What no horizontal top tube

[YahudaMoon]

About the year 1999 I noticed a new breed of road frames with sloping top tubes, of what of the time was OK though nowadays it seems the standard for all major manufactures using the sloping top tube design making horizontal top tubes more or less redundant on BSO road bikes, even Brian Rourke has taken the sloping top tube approach

Though if Im buying a fast fast fast bike like a TT or Velo Track from the major manufactures you'll always get the horizontal top tube designed frame.

So I guess sloping top tubes must be slower, and ... lets have it right, more ugly

Im after a new bike, guess I'll buy an old classic or have a custom frame built

No more sloping top tubes in my yard

So whats the deal with all these people and the sloping top tube phenomenon and why cant I get a horizontal top tube road bike from the major manufactures off the peg?

 

[screenman]

Stiffness. Give me a sloper anytime.

 

[asterix]

My Roberts bike is a 'compact' frame. I asked them for a bike that was good for cycling in hilly areas. It is although not as pretty as the 'classic' look.

I do think there's a lot of commercial reasons for producing compact frames though.

 

[cyberknight]

In general they use less material so cost less to make compared to a non sloping frame.

 

[MarkF]

Don't Cannondale have a range of (nearly) horizontal tubed bikes?

I only notice them because they look so much nicer in my LBS than the Giant/Trek/Cube look-a-likes.

 

[vernon]

My Bob Jacksons have horizontal top tubes.........I'm just saying.

My Woodrup doesn't

I'm just saying it louder...

 

[vernon]

My Flying Gate has its horizontal top tube propped near the rear end.

 

[vernon]

My other horizontal top tubed bike has six foot wheels.

 

[simon.r]

The top tube on my Charge slopes from back to front:

 

[Puddles]

Big Bertha has big curves

 

[vernon]

Curvier

 

[Puddles]

Curvier

Oh yes indeed! I am not sure I could get on with the "steering wheel" arrangement and is that a tennis ball on the front wheel?

 

[Pale Rider]

My Flying Gate has its horizontal top tube propped near the rear end.

Couldn't your bike do with a horizontal saddle to go with its horizontal tube?

 

[vernon]

Couldn't your bike do with a horizontal saddle to go with its horizontal tube?

I prefer to think of it being cocked at a jaunty angle.

 

[Koga]

View attachment 30637 My lawn mower has a sloping tube

Looks a Dutch bike to me.