for pedals, seat, computer and maybe new handlebars, depending on what's on it. I actually upgraded my current touring bike for size differences as well, so not feeling too bad about buying the bike elsewhere.

The color is celeste, of course.

slotibartfast

Wow, you got a hell of a deal. Congrats! I feel that celeste for a Bianchi is the only way to go. Enjoy!

bikemeister

I feel the same way. Get a good frame that fits, and a quality wheelset - everything else is negotiable. The best components on the planet aren't going to help you one bit on a mis-sized frame or cheap wheels.
But a good frame and solid wheels will make up for alot of "budget" componetry.

Marmalade

Thanks

Marmalade

So, bikemeister, since you brought up wheels, the set that comes on my new bianchi are the Campagnolo Vento G3. The spokes are different, place in threes around the wheels...can you tell me the purpose of this? When I talked to someone about the Vigorelli vs the Veloce, they said I would be adding some weight in the wheels with the Veloce, but not much. Can you tell me if these are good wheels?

bellweatherman

Oh Fing geezis! how hard is it to go to google and type steel frame manufacturers?

Marmalade

Thanks for your helpful remark. Unfortunately, I already got all the info I needed from the other folks that appreciate sharing info through bike forums, so I didn't really need it.