on 6/3/10 7:42 PM, LouisvillePatrick at flightofthebomba...@gmail.com wrote:
> So I own a Salsa Casseroll, and I'm finding it positively flimsy under > my 265 pounds, especially under "out of the saddle" efforts. It's > otherwise a very comfie ride, but I know my weight will take it's toll > at some point in some form or fashion. > > At the moment, a 67cm Hilsen is the number one candidate to replace > the Salsa as my clubby ride, brevet bike. I'm told it will have > double top tubes at that size (I'm an 86cm PBH), though many 67's I've > seen online have only one. > > I love my 64cm Bomba and it's double top tubes, but I've had a > *little* trouble getting my head around my "speedy" bike having double > top tubes. I'll get over it, because the second tube does WONDERS for > clydesdale type riders. > > Does anyone have a double top tube Hilsen in a 67cm? Would you care > to type a few words about it? Maybe post a picture or two? I'm definitely not in your frame size range, but the double top tube approach is pretty valid - particularly for taller frames which are flexing. The tall Hilsens were the first to get the twin top tube treatment from Riv - the Bomba design came together after that. About the same time, GP was writing about truss structures in the Readers, and how they distributed forces and created appropriately rigid structures. I think that was the genesis of that twin top tube approach when appropriate. There are others who have reached the same conclusion - Bernie Mikkelsen as an example: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimg/403130063/ Obviously, you have to get your mind around it, but as evidence in favor, I'd point out that if your Salsa is flexing and you are in love with your Bomba, it sounds like you're already there. The actual weight of a top tube and the two half-lugs is pretty danged minimal. If you plunked 'em on a balance scale with a water bottle on the other side.... The resultant ride is going to be what a smaller sized rider gets with a single top tube frame - riv comfort and superb handling. Just what you want for your next brevet. - Jim -- Jim Edgar cyclofi...@earthlink.net Cyclofiend Bicycle Photo Galleries - http://www.cyclofiend.com Current Classics - Cross Bikes Singlespeed - Working Bikes Gallery updates now appear here - http://cyclofiend.blogspot.com "That which is overdesigned, too highly specific, anticipates outcome; the anticipation of outcome guarantees, if not failure, the absence of grace." William Gibson - "All Tomorrow's Parties" -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
