I think an extended headtube makes perfect sense on a touring bike as it obviously lets one raise the bars higher without using an extra-long stem quill. To me any little touch on a touring bike which is a thoughtful enhancement of function is elegant and beautiful. I think it was Rivendell that popularized the extended headtube, or at least repopularized it and made many American cyclists aware of it.
I was surprised at the extended headtube on the Della Santa recently on eBay only because I had never seen a Della Santa touring frame before. But it makes perfect sense on this frame, just as DO eyelets and seatstay bosses for a rack do.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
> From: Phil Brown <philcycles@sbcglobal.net>
\r?\n> Subject: Re: [CR] KOF F/S 55cm Della Santa newvex lugs
\r?\n> To: "cr list" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
\r?\n> Date: Saturday, August 29, 2009, 7:06 PM
\r?\n>
\r?\n> On Aug 29, 2009, at 3:28 PM, Mark Stonich wrote:
\r?\n>
\r?\n> > It's all a mater of perspective. To those of us
\r?\n> with short limbs, long torsos and bad backs, for whom
\r?\n> Technomics are barely tall enough, those lugs are
\r?\n> beautiful.
\r?\n> >
\r?\n>
\r?\n> Mark, nobody fits those specs more than I-I'm 6'3" but wear
\r?\n> 32" inseam pants. I have a very long torso, a very sore
\r?\n> back, my personal bikes measure 61x61 and yet I don't
\r?\n> have to resort to the extended head tube. Yes, I don't have
\r?\n> a lot of clearance over the top tube but the family jewels
\r?\n> are still alive and kicking.
\r?\n> So the extended head tube isn't really necessary but has
\r?\n> become, in my mind, like much of cycling, a fashion
\r?\n> statement. Don't get me wrong, one look at my bikes will
\r?\n> tell you that I'm a slave to my own fashion sense but I
\r?\n> still don't like the extended hear tube.
\r?\n> I would certainly prefer that the new extended head tube
\r?\n> lugs were made in such a way that the extension could be cut
\r?\n> off but they aren't.
\r?\n> Phil Brown
\r?\n> Off the soapbox in Oakland, Calif.