I completely agree.... I should be taller. 6ft 1.25inches would be perfect. And I should weigh about 195 after each of my four daily meals.
I find that riding a too-small bike is just not as pleasant as riding a right-sized bike. And I think the RBW notions of "right-sized" work perfectly. I'll happily spend your money for you... go custom. Now, concerning the top tubes.... Strength-wise.... my pure speculation as a pure layman is that for the sizes where RBW is using double top tubes, there's substantial strength increase with the diaga-tube versus the 'llel-a-tube. And that increase is probably in the ballpark with the increase of a 'llel- a-tube over a single top tube frame. For the diaga-tube, look how small those triangles are! If it's just marketing, well... it's worked on me. For the 'llel-a-tube... well, adding extra material itself has to help. And it does make the main triangle smaller. But having that long hallway above suggests it's not the most strength-efficient design. That long rectangle allows a lot of leverage for deformation. Of course, the real question is: Do the strength-enhancement differences between one tube vs. 'llel-a-tube vs. diaga-tube matter in a given application: rider height (i.e. frame size), weight, and usage... 200#, 10mph flat paved roads? 275#, 20mph boulder-hopping in sink-hole land? Well, I've made my bet: I've bet that a well-loved 'llel-a-tube'd 60cm Hillborne will last indefinitely with a 260# load daily on not-great roads and decent trails, 5000 miles/year. The first four months have been perfect! I'll let you know in a few years how that's going. Aesthetics-wise... come on! Diaga-tubes just look wacky! :) Okay, they're not that bad. But they do not look great. They're visually confusing, even if you can eek out a symmetry knowing that they simply flipped the middle head-lug. Hate to say it, because it really isn't that bad.... but they put me in mind of the Pontiac Aztek. I'm just sayin'. I wouldn't let it stop me from buying one, of course. My appreciation of its strength, whether or not it made a practical difference for me, easily overwhelms the aesthetics. And it's a bike that says 'I don't care if *you* like it; I do!" to those who note its looks. Non-violent assertions of independence have intrinsic value. And of course, if the diaga-tube'd bike fit but the 'llel-a-tube almost fit... I'd definitely go diaga. But.... I have literally had compliments yelled at me half-a-dozen times by men and women who see my 'llel-a-tubed Hillborne. I have also been stopped by people who simply wanted to tell me they liked my bike and to chat about it. Where did you get it? What's the second tube for? I love the paint! Comments came from non-clubby bike folks *and* from mainstream I-don't- live-for-bikes people. It is a stunningly attractive object. I wouldn't expect such mainstream ad hoc looks love for a Diaga-pillar or Bomba-diag. Oh, and if you do go custom... get a two-tubed Atlantis-y thing instead of a Hunqa-y thing... Based on my Hillborne experiences, having *level* 'llel-a-tubes will probably get women's phone numbers thrown at you. Smokin'! Umm....perhaps you shouldn't mention that to your wife... :) Yours, Thomas Lynn Skean P. S. Yes, I have now planted my feet decidedly on the 'llel-a-tube side of the line. Let's not get all Butter Battle Book over it, please. But snarky barbs a la Wilde or Clemens or Churchill... I love those! On Oct 28, 12:47 pm, Kelly <tkslee...@gmail.com> wrote: > Ok I never fit in a Triumph TR6 or a Spitfire, or well that is a > really long list. > Now I find the perfect bike my AHH... 67cm but some thought I should > go double top tube. I didn't as my test ride on a 65 cm was very tight > even out of the saddle on hard acceration. > > I figured I would get my double top tube on the Hunqapillar to replace > my tour bike.. not to be.. not a big enough bike not to mention they > went to the diagnal tube instead of horizontal.. not sure I like the > look. What about you? Is the diagonal really needed? Was the > horizontal that had been used not a good design or is the diagonal > just overkill in most cases.... > > Talked to my wife about paying for a 65cm Hunqapillar with horizontal > top tubes as a 3k custom. At least that way I get the look I want.. > but short people got no reason.. grrr.. should be a stock size bike.. > ya'll should be taller.. I don't want to wait a year... pout. Ok I'm > over it.. sorry > > If I was even only a 6 footer there would be plenty of frames. Guess > in 20 years I'll be pissed off and talking about bicycles that I > didn't fit on too. > > hmm what to do. -- 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.