Re: Calfee Compact Frame Options
07/08/04 02:46 AM (68.192.78.228)
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Calfee has a long bit of information on this in a FAQ they have, and I'm sure they'd be happy to send it to you if you call them.
Basically what it boils down to is this: the compact frame design was invented for bike manufactures to be able to reduce the number of frames they build. Instead of bikes at a 1 or 2 cm increment, the bike companies can simply build 3 frames. They then leave the bike "fit" up to stem length, seatpost height, etc.
The problem here is that a compact frame doesn't really add anything to the ride; the supposed weight savings from a compact frame are usually lost by needing a longer seat-tube, the stiffness can be designed into the frame by the layup of the CF and more stress is put on the seat tube.
Since Calfee does true, traditional custom bikes, they don't see a need to build one "custom" that was designed to make bikes less "custom".