Yes, definitely a road bike, the reference to 'massed start' in the frame indicates this. The dropouts are interesting. They are a variation of the 'Cyclo' dropout for use with the Super Champion Osgear, the forward vertical position is used in order to get the cluster closer to the derailling forks. The horizontal droput was for use as fixed/single speed, but also in this case a rear derailleur boss has been added, use of a 'conventional' derailleur would be with the horizontal dropout as better shifting performance would be found there vs the vertical dropout.
Peter Tutty Pouring with rain in Londonderry, NSW, Australia.
Mark Bulgier <Mark@bulgier.net> wrote:
David Bean wrote:
>
> Can anyone tell me anything about item 290094023171 ? Pay particular
> attention to the great dropouts - and explain them!
Well, is there really that much to explain? Looks to me like you can use them as vertical or horizontal slot road dropouts. Hopefully someone more familiar with them can tell us more.
I don't agree with the seller's description of this as a path racer - it's clearly a road bike.
And as to his rhetorical question "How many bikes can be a fixed gear and multi speed???", my answer is "They all can". I mean, name one that can't! Even vertical dropouts have been used quite a bit with fixed gears, though some might find it too much bother. See the Fixed Innovations website (http://www.eehouse.org/fixin/) for tips and tricks for that. The flip side of that is using derailleurs on track dropouts, which is usually at least a little annoying but certainly works. But the vast majority of on-topic frames have horizontal road dropouts, which fit the bill (fixed and multi-speed) just fine, with no downsides.
Aside from those nitpicks about the auction description though, I do like the frame and I agree with the seller that it's quite interesting.
Mark Bulgier Seattle WA USA
Ps, please don't bother to inform me that there's no such thing as "track dropouts", I'm obviously intransigent. _______________________________________________
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