[CR]Re: Frame Flex

(Example: Production Builders:Peugeot)

Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2005 10:42:25 -0700 (PDT)
From: "John Clay" <jmedclay@yahoo.com>
To: Classic Rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: [CR]Re: Frame Flex

One of the things I learned in mechanical engineering school was that structural analysis and testing aren't easy and the (correct) results are frequently counter-intuitive. Adding an analysis of power delivery as it relates to bicycle speed or efficiency and you've got a mighty imposing task on your hands. Here is an article by an engineer who's put substantial thought and effort into modeling a bicycle frame as it relates to power and deflection. A quick read and his conclusions sound well grounded to me. He doesn't violate any big ticket "first principles" that I can see. The analysis and conclusions make sense so I tend to think he's in the correct zip code.

Short version: I wouldn't be too quick to utterly dismiss reasonable frame flex as an aid to propulsion.

http://www.bikethink.com/Frameflex.htm

John Clay Tallahassee, FL

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