On May 4, 12:47 pm, William <[email protected]> wrote: > Mike > > I'm a terrible double-replyer, so I'm sorry about that. I just called > Keven and he said that the 54 and 58 prototypes were built correctly > to the numbers that are currently on the Riv-site. The finals will be > longer, so the numbers are changing. The Hunqa numbers claim that the > 54 has a 58.4cm effective top tube length, and the final will be > really close to 60cm. The 58 claims to have a 60cm effective top tube > length and the final will be a 62 or so. > On May 4, 12:47 pm, William <[email protected]> wrote: > Mike > > I'm a terrible double-replyer, so I'm sorry about that. I just called > Keven and he said that the 54 and 58 prototypes were built correctly > to the numbers that are currently on the Riv-site. The finals will be > longer, so the numbers are changing. The Hunqa numbers claim that the > 54 has a 58.4cm effective top tube length, and the final will be > really close to 60cm. The 58 claims to have a 60cm effective top tube > length and the final will be a 62 or so. >
Ugh. What is it with Rivendell's long top tubes? I thought the whole idea was to get people to ride bigger frames? On the bigger frames, the top tubes are so long it forces people to buy a smaller frame with a shorter, better fitting top tube and then jack up the stem to get the bars up there. For instance, look at the 67 AHH. The effective seat tube is about 66.3 center to center and the effective top tube is 65. My preference for that frame would be a 61 cm top tube so that I could employ a proportionally appropriate stem of 12 or 13 cm. It seems to me that because of the long top tubes most of Rivendells frames are not designed for drop bars. With the long top tubes you need bars that come back towards you to provide a comfortable reach. I've read the article on how a shallower seat angle effectively shortens the top tube--but that is only 1 cm per degree. So if you currently ride a bike with a 73 seat tube angle, the Hilsen's 72 seat tube angle will allow you to fit a top tube that is 1 cm longer. But on the other end, a Nitto Noodle handlebar has 9.5 cm of reach which is 1 cm longer than most road bars sold today. The net result is that a shallower seat tube angle effectively reduces the top tube length by 1cm, but the Noodle handlebar is 1 cm longer, so that is a scratch. It would be nice if Rivendell made one model where the top tubes were not so long in the large sizes. Taller riders could then choose bigger frames with less stem sticking out of the frame and use a 12 or 13 cm stem with Nitto Noodle's to get the proper reach to the bars. The geometry of the original Hunqapillar seemed to be moving a bit in that direction. On the other hand, some days I hold up my hand and spread my thumb and forefinger apart 4 centimeters, and I look at how small a distance that is, and I wonder if it is even worth thinking about. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
