I have been reading the recent discussion of frame flex with some interest.
Especially the discussion of Damon Rinard's deflection tests
http://sheldonbrown.com/
I can say that I haven't much use for any bike that autoshifts when the
rider is powering up hills out of the saddle. This has been known to happen
with very flexey bikes. I have a very knowledgeable friend who constantly
warns me not to do this on my Paramount, however, and I can say it has
never happened to me. Perhaps more due to lack of power than to any great
rigidity of the bike itself. Years ago I did own a Miyata where this was a
problem. Perhaps there was more power available back then :^).
When Jan mentions "Then all of us on the flexey, thin-gauge Masis, Colnagos,
Cinellis and Paramounts will be left in the dust!" when presented with a
modern super stiff, super light bike, I am sure he has tongue planted firmly
in Cheek. At any rate, I cordially invite any and all of you to take the 3V
out for a spin next time you are over to the house or next time you see me
with it. To me it feels just like all the other 3Vs I have owned, both
Italian and American. Joe has told me in the past that I'd never get it to
flex, and he was pretty proud of his stay treatment on it.
Tom Sanders
Lansing, Mi