Re:
Some more details I've found about these frames from period promotional material.
The tubes are stretched and of variable thickness, with the centre of the tubes less than 1mm thick in places which apparently was exceptional for aluminium frames at the time. All the frame tubes are made from the same material, cold-forged 7005 aluminium, including the machined parts such as the wishbone and the dropouts.
The downtube is conical in shape in order to provide a larger cross-section at the bottom bracket where the torsional forces are greatest. The wshbone itself apparently weighs 74g.
The chain stays are ovalized vertically in their front part to provide greater tyre clearance while their shape in the central part gives them great lateral rigidity despite there being no bridge between the stays while also giving a degree of vertical flexibility for rider comfort.
The frames are TIG welded and subjected to T4 heat treatment after welding. Any parts which were subjected to deformations due to heating during welding are reworked in order to be completely aligned, in particular bottom bracket threads and faces, the top and bottom surfaces of the headtube and the bore of the seat tube. The frame is then subjected to a T6 heat treatment to give optimal rigidity and solidity.
The frame geometry was designed around 70 - 100 mm travel forks with an ideal axle-to-crown length of 438mm and is intended to give standard angles of 71/73 when the rider gets on and the fork sags. The rest of the geometry is designed to provide good maneuverability for technical areas, and optimal performance and good stability for downhill.
They say that in addition to giving a tighter main triangle to stiffen the fram, the sloping top tube allows riders who want a more stretched riding position to choose a larger frame without being limited by its height.
The frames were painted in several stages. First a coat of primer was applied, followed by a colour coat, and then a first coat of acrylic varnish. The stickers were then applied before a second coat of varnish was applied. Everything used to clean and paint the frame was apparently completely recycled and environmentally friendly. The driveside chainstay and the underside of the downtube are protected by specially shaped Bikeshield stickers made of a "self-healing" material.
Some more details I've found about these frames from period promotional material.
The tubes are stretched and of variable thickness, with the centre of the tubes less than 1mm thick in places which apparently was exceptional for aluminium frames at the time. All the frame tubes are made from the same material, cold-forged 7005 aluminium, including the machined parts such as the wishbone and the dropouts.
The downtube is conical in shape in order to provide a larger cross-section at the bottom bracket where the torsional forces are greatest. The wshbone itself apparently weighs 74g.
The chain stays are ovalized vertically in their front part to provide greater tyre clearance while their shape in the central part gives them great lateral rigidity despite there being no bridge between the stays while also giving a degree of vertical flexibility for rider comfort.
The frames are TIG welded and subjected to T4 heat treatment after welding. Any parts which were subjected to deformations due to heating during welding are reworked in order to be completely aligned, in particular bottom bracket threads and faces, the top and bottom surfaces of the headtube and the bore of the seat tube. The frame is then subjected to a T6 heat treatment to give optimal rigidity and solidity.
The frame geometry was designed around 70 - 100 mm travel forks with an ideal axle-to-crown length of 438mm and is intended to give standard angles of 71/73 when the rider gets on and the fork sags. The rest of the geometry is designed to provide good maneuverability for technical areas, and optimal performance and good stability for downhill.
They say that in addition to giving a tighter main triangle to stiffen the fram, the sloping top tube allows riders who want a more stretched riding position to choose a larger frame without being limited by its height.
The frames were painted in several stages. First a coat of primer was applied, followed by a colour coat, and then a first coat of acrylic varnish. The stickers were then applied before a second coat of varnish was applied. Everything used to clean and paint the frame was apparently completely recycled and environmentally friendly. The driveside chainstay and the underside of the downtube are protected by specially shaped Bikeshield stickers made of a "self-healing" material.
