Scott Minneman wrote:
Since we've been discussing various Hetchins bikes recently, I stumbled across this one that it looks like a fellow list member is selling. Ebay item #7221807103.
The engineer in me keeps saying that there's no possible benefit from those zig-zag chainstays, but another part of me is starting to find them intriguing enough that a Hetchins will probably occupy a spot in my garage...eventually. This one is too small for me. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ It's my understanding that Hetchins' partner, Jack Denny, brought the "curly" stays to the partnership. To me, curly stays are simply an elegant way to get the weight and flex (in both directions) of a much longer wheelbase w/o actually having the long wheelbase. If, of course, those are your goals.
I hope this is taken as mere heresy: some folks take this stuff very seriously.
Fortunately, there very nice Hetchins out there with conventional stays, and one of these days I'll get mine (from Palo Alto) posted at wooljersey.
harvey sachs
mcLean va.