I agree with the comment about tighter frame for stiffness, especially with the light tubing. Perhaps we should consider form after function. The practical side to make one's position and comfort balance, then leave it up to the builder to beautify the construction or not. There is a cover for every pot. One man's lug is another man's poison. Extending head and /or seat to match is an inexpensive way to custom build a frame without a big surcharge. Tall stems were a nice remedy. For short waisted; short arms; or unflexible backs; stiff necks; etc.,the top tube can remain shorter, so the upper body has the good position, while retaining the builder's standard geometry. When people have non Robert Hall off the rack fit bodies, it is a lot more expensive for a builder to redesign the geometry to do the ride he and the customer wants, without greater expense. Practical and cost effective. Today's stems, forks, seatposts, and bars give us much more to offer the rider so it should be a no brainer. Also making the head a little longer softens the harshness of short frame ride and prolongs the life of the headset. Some food for thought. Ted Ernst Palos Verdes Estates, Ca
>I think it's obvious that a proper fit and a great riding frame can
> be accomplished either way. R Sachs wrote me explaining that
> (papraphrasin
> g
> here) he does it primarily because modern saddles, stems and headsets
> deman
> d
> it and he doesn't want to be constained by needing relatively hard to find
> parts to build his frames up.
>
> Kurt Sperry
> Bellingham WA
>
>
> On 3/16/06, rodk3d@comcast.net <rodk3d@comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>> 3 very busy framebuilders off the top of my head that do extended
>> headtubes are Rivendell, Sachs, and Kirk. Posts I have read on multiple
>> forums all gush over the comfort and quality of the rides these builder's
>> frames provide. Some may not care for the look, but each builder has far
> too
>> many satisfied customers for me to believe each doesn't know how to prope
> rly
>> size a frame.
>>
>> cheers,
>> Rod Kronenberg
>> Fort Collins, CO
>
>
>
>
> --
>> fineartscrimshaw.com