New Database of Bike Tubing Measurements
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
New Database of Bike Tubing Measurements
Holiday Greetings C&Vers,
Wondering why that old bike of yours rides so well? Is it the tubing? Check out this database that shows the tubing specs of actual bikes, as measured by a precise ultrasonic device:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...#gid=523030770
Click the "vintage" tab at the base of the spreadsheet to see many vintage bikes.
These measurements are a passion project from Reed K. of the iBOB, Classic Rendezvous, and 650B Google groups. Reed lives in San Francisco. If you'd like him to measure your bike in the name of research and science, please reply to me via PM.
Wondering why that old bike of yours rides so well? Is it the tubing? Check out this database that shows the tubing specs of actual bikes, as measured by a precise ultrasonic device:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...#gid=523030770
Click the "vintage" tab at the base of the spreadsheet to see many vintage bikes.
These measurements are a passion project from Reed K. of the iBOB, Classic Rendezvous, and 650B Google groups. Reed lives in San Francisco. If you'd like him to measure your bike in the name of research and science, please reply to me via PM.
#2
multimodal commuter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NJ, NYC, LI
Posts: 19,808
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
Mentioned: 584 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1908 Post(s)
Liked 574 Times
in
339 Posts
I assume that the bike would have to be in San Francisco, though?
#3
Old Bike Craphound
This sounds like it has great potential to learn and spread information. I hope that lots of folks in SF get their bikes "scoped". Unfortunately for me, non of my V&C bikes or tandems are among the bikes listed.
#5
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Yes, it's ideal if you and your bike(s) are in San Francisco, so you can ride to Reed's place for tube measurement. But if anyone really wanted to send a frame to him and pay for return shipment, that might work, too.
#8
Crawlin' up, flyin' down
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Democratic Peoples' Republic of Berkeley
Posts: 5,653
Bikes: 1967 Paramount; 1982-ish Ron Cooper; 1978 Eisentraut "A"; two mid-1960s Cinelli Speciale Corsas; and others in various stages of non-rideability.
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1025 Post(s)
Liked 2,525 Times
in
1,055 Posts
PM sent.
__________________
"I'm in shape -- round is a shape." Andy Rooney
"I'm in shape -- round is a shape." Andy Rooney
#9
multimodal commuter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NJ, NYC, LI
Posts: 19,808
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
Mentioned: 584 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1908 Post(s)
Liked 574 Times
in
339 Posts
I ask cuz I have a couple frames that are probably Accles & Pollock Kromo tubing, similar to 531 but a true chrome molybdenum steel rather than manganese molybdenum steel, and they seem to be a little lighter than 531 frames. Must be pretty thin stuff.
But alas San Francisco isn't happening.
But alas San Francisco isn't happening.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada - burrrrr!
Posts: 11,674
Bikes: 1958 Rabeneick 120D, 1968 Legnano Gran Premio, 196? Torpado Professional, 2000 Marinoni Piuma
Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1372 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,751 Times
in
938 Posts
Tube set? That is of minimal importance to me, these days. I do not think that the tubing type has much to do with comfort, or speed, or handling or anything else, except to stroke the ego of the bicycle owner. I do accept the fact that lighter means more competitive, but not more comfortable, or dependable or anything else, again in my opinion.
The best feeling bike, that I have ever owned, built and ridden was not exotic in any way. But the ride quality was stunning and I am so sorry that I was stupid enough to sell that old, entry lever Italian Legnano that I found at the Dump...
The best feeling bike, that I have ever owned, built and ridden was not exotic in any way. But the ride quality was stunning and I am so sorry that I was stupid enough to sell that old, entry lever Italian Legnano that I found at the Dump...
__________________
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
#11
Senior Member
Interesting project!
Much can be done with the data. Like overall thickest and thinnest frameset. Some graphs would be nice, easier to comapare and see the full range.
What precise ultrasonic device (brand, model, etc)?
Much can be done with the data. Like overall thickest and thinnest frameset. Some graphs would be nice, easier to comapare and see the full range.
What precise ultrasonic device (brand, model, etc)?