Perhaps the ultimate and much earlier approach to short wheelbase is the Baines "flying gate" now reincarnated as a Trevor Jarvis. I would think these should have been popular in UK hillclimbs as well.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Houston, TX
> Just remember that the Taylor and the Paramounts were still quite a bit
> different from a Rigi! The rest of the geometry was pretty "normal" with
> 72-74 degree angles and normal front centers etc. Rigis were radical in
those
> areas too. Super steep, short offset, etc.
> Not a split seat tube, but for a hoot, I built a frame intentionally with
> rather Rigi-like angles (76-77 degrees!) and super stiff
> as-short-as-I-could-make-them Columbus PS bulged out track chain stays. It
> belongs to Jimmy Murray, the owner of Revi Cyclewear. Anyway, the ride is
> exhilarating, quick and goes in a straight line . But a small amount of
> steering input yields instant and dramatic response. Not bad as long as
you
> stay alert. The negatives are that the rear end kinds of bounces and bucks
on
> bumpy pavement especially noticeable when climbing. A more compliant
tubing
> or longer chain stays doesn't behave that way....... In my view another
case
> where the supposed God of "Stiffness" is a false one...
>
> Dale Brown
> Greensboro, North Carolina