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108
N
ovember
2009
www.read-tpt.com›
A
dvances
in
M
anufacturing
P
rofiles
and
S
haped
T
ubes
SURFBOARDERS are people
on the move, impatient with
words. When a term was
needed for the perfect wave,
they didn’t reach for rhapsodic
descriptions. They called it a
tube: immediately understood
and universally adopted.
But if a tube is a classic
shape, suggestive of the ideal,
it is also, in the inventive forms under review in this section of TPT, a workhorse
mechanism of extraordinary versatility. Consider this précis of a tandem-design
racing bicycle, the “Softride Beam” from Victor Chang, of Concept Technology
(Roseville, California): “I designed stiffness into it by using 1
3
/
4
" top and bottom
tubes. The beam is attached to the trapezoidal tube that extends from the rear
through the top tube. The trapezoidal design stiffens the centre geometry. Oval
seatstays and chainstays are used to strengthen the rear rhombus.
“Yes, it lacks many tubes that you might be used to seeing, but with this design those
tubes were unnecessary. Between the top and bottom tubes, plus the 1
3
/
8
" downtube
and 1
1
/
2
" headtube, the handling is precise and confident.
“For teams requiring a stiffer rear triangle, I use a traditional rear triangle design,
extending the front deraileur tube
up to the top tube. I also will use
2" top and bottom tubes for riders
who need the extra metal.”
Novelty in the service of
stability. This is an impetus
very congenial to anyone who
appreciates the creative – but
within the framework of the
traditional. It is second nature to
the tube industry professionals
whose products and services are
showcased here.
Erne Fittings products
Thermatool solid-state, high frequency contact welding technology