OK, maybe that subject line goes a bit too far, but how many opportunities does a guy get to write "Schmooydonck?" Van Hooydonck might have ridden those frames, but that style was more associated with one Urs Freuler -- so much so that it is known as "Freuler geometry." Basically, though, that looks like a normal road geometry with a lowered top tube. It doesn't involve raising the level of the bars relative to the saddle height.
I think the idea with the Freuler geometry was to have smaller triangles in a large road frame and thereby gain some element of stiffness in the frame. Don't know that that was effective in any significant (or observable) way; but there it is.
I think the now-common extended head lug is just an acknowledgement that many buyers of Rivendells are more comfortable in that position and many might be relieved to be told that they didn't need to mimic the position of their racing idols whenever they go out on the road. I think that's pretty sensible; but I don't like the way it looks, either. Anyway, it seems to have become so popular that it has made sense for other lug designers to incorporate the feature.
Disclaimer: the above (except about Freuler) is pure dang speculation. But I would be happy to hear more on this design element from the more knowledgeable contributors.
Cheers,
Kerrigan Bennett Pleasant Hill, CA
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Jim says: the extended head lug is especially pointless. As I have said in the past, why don't you just buy a 1CM bigger frame. Maybe Ernesto Colnago could provide the answer as he built frames for Edwig Van Hooydonck (double winner of Tour of Flanders) with extended head and seat lug. Ray Green Brighton England
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