Questions tagged [frames]
Bicycle frame construction, selection, maintenance, and repair.
775
questions
48
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3answers
20k views
Why do men's bicycles have a top tube while women's bicycles don't?
Bicycles intended for men have a top tube that always hits me on that embrassing part when I brake.
Conversely, women's bikes often don't have a top tube. Why is this?
36
votes
4answers
35k views
How can you recognise a quality steel frame?
I'm looking to buy/build a road bike and I would like it to:
last 100 years
have a low environmental cost
As I'm not interested in shedding grams (a diet would be more helpful for me), I'm leaning ...
35
votes
7answers
37k views
What is the difference between a horizontal top tube and a sloped one?
Some comparable bicycles have a crossbar (top tube) that's horizontal:
Others have one that's sloped:
What are the reasons for either frame design? Is it merely style preferences? Or is there more ...
34
votes
5answers
7k views
How to choose a bike for a very tall and heavy person?
So I have wanted to ride a bike for a long time, I do strongman training, I am 6'6 (200cm) tall and kinda fluctuate between 440 - 480 pounds (200-220 kg) depending on what training I am on.
We are ...
32
votes
8answers
140k views
What are the differences between men's and women's bike frames?
Why do women's bikes have a diagonal bar in the frame instead of a horizontal frame? Is this the only difference?
Sorry if this has been asked (but I cannot find it by searching) and I also just ...
31
votes
6answers
62k views
Why is carbon fiber inherently weak? Or is it?
This question got me to thinking: If it were possible for me to use a carbon frame, I would, but the expense and my riding style keep me using steel and aluminum. (I like hauling stuff on racks and I'...
asked Nov 10 '10 at 2:45
Goodbye Stack Exchange
17.4k17 gold badges95 silver badges165 bronze badges
29
votes
2answers
15k views
Road bike carbon fiber frame life span
I have read in several places that the carbon fiber has a shorter life span than the aluminium, and i was wondering just what would it be.
I am not referring to accident related failures of the frame....
27
votes
5answers
108k views
Should my foot be able to step flat on the ground, when I sit on a bike seat?
I was wondering, for a correctly sized mountain bike, or hybrid, should I be able to place my foot flat on the ground, when I sit on the bike seat?
27
votes
5answers
16k views
Explaining the effects of frame geometries
I asked about buying a bike here, and someone asked on my behalf about test-riding a bike before buying.
My question is, what should I know, or should have known, about the sizing or 'geometry' of a ...
24
votes
8answers
7k views
I keep breaking my road frames - why?
I've gone through four five frames in the last decade or so, all from different manufacturers, all steel but both lugged and welded both steel and aluminium. Every one of them has eventually developed ...
23
votes
4answers
3k views
Can road bumps excite frame eigen frequencies?
During my last bike holiday I have happened to ride downwhill on roads which had transversal stripes to mark the approaching of a turn.
The stripes were made with road paint, and were slightly higher ...
22
votes
18answers
5k views
What different frame materials have been used?
In response to yet another frame materials question, I thought it might be useful to start with a more answerable question. One answer per material please, with an example of a bicycle frame using ...
22
votes
5answers
79k views
DIY Painting a Bike Frame: Is it possible?
I have painted a couple bike frames (think really cheap garage-find rebuilds) with varying degrees of failure. Can you help me correct/fill in the missing pieces of my frame painting process?
...
21
votes
2answers
10k views
Dealing with rust on a steel frame
I have a small spot of rust on the bottom side of my steel frame's top tube (Columbus Niobium tubing). It's from abrasion during transport that I didn't notice until it was too late. The spot is ...
20
votes
11answers
22k views
How does a bike's weight affect the overall experience of owning it?
Naturally, carrying a light bike up the stairs is much more enjoyable compared to a heavier bike. Are there any other aspects of a bike which are affected by its weight?
For example, would the weight ...
20
votes
9answers
49k views
How many years an aluminium frame lasts in a touring bike?
How long does an aluminium frame lasts in a touring bike?
[Removed extra questions to be clear.]
Background
So far I preferred aluminium vs. steel for many reasons, but if steel lasts significantly ...
19
votes
5answers
4k views
Why the penny-farthing?
The penny-farthing was the standard until the diamond-frame "safety bike" was "invented" and revolutionalized the world of bikes.
