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Triangle or Trapezoid-ish?

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Triangle or Trapezoid-ish?

Old 08-21-20, 09:05 AM
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taylorgeo
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Triangle or Trapezoid-ish?

I read that "triangles are the most rigid structural object known."

Being that the front of this Kona Dew frame is not technically a triangle, wouldn't it be stronger if the top and down tubes were welded together?


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Old 08-21-20, 01:26 PM
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Yes, but....
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Old 08-21-20, 02:38 PM
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I miss the days of lugged frames. Those great big stack of quarters welds are beyond my current welding ability so to that end I pay homage. But those are just too big and draw way too much attention away from the bike's lines.

Saw a documentary on building bridges. The bridge designer said anyone can build something strong, the real trick is to build it with a minimum of materials.

To answer your question yes, adding more braces would make it stronger. Using solid metal bars would make it stronger yet. But making it stronger than it needs to be just adds weight.

Last edited by Pop N Wood; 08-21-20 at 03:13 PM.
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Old 08-21-20, 02:49 PM
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Originally Posted by taylorgeo
Being that the front of this Kona Dew frame is not technically a triangle, wouldn't it be stronger if the top and down tubes were welded together?
No. Some small frame sizes are made that way to avoid the need for a smaller diameter wheel. The problem (well, one of the problems) is that the very short head tube has a tendency to twist in corners, which affects the handling.

Some frames, e.g. BMX, put a gusset between the top tube and down tube, to reinforce that area.
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Old 08-21-20, 03:11 PM
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Originally Posted by Pop N Wood
I miss the days of lugged frames. Those great big stack of quarters welds are beyond my current welding ability so to that end I pay homage. But those are just too draw way too much attention away from a bike's lines.

Saw a documentary on building bridges. The bridge designer said anyone can build something strong, the real trick is to build it with a minimum of materials.

To answer your question yes, adding more braces would make it stronger. Using solid metal bars would make it stronger yet. But making it stronger than it needs to be just adds weight.
Take a look at Casati frames luggless brazing. The pictures of the brazing process are facinating.
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Old 08-21-20, 03:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Mulberry20
Take a look at Casati frames luggless brazing. The pictures of the brazing process are facinating.
Man, Casati make some pretty bikes. Had never heard of them, thanks.

Luggless brazing is what was used on my 70's vintage Schwinns. Hopefully Casati uses something lighter tubing than the boiler steel Schwinn used back in the day.

My 80's Cannondale MTB is aluminum and they took the time to fill and smooth the welds.
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Old 08-21-20, 03:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Pop N Wood
Man, Casati make some pretty bikes. Had never heard of them, thanks.

Luggless brazing is what was used on my 70's vintage Schwinns. Hopefully Casati uses something lighter tubing than the boiler steel Schwinn used back in the day.

My 80's Cannondale MTB is aluminum and they took the time to fill and smooth the welds.
They come in at just under 16lbs fully built out, Columbus tubing and a stainless tube called XCR. The two brothers do the fabrication. For a custom bike, the price isn’t bad either.
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Old 08-22-20, 06:36 AM
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Those boys have some skills.

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Old 08-22-20, 06:51 AM
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Yes the triangle itself would be stronger, but at the expense of the head tube. It would have less depth of structure where it connects to the triangle.
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Old 08-22-20, 03:11 PM
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Buckminster Fuller. The rest of frame design and strength I have to leave to others more knowledgeable than I am.
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Old 08-22-20, 03:37 PM
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taylorgeo
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Originally Posted by shelbyfv

Yes, but....

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Old 08-22-20, 04:00 PM
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If you think that’s bad check out this frame. It doesn’t make a proper triangle in any direction


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