Split Down Tube

[Lifelover]

There is a LandShark Track bike in Ebay with a split seat tube. (no relation to seller).http://i20.ebayimg.com/02/i/000/d8/df/13a5_12.JPG

In all my bike admiring I don't ever recall seeing anything like it. It seems very cool in a "not so common" kinda of way.

Has anyone else made a frame like this.

[swoop]

hey.. that's a seat tube! the down tube is the other one...

[TMB]

There is a LandShark Track bike in Ebay with a split down tube. (no relation to seller).http://i20.ebayimg.com/02/i/000/d8/df/13a5_12.JPG

In all my bike admiring I don't ever recall seeing anything like it. It seems very cool in a "not so common" kinda of way.

Has anyone else made a frame like this.

There have been others , I can't remember who.

Allows them to bring the rear wheel in tighter than otherwise possible.

[Lifelover]

hey.. that's a seat tube! the down tube is the other one...


Oops!

[jthurow]

Rigi (http://www.classicrendezvous.com/Italy/RIGI_main.htm) always comes to mind when I see split seat tubes.

jimi

[Blue Jays]

/\/\ The squirrely-handling Rigi is a classic, especially in all-chromed steel! I remember the original articles about 'em in Bicycling magazine from the early-1980's.

[A.L.Breguet]

/\/\ The squirrely-handling Rigi is a classic, especially in all-chromed steel! I remember the original articles about 'em in Bicycling magazine from the early-1980's.
I really, really wanted one. IIRC they were stainless, not chrome, but I wouldn't bet money on it.






.

[Blue Jays]

They were chromed, hence all the rusting problems.

[A.L.Breguet]

I stand corrected.

Here's a link to a picture of Sheldon Brown taking a picture of a Rigi
http://share.shutterfly.com/view/flashslideshow.jsp?sid=0RcNnDlq2YusA&a=67b0de21b35c4cbf256c

[manet]

I stand corrected.

Here's a link to a picture of Sheldon Brown taking a picture of a Rigi
http://share.shutterfly.com/view/flashslideshow.jsp?sid=0RcNnDlq2YusA&a=67b0de21b35c4cbf256c

pro dude, whadda'bout that thing rominger used to ride

[Gothard]

Rominger rode a Colnago Bititan, twin down tube frame.

[michael white]

well, the Colnagos apparently worked, though I picked one up once, and it wasn't light.

Looking at the Portland photos, it seems that adding more and more tubes here and there seems to be the wave.

I don't get it. It seems silly to me. I sure hope y'all don't mind if I stick with the traditional diamond frame.

[capybaras]

there's one at nahbs - middle photo fifth one down:
http://www.clockworkbikes.com/NAHBS_2008.html

[dannyg1]

They were chromed, hence all the rusting problems.

Nope, the 'chrome' versions were polished stainless. I should know, I own one. Rust was not their big problem, overheating at the braze points was. It seems that overheating leaves the joint brittle and this, in turn, leads to cracking/failure at those joints over time. Once again, I should know, I own one and it's cracking at the downtube/headtube junction. It'll be off for repair as soon as I can stop buying other stuff long enough to put some money toward fixing it.

BTW, the bike rides like a sprung rocket. Hitting a road bump at high speeds is enough to start you praying for all of your past sins; so you hold the handlebars in a vise-like grip and let the bike have its way with you for that moment. It's stiff everywhere, except that the BB moves if (vertically stiff, laterally compliant?) and the fork is like a stiffened rocket pogo. It's great in most riding situations but once you hit its flex point, it tries to buck you off!

Never ridden a bike that was more fun and you'll remember every ride.

Danny

[AgilisMerlin]

Nope, the 'chrome' versions were polished stainless. I should know, I own one. Rust was not their big problem, overheating at the braze points was. It seems that overheating leaves the joint brittle and this, in turn, leads to cracking/failure at those joints over time. Once again, I should know, I own one and it's cracking at the downtube/headtube junction. It'll be off for repair as soon as I can stop buying other stuff long enough to put some money toward fixing it.

BTW, the bike rides like a sprung rocket. Hitting a road bump at high speeds is enough to start you praying for all of your past sins; so you hold the handlebars in a vise-like grip and let the bike have its way with you for that moment. It's stiff everywhere, except that the BB moves if (vertically stiff, laterally compliant?) and the fork is like a stiffened rocket pogo. It's great in most riding situations but once you hit its flex point, it tries to buck you off!

Never ridden a bike that was more fun and you'll remember every ride.

Danny

i quite like the review...........as piss drains out my pants :beer:

[dannyg1]

i quite like the review...........as piss drains out my pants :beer:

Thanks Agilis :beer: ! Of course I reread the thing after your comment and realised that I left a sentence dangling there. Should read: 'The BB moves a tiny touch sideways if you stomp on it'

Danny

[Blue Jays]

Yep, found out from the owner of the bike with which I'm familiar it's definitely stainless, just highly polished.
He read from the original sales literature he got with the bike and I've subsequently seen it online at: RIGI brochure (http://www.classicrendezvous.com/Italy/rigi/RIGI_1979_brochure.htm).

[dannyg1]

And regarding the idea of rust on Rigi: Would anyone really even consider riding this in the wet? Take a good look at the split tube set-up and it'll impress you in a split second, as i were.....

Regards,
Danny