It seems to me strange to have to "invent" to put the same size of ...
19
votes
11answers
26k views
Is there such a thing as frame failure?
Several general questions have been asked regarding how long a bike or bike frame will "last", and the gist of answers seems to be that a bike can last quite a while if the replaceable components are ...
19
votes
2answers
1k views
How to prepare a frame for a new paintjob
I want to have my bike frame repainted.
What should I do before I give it to the paint shop? How would they like to have it prepared?
18
votes
6answers
6k views
How is this damaged aluminium frame likely to fail?
I had an unplanned collision with a car yesterday (everyone is fine, thankfully) but my bike – a Giant Revolt 1 – now has a lovely new pair of dents.
I cycled it home from the collision (~6km) and it ...
18
votes
9answers
28k views
Rear wheel slipping out under load
My commuting/cyclocross bike (a Surly Crosscheck) has a problem.
If I tighten the quick release skewer to a normal level, sort of firm to close it, then if I step on the pedals hard at some point, ...
18
votes
4answers
30k views
Should or can I (car) wax my frame?
Having spent the whole summer taking a bike apart, painting it and now in the process of building it again, I was thinking about waxing it. I want the finish to last as long as possible, after all, I'...
17
votes
11answers
119k views
What are the advantages and disadvantages of riding a smaller Mountain Bike frame?
I am 182cm (5' 11'') tall and am looking into buying a new frame for my mountain bike.
Right now i have a 19'' frame and i found a good deal on a 17'' frame.
The guy from the shop told me that it ...
16
votes
10answers
12k views
Removing Seat Post rusted into downtube
I have an old steel frame (Columbus Number 2 I think) that has the seat post (Suntour Superbe Pro - see, I said it was old!) rusted in. I have tried lots of WD-40 but it will not budge.
Any tips on ...
16
votes
5answers
5k views
Why is it common for cheap bikes to have the frame sawn in half below the saddle?
These days cheap bikes often seem to come with the frame sawn in half below the saddle.
What does the manufacturer gain from this design, and why is it associated mostly with cheap, low quality ...
16
votes
1answer
1k views
What is this frame feature for?
I have a Kinesis Tripster ATR. The drive-side seat stay has a lug on it whose purpose I can't work out:
There's no such feature on the other seat stay. What is it for?
16
votes
2answers
11k views
Bamboo bikes - the verdict?
I'm curiously interested in buying a bamboo bike for use as a Sunday road bike, and I'm just wondering whether they're suitable:
Strength at high speed? I live near Parbold, which has nice hill for ...
16
votes
3answers
20k views
How do I measure the size of my bicycle frame?
From what point to where do I start measuring? I suspect the bike I'm trying to measure is a 56cm because I usually ride a 54 and this is slightly too big, but I want to be sure.
16
votes
5answers
12k views
How does stiffness in carbon frames increase speed?
I have a Specialized Roubaix with a 7r carbon frame; the Tarmac has 11r. Will I notice a speed change if I ride "exactly" under the same conditions? Does the additional 4r = more speed? I am thinking ...
15
votes
5answers
7k views
What is the purpose of a serial number?
It seems like pretty much everywhere I look, serial numbers can't do the things that it seems they should be able to do.
They can't help people figure out what bike they have.
They can't help at all ...
15
votes
3answers
3k views
Why do some triathlon seatposts go straight up and down instead of at an angle?
Why is it that some triathlon bikes have a seat post that adjusts straight up and down instead of the more standard axis that aims at the bottom bracket?
This means that if you raise (or lower) the ...
14
votes
3answers
7k views
Can I glue this crack as a temporary solution?
I suddenly noticed a crack in my frame.
Is it practical for me to use glue to seal it off as a temporary solution?
Edit: Further information ...two incidents so far. Someone opened their driver ...
14
votes
5answers
9k views
Can the top tube on a mens bike be cut off?
I want to cut the crossbar on a mens bike to make it easier to get on and off. Will it damage the bike?
14
votes
8answers
55k views
Don't integrated headsets wear out, ruining the frame?
I came upon this marvelous explanation of headset types.
However, this got me wondering. Isn't the role of the headset cups similar to that of the derauler hanged - to not waste the frame as soon as ...
