custom frame building

[Aurora]

why not shape the tubes yourself? you ever watched american chopper? they just use different methods to do. there are people in sa with those machines to help you

[EigerSA]

 

bumpetty bump.....is oval/aero tubing available in SA?? or would something like that ave to be imported.....TT bike should atleat be a little aerodynamic!!!

 

On the size tubing you're going to use, the difference between oval and round in terms of aerodynamics is so small it's hardly worth the effort! If you do a bit of research (aka google'ing) you'll see that at the speeds the bike travels, taking into account wind resistance and wetted area, as well as blah blah blah... oval tubing is more a gimmick than anything else, sometimes just "looking fast" is more important to the marketing chaps than actually being faster! THere's so much more to the subject than just the tubing.

 

Not trying to be negative here, but if you're serious about building the bike, then just build the thing with what you got available, or else you'll never get it off the ground. You can always learn how to profile tubing with your second or third build! Oh, and to answer your question, no... that tubing isn't available (to the best of my knowledge, and I've searched hard for it!) and would need to be imported.

 

 

 

[EigerSA]

 

why not shape the tubes yourself? you ever watched american chopper? they just use different methods to do. there are people in sa with those machines to help you

 

Although it seems pretty easy, not really the same. For one thing, a motor bike frame is "overbuilt"... it can afford to be big and heavy since you can just slap in a bigger engine or improve the engine that's already fitted. With steel bikes, lightness is a big issue, so the thinnest tubing possible is used, from 0.8mm to 0.5 (I've heard of a bike being built with 0.3mm!). Tubing this thin can't be banged around and/or welded the same way the "american chopper" boys do. Make sense?

 

[CScriba]

thanks eiger....you got a good pint there hey, ill probly go tube shopping soon and ill see what i can get then.....if its  not oval im not too worried

 

in the end the bikes Aero "ness" has such a small effect anyway, the rider ceates almost all/the majority of the drag

 

[slowtwitch]

Your position i.e. setup on the bike is the important aero matter followed by your wheel choice

[_im_from_earth]

any reason why you are using such a small amount of triangulation for the chain/ seatstays? You'll get a much stiffer rear end by bringing the seatstays hugher on the seat tube

[EigerSA]

 

thanks eiger....you got a good pint there hey' date=' ill probly go tube shopping soon and ill see what i can get then.....if its  not oval im not too worried

 

in the end the bikes Aero "ness" has such a small effect anyway, the rider ceates almost all/the majority of the drag

 

[/quote']

 

No worries. Quick question... have you sorted what size and thickness tubing you using for head tube, seat tube and bb shell? Also are you planning to build the forks as well or buy those? Keep us updated okay!

 

[CScriba]

im going to have to change the tube diameters as the ones i planned with where oval, but i do know roughly what i want.....ill be building the fork aswell-integrated with the handlebars

 

and in my understanding the triangle can be pretty small and apparently incease stiffness if smaller? not sure about that one

 

[EigerSA]

 

im going to have to change the tube diameters as the ones i planned with where oval' date=' but i do know roughly what i want.....ill be building the fork aswell-integrated with the handlebars

 

and in my understanding the triangle can be pretty small and apparently incease stiffness if smaller? not sure about that one

 

[/quote']

 

nope... a bigger triangle gives you better stiffness which gives you better power transfer. find a site called 'cozybeehive' (do a google search) and read through... all your questions should be answered here.  Keep at it!

 

[EigerSA]

You started this yet? Any interesting info or pictures to post? I found the place I ordered my tube-set from, they based in the UK and if you check pricing it is pretty reasonable. Don't let this thread die ok, post any progress!

 

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