Which is the Best ?
- Thread starter Lazarus
- Start date
Gazelle.
Hi Laz,
me being pedantic about the Gazelle: a number of English builders - Claud Butler, Hobbs of Barbican, Jack Taylor and Rotrax, and more, were building this style of women's frame from the early post war period.
"Exclusive"English women's frames are rare, but Gazelle weren't innovators.
Oh, and speaking of choirs: I used to sing with the Royal School of Church Music.
Rk.
Hi Laz,
me being pedantic about the Gazelle: a number of English builders - Claud Butler, Hobbs of Barbican, Jack Taylor and Rotrax, and more, were building this style of women's frame from the early post war period.
"Exclusive"English women's frames are rare, but Gazelle weren't innovators.
Oh, and speaking of choirs: I used to sing with the Royal School of Church Music.
Rk.
Total pleasure SomeGuy 
"Thats why we all like to come here, to mix, mingle and share what we know". Take care buddy, and best of luck with the build, yours Laz. PS: you can always PM me if you get stuck with anything, always happy to help if I can.
Hi RK This thread has been a bit sparse without your input my old friend, was wondering if I might have to bribe you out LOL (you know I jest). Always good to hear your input. Said it before "there is a lot in your head that I want" but 1 piece at a time will do me fine
Its funny that you should mention the English aspect of the strengthened toptubes, because the bike I let slip was English. Have to confess that the stay ends that connected to the toptube where finished in a most extra-ordinary but seriously beautiful way. Very long and pointy if I recall them right. Wished I'd downloaded the images from the sale post (like I do with most rare items I come across). I just have a vague memory now, can't even remember the brand, but is was an exquisite item made of 531c and finished by a genius of some sort. I can only recall that the stay ends where "unique" and the whole design "unique". I think perhaps it had curved strengtheners too, but can't be sure, as I have a memory of it merged with a French hand built job too.
What do you think of the Enfield my friend ? "Is it a low end job ?" I'm guessing its late 60's start of the 70's at best, and most likely 531 (since it was the tube most used back then)
Your insight into the Batavus would also be most welcome Nice to see you posting again, and always a pleasure to read what you have to say, pedantic or not, interesting reading is always just that buddy. You yack away and I'll just listen Later RK, yours Laz.
"Thats why we all like to come here, to mix, mingle and share what we know". Take care buddy, and best of luck with the build, yours Laz. PS: you can always PM me if you get stuck with anything, always happy to help if I can.Hi RK
This thread has been a bit sparse without your input my old friend, was wondering if I might have to bribe you out LOL (you know I jest). Always good to hear your input. Said it before "there is a lot in your head that I want" but 1 piece at a time will do me fine Its funny that you should mention the English aspect of the strengthened toptubes, because the bike I let slip was English. Have to confess that the stay ends that connected to the toptube where finished in a most extra-ordinary but seriously beautiful way. Very long and pointy if I recall them right. Wished I'd downloaded the images from the sale post (like I do with most rare items I come across). I just have a vague memory now, can't even remember the brand, but is was an exquisite item made of 531c and finished by a genius of some sort. I can only recall that the stay ends where "unique" and the whole design "unique". I think perhaps it had curved strengtheners too, but can't be sure, as I have a memory of it merged with a French hand built job too.
What do you think of the Enfield my friend ? "Is it a low end job ?" I'm guessing its late 60's start of the 70's at best, and most likely 531 (since it was the tube most used back then)
Your insight into the Batavus would also be most welcome
Nice to see you posting again, and always a pleasure to read what you have to say, pedantic or not, interesting reading is always just that buddy. You yack away and I'll just listen Later RK, yours Laz.The Claud would have been an ok choice, not light in weight though (I sold one recently), and not 531 throughout.
The Ridgeback looks"technically"good...subject to tubing...I get v.fussy about people ranting on about 531 (superb tubeset) but, many, many volume bikes used 531 as a"halo"for marketing purposes when only the maintubes and forks (not always forks) were 531.
Look at all the bikes/frames on fleabay advertised as 531 when they're maintubes only.
Full 531 is a revelation compared to a maintubes only frame. The Motobecane is technically flawed as a frameset simply because of the bent twintubes at the seat tube junction - the tube has lost all its structural integrity with that bend!!!
