Hi Fred,
The Ellis Briggs Flyer has a very firm ride on the back end - with the short, fat chain-stays, and the bracing between seat tube and chain-stays.
I imagine that it was that 'firmness' that helped give a sense of responsive and efficient power delivery for time trials. It certainly feels different - whether or not it's actually more efficient.
Best,
Wyndham Pulman-Jones Girton, Cambridgeshire, UK.
On Sunday, October 18, 2009, at 10:39PM, "Fred Rednor" <fred_rednor@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> As far as I know this bottom bracket / off-set seat tube
>> arrangement has
>> been used by several builders over quite a span of years:
>>
>> -- A Sun Manx TT from 1947 was recently sold on eBay
>> (180403253431)
>>
>> -- R O Harrison \u0152Shortwin¹ 1949
>> (http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/ROHarrisonShortwin1949.html)
>>
>> -- MKM Ultimate
>> (http://classicrendezvous.com/British_isles/MKM/ultimate_ebay.htm)
>>
>> -- Norris Lockley¹s 1982 Bespoke Ultimate
>> (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cyclecrank/2089088648/in/set-72157603488991254>
>
>
>What's the handling like with these frames? I would have thought that such short chain-stays provides a relatively uncomfortable ride. Or were these frames meant primarily for time trials?
>
>Best regards,
>Fred Rednor - Arlington, Virginia (USA)