With the Baines design it is possible to get quite a bit shorter - their standard short wheelbase was 37in and my TJ Cycles Gate is just over 35in. It is also rides very nicely - the top tube is a little short for me at just over 21in but is not too short for many riders.
Hilary Stone, Bristol is getting colder again
Bob Reid wrote:
> As an example, a short wheelbase - say 39.1/2" on a 21" frame, could be
> achieved by the use of a double curved seat tube or to a lesser degree by
> profiling the back of the conventional seat tube to accommodate the tyre,
> something which was taken up by a lot of other manufacturers for specialist
> time trial machines. Why did Baines go to such a length to achieve the same
> thing ? If you look at the design on paper, it's like he just drew in the
> wheels to the required wheelbase, added the other tubes, found he had one
> left over, then looked for some place to stick it..... as an afterthought.