S-Bend chain stays?

(Ted) said:

I've noticed several road frames that have s-bend shaped chain stays. Is there any purpose to this
other that looks?

Ted

In theory there are two main reasons... it can allow the use of a narrower BB improving the
"Q-factor". they are also stiffer ... I don't know if that stiffness translates into anything when
the frame is built, but in isolation they are stiffer.

Ted said:

I've noticed several road frames that have s-bend shaped chain stays. Is there any purpose to this
other that looks?

Allows you a bit more heel clearance if it's done right. It is done right on my Habanero, but not on
my mountain bike -- there, the out-curve comes too far forward and my heels hit anyway.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all _`\(,_ | mysteries, and all
knowledge; and though I have all faith, so (_)/ (_) | that I could remove mountains, and have not
charity, I am nothing. [1 Corinth. 13:2]

(Ted) said:

I've noticed several road frames that have s-bend shaped chain stays. Is there any purpose to this
other that looks?

Mainly they provide a bit more heel clearance, and perhaps a smidge more tire clearance (depending
on the contour of the bend).

I'll let you guess which is more important when it comes to selling bikes... ;-)

Mark Hickey Habanero Cycles habcycles.comhabcycles.comOpen ↗ Home of the $695 ti frame

ajames54 <[email hidden]> wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

In theory there are two main reasons... it can allow the use of a narrower BB improving the
"Q-factor".

I don't know if any builders are actually doing that since they need to preserve the chainline on
those fat cassettes people are using now (8-9-10 speed). Curved chainstays will, however, give you
more heel clearance if you like riding pidgeon toed (toes pointing outward from your heels).

Quoted message said:

it can allow the use of a narrower BB improving the "Q-factor".

could you please name one builder who uses a bb narrower than 68mm? i think the theory is that they
take some vibration out of the ride.

gary

(Glhudson1) said:

Quoted message said:

it can allow the use of a narrower BB improving the "Q-factor".

could you please name one builder who uses a bb narrower than 68mm? i think the theory is that they
take some vibration out of the ride.

gary

spindle not shell.. sheesh.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

it can allow the use of a narrower BB improving the "Q-factor".

"Glhudson1" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

could you please name one builder who uses a bb narrower than 68mm? i

think

Quoted message said:

the theory is that they take some vibration out of the ride.

I think he meant a shorter crank spindle, not a different hanger shell

--
Andrew Muzi www.yellowjersey.org Open every day since 1 April, 1971

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I've noticed several road frames that have s-bend shaped chain stays. Is there any purpose to this
other that looks?

nope. They are pretty.
-----------------
Alex __O _-\<,_ (_)/ (_)