In a message dated 6/14/06 9:05:44 AM, heine94@earthlink.net writes:
>I am not qualified to answer that, as I never have ridden two
>otherwise identical bikes with just different diameter top or down
>tubes. However, I doubt anybody else alive today has had that direct
>comparison, either.
I have some thoughts on this subject. While I haven't made identical bikes
with oversize top tubes and 1" tubes, I have made identical bikes-my own are all
built to the same plan-with .9/.6 and very light-I think a .6/.4-top tubes.
The result? No difference in the ride BUT these bikes are not ridden with a
load. I have made touring bikes with 1 1/4" downtubes and 1 1/8" top tubes and
they felt quite ridgid. While I'm not calibrated the frames did not feel as if
they were twisting under load-30 lbs front and 30 lbs rear. I also believe that
cast BB shells made a big difference. They also steered nicely under load
but I build touring bikes in the French style with a lot of rake resulting in a
low trail solution. These bikes steer well with a lot of load in the front.
Just my 2 cents.
Phil Brown
San Rafael, Calif.