Agree Neil. But on the other hand BITD the understanding and level of rapid experimention and parts selection was
all over the place. Not to mention measurement specs not aligned across board (ie. agreeing where to measure
the seat-tube height, and catagorically stating what fork the frames were designed around, and let's not forget
the introduction of trendy in-line seat-posts).
Trial and error can be a bit of a long and costly waste, and a risk of dismissing a decent frame as crap if not
set-up within reasonable limits how it "should be".
My reference for a great handling frame as always been a early/mid-90s Kona with a 73 / 71. I've had a Parkpre Pro Elite with
a 72 degree parallel, with a 115 mm headtube; trial and error got it for a 395 axel to crown fork to be nice and sharp without
being overly nervous at speed.
A DBR Axis TT with it's pecular 74 / 71.5 and 110mm headtube of approx the same period was a right
faff to get right. I automatically assumed a 395mm would pop right in and could tweak the rest which
was completely off. The rigid fork needed was 410mm and with a 130mm stem to make up for it's shorter
top-tube still gives a nice sharp ride.
all over the place. Not to mention measurement specs not aligned across board (ie. agreeing where to measure
the seat-tube height, and catagorically stating what fork the frames were designed around, and let's not forget
the introduction of trendy in-line seat-posts).
Trial and error can be a bit of a long and costly waste, and a risk of dismissing a decent frame as crap if not
set-up within reasonable limits how it "should be".
My reference for a great handling frame as always been a early/mid-90s Kona with a 73 / 71. I've had a Parkpre Pro Elite with
a 72 degree parallel, with a 115 mm headtube; trial and error got it for a 395 axel to crown fork to be nice and sharp without
being overly nervous at speed.
A DBR Axis TT with it's pecular 74 / 71.5 and 110mm headtube of approx the same period was a right
faff to get right. I automatically assumed a 395mm would pop right in and could tweak the rest which
was completely off. The rigid fork needed was 410mm and with a 130mm stem to make up for it's shorter
top-tube still gives a nice sharp ride.
