[CR]earward facing "drop-outs'

(Example: Events)

From: "Bicycle Specialties" <mike@bikespecialties.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Fri, 20 Oct 2006 07:44:07 -0700
Subject: [CR]earward facing "drop-outs'

Chuck Schmidt wrote:

"Yeah, all those old geezers making bikes in the old days were idiots!"

No-one is saying that any frame builder is or was an idiot. I just started this discussion as I believe as is often the case that fashion and custom is often followed without thinking.

Neil Foddering wrote:

On a bike designed for ultra-close rear wheel clearance, it makes sense to have a rear-facing dropout - the wheel just has to be fitted in to the dropout slots, and moved forward as far as it will go. No need to fiddle about, making sure that the wheel is correctly aligned, as you would with a forward-facing dropout, and with the wheel spindle braced against the end of the track dropout, extra insurance against it pulling over.

This is not the case with a single sprocket. There must be some forward movement to allow some slack in the chain so that it can be removed to get the wheel out.

Neil then wrote:

1. They could use the same machine for everyday use, club runs, grass or hard track racing, or short distance time trials. 2. Image. (As an analogy, who needs a 180 mph sports car for road use?). 3. Fashion - clubmates have one, so ride one to be part of the group. 4. Ride preference - the geometry of these machines is often different to pure road bikes.

Well points one and four don't make sense. Whether the drop-out is forward or rearward opening doesn't effect the ride or the geometry. Points two and three are the only reasons that we have been stuck with these things for so long. It's about time we got rid of them.

Mike Barry.
In rainy and cold Toronto.