how common was fluted steel bike frameset tubing?
12-12-20, 06:53 PM
#1
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how common was fluted steel bike frameset tubing?
Q1: what was the intent? ( I'm assuming it was added rigidity/ stiffness)
Q2: why wasn't it more/ still common?
Q2: why wasn't it more/ still common?
12-12-20, 10:45 PM
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Fluting is an old method to increase the stiffness of a tube by increasing the section modulus relative to to a specific axis or axes, depending on the number of flutes.
The practice goes back to at least the 1950s and probably further, though it started gaining momentum when it was re-introduced in the 1970s and it peaked in the late 1980s. While the tubes were more expensive due to the extra processing, the tubes could be joined using traditional lugs and the appearance provided a good marketing opportunity.
Fluting is probably most widely known via the Gilco tubing used on the Colnago Master variants, though Colnago has used various fluted tubes over the years. In the late 1980s Oria had an ML25 fluted tubeset used by Montagner, Moser and some others. Some manufacturers fluted their own tubes. including Tommasini and possibly Guerciotti and Rossin.
While it had it's advocates, I wouldn't call it widespread by any means. It had limited appeal and use. Also, lest one get the impression that it was a high end feature there were entry level boom models with fluted tubes under brand names such as the Jupiter Beat, University and Sanki.
The movement started losing impetus circa 1990 with the introduction of stiffer, oversized and non-round, steel, road tubesets.. The former were cheaper to produce than the fluted tubes with their extra processing and later provided more selective stiffening. The initial problem was that tubes required special lugs, as with the earlier attempts like the Masi Volumetrica and Columbus MS tubesets. However, the adoption of TIG welding from the BMX and ATB industries solved that problem.
The practice goes back to at least the 1950s and probably further, though it started gaining momentum when it was re-introduced in the 1970s and it peaked in the late 1980s. While the tubes were more expensive due to the extra processing, the tubes could be joined using traditional lugs and the appearance provided a good marketing opportunity.
Fluting is probably most widely known via the Gilco tubing used on the Colnago Master variants, though Colnago has used various fluted tubes over the years. In the late 1980s Oria had an ML25 fluted tubeset used by Montagner, Moser and some others. Some manufacturers fluted their own tubes. including Tommasini and possibly Guerciotti and Rossin.
While it had it's advocates, I wouldn't call it widespread by any means. It had limited appeal and use. Also, lest one get the impression that it was a high end feature there were entry level boom models with fluted tubes under brand names such as the Jupiter Beat, University and Sanki.
The movement started losing impetus circa 1990 with the introduction of stiffer, oversized and non-round, steel, road tubesets.. The former were cheaper to produce than the fluted tubes with their extra processing and later provided more selective stiffening. The initial problem was that tubes required special lugs, as with the earlier attempts like the Masi Volumetrica and Columbus MS tubesets. However, the adoption of TIG welding from the BMX and ATB industries solved that problem.
Last edited by T-Mar; 12-12-20 at 10:50 PM.
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12-13-20, 09:33 AM
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Fluting is an old method to increase the stiffness of a tube by increasing the section modulus relative to to a specific axis or axes, depending on the number of flutes.
The practice goes back to at least the 1950s and probably further, though it started gaining momentum when it was re-introduced in the 1970s and it peaked in the late 1980s. While the tubes were more expensive due to the extra processing, the tubes could be joined using traditional lugs and the appearance provided a good marketing opportunity.
Fluting is probably most widely known via the Gilco tubing used on the Colnago Master variants, though Colnago has used various fluted tubes over the years. In the late 1980s Oria had an ML25 fluted tubeset used by Montagner, Moser and some others. Some manufacturers fluted their own tubes. including Tommasini and possibly Guerciotti and Rossin.
While it had it's advocates, I wouldn't call it widespread by any means. It had limited appeal and use. Also, lest one get the impression that it was a high end feature there were entry level boom models with fluted tubes under brand names such as the Jupiter Beat, University and Sanki.
The movement started losing impetus circa 1990 with the introduction of stiffer, oversized and non-round, steel, road tubesets.. The former were cheaper to produce than the fluted tubes with their extra processing and later provided more selective stiffening. The initial problem was that tubes required special lugs, as with the earlier attempts like the Masi Volumetrica and Columbus MS tubesets. However, the adoption of TIG welding from the BMX and ATB industries solved that problem.
The practice goes back to at least the 1950s and probably further, though it started gaining momentum when it was re-introduced in the 1970s and it peaked in the late 1980s. While the tubes were more expensive due to the extra processing, the tubes could be joined using traditional lugs and the appearance provided a good marketing opportunity.
Fluting is probably most widely known via the Gilco tubing used on the Colnago Master variants, though Colnago has used various fluted tubes over the years. In the late 1980s Oria had an ML25 fluted tubeset used by Montagner, Moser and some others. Some manufacturers fluted their own tubes. including Tommasini and possibly Guerciotti and Rossin.
While it had it's advocates, I wouldn't call it widespread by any means. It had limited appeal and use. Also, lest one get the impression that it was a high end feature there were entry level boom models with fluted tubes under brand names such as the Jupiter Beat, University and Sanki.
The movement started losing impetus circa 1990 with the introduction of stiffer, oversized and non-round, steel, road tubesets.. The former were cheaper to produce than the fluted tubes with their extra processing and later provided more selective stiffening. The initial problem was that tubes required special lugs, as with the earlier attempts like the Masi Volumetrica and Columbus MS tubesets. However, the adoption of TIG welding from the BMX and ATB industries solved that problem.
12-13-20, 04:14 PM
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Here is my 2008 Colnago Master X-light with fluted tubing, purchased new as frame and fork.
More details on the build here.
More details on the build here.
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