14
votes
3answers
2k views
What is this spring between the fork and the frame?
Sometimes on a bike I see a short spring, most often covered in rubber, connecting the fork with the frame:
What is the purpose of it? The only thing that comes to mind is stabilising the fork so it ...
14
votes
3answers
20k views
Repairing a bent bike frame, is it worth it?
I have a bike with an incredibly bent frame. The bike itself I have tried to replace with other inexpensive bixes, but this one just had a certain geometry that I keep wanting to resurrect it. It is ...
14
votes
3answers
6k views
What are the advantages of investment casting?
I'm starting to see more and more frames using investment casting for head tubes, drop outs, seat tubes, etc. Such as the new WTP c.r.e.a.m. frame . It looks nice, but I'm suspect on how much more ...
13
votes
4answers
6k views
Why would a bike feature a "carbon wrapped aluminum frame"?
I saw a link to what appeared to be a Carbon bike on amazon. The price was extremely lower than any carbon bike I had ever seen. After reading a bit, it seems that the bike frame is really made of "...
12
votes
7answers
6k views
Is it worth buying a high end light bike (8.5 kg) from 80' vs recent mid range bike (10kg)
I want to acquire my first road bike with a limited budget (~400€) but I'm faced with a lot of choices, found an old vitus 979 equiped with campagnolo chorus, a little rusty but really pretty and ...
12
votes
2answers
29k views
Is it possible to repair a dent on an aluminium frame?
I have Centurion Cyclo Cross 4000 bike. Recently I got into an accident with a car door. As a result I have a significant dent on my frame(see the photos below).
I have two questions:
Is it possible ...
12
votes
4answers
24k views
Attach bottle cage to frame w/o mount screws
I'm planning on getting a bottle cage for my bike, but my bike does not have the standard mount screws for one. As I understand it, there are two types of cages: bolted cages and clamped cages. I'd ...
12
votes
4answers
18k views
Why offset the rear rim to the hub and not the hub in the frame?
I'm currently reading The Bicycle Wheel by Jobst Brandt, and I'm reading all of the issues with offsetting the rear rim toward the drive side of the hub...
Asymmetry in a rear wheel built for a ...
12
votes
4answers
15k views
Metal seat post with carbon fiber frame?
Is using a metal seat post on a carbon fiber frame advisable or not? I want to use a seat post mounted rack on my road bike (no regular rack mount points are on this bike), but I have been told that ...
12
votes
2answers
10k views
Name that frame! (Likely Japanese, likely made in 1986, with known serial number, likely a Bianchi)
(This post was substanically edited/updated on 5/8/14.)
I have a bike frame of unknown lineage.
What is known:
The serial number under the bottom bracket is IS513786. This fits with the serial ...
11
votes
7answers
3k views
What are the most basic parts of a bicycle which cannot be upgraded over a period of time?
After reading this question: Cheap MTB with future upgrades v/s costly fully ready MTB, I myself had a question.
What are the most fundamental parts of a bicycle? What are the things which we have to ...
11
votes
4answers
2k views
I have a question regarding the structural integrity of my aluminum frame after its having... incurred damage;
Apologies if this has been covered previously, but I didn't see it if it had been, and at this point I'm at a loss.
For context, the bike in question is this year's Haro Double Peak Sport 29
https://...
11
votes
4answers
3k views
To Cold Set or Not To Cold Set?
I have a Trek 620 (Reynolds 531 lugged steel frame) from the mid-80s the rear dropouts are spaced at 126 mm. I'd like to be able to run an 8- or 9-speed cassette and I was wondering about the issues ...
11
votes
3answers
1k views
non-steel frames and longevity
Until recently, I had a late 80's Schwinn aluminum frame bike (now a thief has a 80's Schwinn aluminum frame bike, but that's another story). I had heard a number of horror stories about early ...
11
votes
2answers
8k views
Do I need to plug internal cable routing ports?
I have just ordered a OneUp Components 42T sprocket and a Race Face 30T Narrow/Wide single ring so that I can convert my 3x10 drive train into a 1x10. This means that I'll be removing the front ...
10
votes
4answers
3k views
Banged frame: Is it still safe to use?
My girlfriend's bicycle was vandalized by a neighbour. It seems like they banged it with a hammer or something right in the middle of the frame. Is this still safe to use?
