Jimmy, do curved stays absorb road shock? I have two Hetchins, one 'proper' and one built in Leeds. Both nice bikes, but how do you tell if the curly bits absorb shocks? I am sure there have been posts on this issue before. All I can add to the discussion on the benefits is that I can't tell the difference! Perhaps someone will devise a jig to measure deflection v load and come up with a scientific analysis. What the hell, my bum doesn't know or care, but curly stays do look good! Did a 50 mile club run last Thursday on my fixed gear Bird-Bourne from 1937 - Bailey bars, Conloy rims, Burlite brakes, Williams transmission and a Brooks, of course. Super comfortable with laid back angles and a real club racer. Built by Metropolitan Machinists for Len Levesley, who was working for Jim Bird of Colindale before Hitler put a stop to his fun. After a full day riding (lots of time for coffee and lunch!) I felt as fresh as a daisy, as my mum used to say. Len tells me he only ever had four Bird-Bournes made and mine was the first. I do wonder if any more survived. Nigel Land North Lincs UK
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2006 18:22:06 +0000 From: "Mick Butler" <pariscyclesuk@hotmail.com> To: jimmycue@yahoo.com Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: RE: [CR]Curved stays Message-ID: <BAY114-F1C0F792E4D3A305D48CA6ABB00@phx.gbl> In-Reply-To: <20060430175756.1376.qmail@web35505.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed MIME-Version: 1.0 Precedence: list Message: 17
Dear Jimmy, Both formed in house and purchased formed from Reynolds best ask Hilary. When talking of curved stays everyone thinks automatically of Hetchins but please don't forget "Alpex" these had curved chain stays and seat tube. They were built Sarf of the water (Summerstown S.London) funnily enough just around the corner from Grubbs in Haydon Road. The name of the firm was A.P.L or Ayley's Products Limited, Caxton Road S.W.19. My Father-in-Law told me that some of Fred Grubb's builders left to work there, this would be about 1950. Best wishes Mick.
>From where the wheels don't spin as fast as they use to. Be lucky Michael
Butler Huntingdon UK.
>From: jimmy katynski <jimmycue@yahoo.com>
>To: framebuilders@phred.org
>CC: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>Subject: [CR]Curved stays
>Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2006 10:57:56 -0700 (PDT)
>
>On bikes with curved stays ala hetchins does it really
>make any differnce in ride? Do they actually act like
>a suspension and absorb more road shock? I was
>wondering if you need special equipment to bend the
>tubes or are they supplied from tube maker allready
>bent?
>Thanks to all.
>
>Jimmy Katynski
>31543 Edgeworth Dr
>Madison Heights Mi 48071
>248-396-3465