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Conference noted::bicycle

Title: Bicycling
Notice:Bicycling for Fun
Moderator:JAMIN::WASSER
Created:Mon Apr 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3214
Total number of notes:31946

348.0. "Interesting Nashbar bike" by ERLANG::BLACK () Tue Jun 16 1987 22:14

    There has been a nice looking Nashbar road frame parked outside
    LKG this last couple of weeks.
    
    Two things interest me about it.  First, the seat stays meet the
    top-tube about three inches from the seat cluster, rather than at
    the cluster.    What is the rationale for this?
    
    Second, it has neat looking brake levers with concealed cables:
    they exit between the lever and the bar, and run under the tape.
    They look swell, but is there any real point to this arrangement,
    other than making maintenance harder?
                                                   
    I wonder if the owner is a noter in this conference?
    
    	Andrew
    
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348.1trendyNOVA::FISHERP-B-P qualifiedWed Jun 17 1987 08:5821
    RE: seat stays about 3 inches from the seat cluster.  Crossing
    the seat tube a few inches below the top tube and then joining the
    top tube.  The reasoning for this is that the real reason for bottom
    barcket flex is the weakness of the connections at the seatpost,
    toptube, seatstay joint.  By making that stiffer, the rider looses
    some of the flex which might be apparent otherwise.  That's the
    reasoning that the scientifically oriented frame builders use. I
    think Nashbar did it in copy-cat mode.
    
    Try putting together some pencils using scotchtape for joint compound
    and see if the result is a bit stiffer.
    
    As for those brakes: It's aerodynamically sound, looks high tech,
    and I'm sure it make the commute to work at least .0001% faster.
    
    Check out a few bike shops, the fancy features this year are
    click shifters, multi-color fade paint jobs, and aero brakes.
    
    (It's not my bike.)
    
    ed
348.2SHR001::DEHAHNWed Jun 17 1987 12:0010
    
    I have aero levers on my best bike because they makes brake actuation 
    stiffer and more positive. The cable is shorter and bound to the bike,
    so it doesn't flop around like conventional lever cables do.
    Admittedly, I was skeptical at first putting $30 Dia-Compe levers
    on $125 Campy brakes, but after riding them for a while they grew
    on me. The combination is a lot stiffer than the stock SR setup.
    
    CdH
    
348.3More ? about the Nashbar frameBOOKIE::WIEGLERWed Jun 17 1987 15:496
    The point about the frame geometry is one I'd like to pursue further.
    The only other bike I've seen with a frame design like Nashbar's
    was an old Columbia steel frame that I picked up cheap at a garage
    sale years ago.  If it's such a good design, why don't other companies
    follow the style?  Is it just a matter of tradition?
    
348.4aero leversRETORT::SCHNARECHARLIE SCHNAREWed Jun 17 1987 17:278
    Another feature about aero levers are that the cables now do not
    get in the way when your moving your hands around on the bars. This
    you'll notice much more if you use a handle bar mounted computer,
    water bottle, or pack. I have two bikes one with and one without
    and I find it very annoying dealing with the cables on the bike
    without aero levers. One detracting feature is if you have to replace
    your cable covers you must remove your handle bar tape.
    
348.5I don't have oneNOVA::FISHERP-B-P qualifiedThu Jun 18 1987 10:357
    re: frame geometry.  I think some of it is traditionalism.  More
    though is quantifiable measurements.  I remember a review of a
    quality frame a few year back that was built doing this and there
    were some measurements that indicated "stiffer."  But there's also
    an added cost for the frame builder.  It seems that there must exist
    a pair of lugs which help join the seat stays to the seat tube and
    top tube.  This would add to the weight of the machine.
348.6Longer stays, but no extra lugs...MENTOR::REGHusqvarna Sonata fur A# saw und voodFri Jun 19 1987 17:129
    re .5	I think the seat stays are just brazed to the top tube
    and seat tube, i.e. no extra lugs required.  Maybe the seat stays
    are a bit longer, probably worth the ounce or two extra weight for
    more stiffness.  I would guess this would have the most benefit
    on the bigger frame sizes, difficult to find seat stays a couple
    of inches longer than the longest ones though.
    
    	Reg