A question of lugged frame aesthetics - sloping vs level top tube?

[eBAUMANN]

Originally Posted by MattTuck

Here's my uninformed view on that. It is 100% marketing.

Ok, maybe two frames of the exact same tubing, one being level and one being sloping, you'd get an incremental weight savings... I'm not sure you'd get anything significant in stiffness (atleast very little in pedaling efficiency, that has more to do with the chain stays)...


But your choice of tubing and geometry would have a lot more to do with stiffness than a sloping top tube.

Well I dunno if its ALL marketing...it theoretically makes perfect sense that a smaller triangle would have less lateral flex at the bb given the same geometry and materials. How much stiffer? Who knows. But I would say it should (in theory) be as resistant if not more resistant to deflection compared to a level tt'd frame.

[rpm]

I like the aesthetics of frames where the slope of the stem matches the slope of the top tube. For level top tubes that usually means a level stem.

[choke]

From Tom Kellogg's site...

Our first compact frame (still my favorite frame) was an exact replica of my then current titanium frame in materials and geometry save for the sloping top tube. I designed it with a severe (17 degree) slope to ensure that any differences would be as obvious as possible. We had assumed that the new frame would be somewhat stiffer and lighter. It was lighter (about 4 ounces) but it was not appreciatively stiffer. Although we were able to measure a slight increase in stiffness, it was too slight to feel. The big change came when I stood to accelerate or climb. As I stood up, the bike appeared to loose three pounds. The inertia of the bike as I rocked it back and fourth was reduced so much that I felt as though I was on a twelve-pound bike.

http://www.spectrum-cycles.com/geometry.php

[FlashUNC]

Level. Compact only in non lugged applications.

[christian]

Yeah, LTTFL, homes. (Level top tubes for life.) It ain't a mountain bike.

My Colnago plastic-bike has a sloping top tube. I cry about it sometimes, but happycampyer gave me a solid deal on it, so...

[DHallerman]

Visually?
Lugged frames?
Most definitely need level top tubes.

With welded or fillet-brazed frames, though, a sloping top tube can look good.

And maybe it's the bike, and not the tube, but my only main road bike with a sloping top tube -- a Burley Fox Hollow -- always feels more agile for cornering. I feel the extra space between me and the top tube gives me greater comfort, and I can lean more when I corner, and therefore corner faster.

Dave, who in general used to think lugged frames looked best but with his Ritchey Road Classic and his wife's Kirk both fillet-brazed he's increasing loving that smooth look connecting tubes

[SPOKE]

For aroad bike I don't like more than 4 degrees of slope on my bikes.

[Ozrider]

Big size bikes look better with a slight slope on the Tat, otherwise you have the rear triangle looking pretty weird in my opinion.

[OtayBW]

For me: level....period.
BTW, that red one is one spectacular sumbeatch!

[summilux]

Level toptube for sure. AND stem parallel to the toptube (at least for me).

[seanile]

unless the DT is massive and the TT shaped somewhat, im partial to level. also depends on the components somewhat...until i surf through a neo-retro thread, then im reassured.

[David Kirk]

I heard someone say recently that "3� is the new level."

dave

[blessthismess]

Another vote for level top tubes. Nothing particularly against sloping but if you are asking me to chose then I'd choose level every time.

[Black Dog]

After the level option in the survey there was one too many choices. I have both, but for a lugged bike level is it.

[thwart]

I consider myself level-headed.

And of course, level-tubed as well.