I'm going to perhaps frustrate the original question - why a women's specific frame - given the nature of the ride...many well known women, racers as well as explorers (Bettina Selby for example) all rode conventional (i.e mens) frames - dimensionally adjusted.
If style is driving the decision then I would always try for a women's frame built by a low volume builder* - but they're rare.
*I do know of a mixte frameset for sale.
Rk.
The Ridgeback looks"technically"good...subject to tubing...I get v.fussy about people ranting on about 531 (superb tubeset) but, many, many volume bikes used 531 as a"halo"for marketing purposes when only the maintubes and forks (not always forks) were 531.
Look at all the bikes/frames on fleabay advertised as 531 when they're maintubes only.
Full 531 is a revelation compared to a maintubes only frame. The Motobecane is technically flawed as a frameset simply because of the bent twintubes at the seat tube junction - the tube has lost all its structural integrity with that bend!!!
I'm going to perhaps frustrate the original question - why a women's specific frame - given the nature of the ride...many well known women, racers as well as explorers (Bettina Selby for example) all rode conventional (i.e mens) frames - dimensionally adjusted.
If style is driving the decision then I would always try for a women's frame built by a low volume builder* - but they're rare.
*I do know of a mixte frameset for sale.
Rk.
Whatever you do avoid anything with those twin lateral tubes. For the weight they are way more flexy than a single pipe. If they were better then all bikes would be made of twin tubes .
Frankly for serious riding like 140 km per day a conventional frame is better, as I assume she's not riding to Paris in a skirt...
If you want to read up on this, get Tony Oliver's 'Touring Bikes' book.
.Frankly for serious riding like 140 km per day a conventional frame is better, as I assume she's not riding to Paris in a skirt...
If you want to read up on this, get Tony Oliver's 'Touring Bikes' book.
The point has already been made, or at least implied that women specific frames (whether dropped top tube or mixte) are, by their very nature,"mechanical"compromises.
However many women, for a myriad of reasons will prefer to have this type of frame to a conventional, i.e man's, frame.
On women's frames, mechanical superiority of one type over another; i.e the drop top tube over the mixte (or vice versa), will ultimately depend on the builder and the tubeset - and the"build style"*.
And must not forget the good old subjective issue of what the rider might prefer.
Rk.
*see my previous post on this - as I have not mentioned the drop top tube, six rear stay style of women's frame - the"drop tt mixte"?
However many women, for a myriad of reasons will prefer to have this type of frame to a conventional, i.e man's, frame.
On women's frames, mechanical superiority of one type over another; i.e the drop top tube over the mixte (or vice versa), will ultimately depend on the builder and the tubeset - and the"build style"*.
And must not forget the good old subjective issue of what the rider might prefer.
Rk.
*see my previous post on this - as I have not mentioned the drop top tube, six rear stay style of women's frame - the"drop tt mixte"?
majestique
Although as a Gazelle owner I love that frame I bought a Majestique for the other half and I think its a great looking bike. I would love to see one updated with modern components to lighten it up a bit but as the other half has only been out on it once its staying original for the time being. If she'd agree to do L'Eroica with me I might raid my stockpile, in the meantime I'd like to see someone else do something interesting with a mixte.
Although as a Gazelle owner I love that frame I bought a Majestique for the other half and I think its a great looking bike. I would love to see one updated with modern components to lighten it up a bit but as the other half has only been out on it once its staying original for the time being. If she'd agree to do L'Eroica with me I might raid my stockpile, in the meantime I'd like to see someone else do something interesting with a mixte.
alecstilleyedye
Dirt Disciple
there's a mixte and a normal step through frame in our house. unfortunately i'm not able to really ride the elswick (even at 5'7" i'm too talll) so i can't really give a comparison. both were ebay purchases for £50 or less…
Just need to bump this back up do I don't lose it Despite all my own recent setbacks, this project is still very ON delayed slightly, but ON Pics to follow real soon. Thanks again everyone for all the input, yours Laz.
PS: Missed an absolute gem a few weeks back (had to look the other way) 531c womans bike. It's still making me ill thinking about it. Ah well !
Despite all my own recent setbacks, this project is still very ON delayed slightly, but ON Pics to follow real soon. Thanks again everyone for all the input, yours Laz.PS: Missed an absolute gem a few weeks back (had to look the other way) 531c womans bike. It's still making me ill thinking about it. Ah well !
