Dimond and Falco are the 2 biggest beam bike brands today. Why did Zipp stop making beam bikes? I don’t really know the history that well on these bikes so I figured I would ask. If they were the big thing years ago, why are they making a comeback?
When the uci outlawed beam bikes it made it uneconomical to make them. Zipp quit and over time it killed softride as well. Titanflex kept going but it’s a small operation.
My take is that on one hand the larger triathlon market and on the other the decreased cost and increased availability of carbon production has made it profitable for other small manufacturers to get into beam bikes again.
Also charging $6,000 makes it profitable (I have no idea what they cost to manufacture…just mad I can’t afford one!)
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I still do not know why they do not have a seat tube. The seat tube should help aero dynamics by creating a much better leading edge for the wheel than a tire. Even the part that does not shield the tire would create a bunch of lift of low yaw numbers, which is helpful. It made sense when the beam had some suspension in it, but both the Dimond and the Falco are rigid.
I think they are making a comeback because they look really cool. The dimond is also pretty aero, but I think it would be even more aero with a seat tube.
They still have a lot more give than a seat tube equipped bike.
They still have a lot more give than a seat tube equipped bike.
That is probably true, but you could always just have have the seat tube mounted to the beam with some compliance. Or even design the seat post with some leaf springs for vertical compliance. I would not be shocked if something like the Felt IA with its elastomers in the seat post would be pretty close to the Dimond.
When the uci outlawed beam bikes it made it uneconomical to make them. Zipp quit and over time it killed softride as well. Titanflex kept going but it’s a small operation.
My take is that on one hand the larger triathlon market and on the other the decreased cost and increased availability of carbon production has made it profitable for other small manufacturers to get into beam bikes again.
I think part of the reason is that today’s tri market no longer gives a damn what the UCI says or does. Once the superbike manufacturers gave the finger to the UCI, the green light was there for beam bikes to make a comeback.
What? No love for the Titanflex? It is a very comfortable ride, good results in the wind tunnel, affordable. If you have a bad back it is the way to go!
Never heard of Titanflex
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**I still do not know why they do not have a seat tube. The seat tube should help aero dynamics by creating a much better leading edge for the wheel than a tire. Even the part that does not shield the tire would create a bunch of lift of low yaw numbers, which is helpful. It made sense when the beam had some suspension in it, but both the Dimond and the Falco are rigid. **
I think you might be onto something. I am not an engineer, but I did ride a Softride to some success back in the early 1990’s. What I heard back then, was that the exposed rear wheel of the Softride ( and the Zipp) was ONLY better, when you were riding a disc. When riding any other type of wheel with a rim, the bikes tested worse than bikes with a seat tube in front of the wheel.
They still have a lot more give than a seat tube equipped bike.
That is probably true, but you could always just have have the seat tube mounted to the beam with some compliance. Or even design the seat post with some leaf springs for vertical compliance. I would not be shocked if something like the Felt IA with its elastomers in the seat post would be pretty close to the Dimond.
Keep in mind there is no seat stay on a beam bike and no seat tube. While the seat tube fairs the rear wheel in a conventional superbike, the seat stay causes drag.
Perhaps the fastest would be a bike with a seat tube, but no seat stays by beefing up the chain stays like on a Dimond. Just draw a line from the BB to the seat on the Dimond and fill in behind it with fairing up to the wheel and that is what i am talking about…just leave the seat stays out.
maybe there is no advantage to a seat tube, if you use the right tire and a disc?
every time I ride this bike…it put a smile on my face. so much more comfy that my P3-5 or road bikes. I m old now…i like comfort!!! I would not be interested in a beam bike if it wasn’t bouncing…i need the bouncing to be comfy
#legend
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Never heard of Titanflex
http://www.titanflexbikes.com/
It really is a nice comfortable, fast ride!!!
They still have a lot more give than a seat tube equipped bike.
That is probably true, but you could always just have have the seat tube mounted to the beam with some compliance. Or even design the seat post with some leaf springs for vertical compliance. I would not be shocked if something like the Felt IA with its elastomers in the seat post would be pretty close to the Dimond.
Keep in mind there is no seat stay on a beam bike and no seat tube. While the seat tube fairs the rear wheel in a conventional superbike, the seat stay causes drag.
Perhaps the fastest would be a bike with a seat tube, but no seat stays by beefing up the chain stays like on a Dimond. Just draw a line from the BB to the seat on the Dimond and fill in behind it with fairing up to the wheel and that is what i am talking about…just leave the seat stays out.
I did not mention anything about seat stays.
maybe there is no advantage to a seat tube, if you use the right tire and a disc?
A disk is probably really important on a beam bike. Even then, a seat tube is going to create a much better leading edge than a tire.
They still have a lot more give than a seat tube equipped bike.
That is probably true, but you could always just have have the seat tube mounted to the beam with some compliance. Or even design the seat post with some leaf springs for vertical compliance. I would not be shocked if something like the Felt IA with its elastomers in the seat post would be pretty close to the Dimond.
Keep in mind there is no seat stay on a beam bike and no seat tube. While the seat tube fairs the rear wheel in a conventional superbike, the seat stay causes drag.
Perhaps the fastest would be a bike with a seat tube, but no seat stays by beefing up the chain stays like on a Dimond. Just draw a line from the BB to the seat on the Dimond and fill in behind it with fairing up to the wheel and that is what i am talking about…just leave the seat stays out.
Wouldn’t that pretty much be a Z frame?
The old lotus frame?
Yes, a Z frame. The old Lotus like this version, not the other Lotus that Boardman rode in Barcelona that has the “uni-seat/chain stay”
