>The cover picture in this quarter's VBQ shows a bicycle with a piece
>of frame tubing that is curved and connects between the seattube and
>downtube. The touring cyclist has mounted a large water container
>inside the front triangle, near the seattube, and the container
>appears to be sitting on the curved metal tube. It is certainly an
>innovative approach to stabilizing the water container, but I'm
>curious as to whether anyone thinks it has other purposes.
>---
I thought it was a carrying handle, allowing you to carry the bike onto trains, boats, etc. Being able to grip the bicycle at a low spot, in the center of gravity, must be useful in situations like that. (The bike is a Japanese bike, ridden by a Japanese rider on a round-the-world tour.)
--
Jan Heine, Seattle
Editor/Publisher
Vintage Bicycle Quarterly
c/o Il Vecchio Bicycles
140 Lakeside Ave, Ste. C
Seattle WA 98122
http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com