Just a point of interest: How short can a headtube be built? Is the 9cm P3 headtube the practical limit? Does frame material have an impact?
I have a steel track bike with 700c wheels that has a 6 centimeter head tube. How do I post a picture? It was made for a guy who is shorter than me and had 80 pounds on me.
The one on my Javelin Aero is 7cm…according to guy’s i know that build and design frames 11-13cm seams to be the norm…
The shorter it is the harder it is on headsets…
With a 7cm headtube can you still have an integrated headset?
Dreaming about a custom frame, but it would only be worth it if I could maintain my current position and get rid of the dropped stem. A 6 or 7cm headtube might do it. I though Bjørn used to have a custom bike that he didn’t need a dropped stem for (I think it was yellow).
Khai said that when he got his Yaqui, Ves Mandaric would not make a head tube shorter than 9cm. I would guess it would depend on the fork material, the frame material, fork/headtube diameter, and integrated vs. regular headsets.
I am sure there have been bikes with super short headtubes. Whether or not they would be suitable for regular use is not clear. E.g. a track bike faces very different stresses than a road bike, and what might be okay for one might not work for another.
Hmm, I’m not that big (150lbs) so that might play in. Also, I imagine steel would allow a shorter headtube than ti. Perhaps I’ll have to think about 650’s (the horror!). Problem is, I’m going to end up riding like a 50cm frame with a 135mm stem.
Anyone have a pic of Bjørn on that old yellow bike with a downward-sloping top tube?
That’s 9cm, non-integrated.
If you need shorter, you should look at a 650 or maybe a funny bike like Joe Bonness.
As good as I’m going to do?
Both are 9cm headtubes with integrated headsets.
Sorry, I was responding to Rappstar. Ves doesn’t build shorter than 9cm non-integrated. And that’s a 1" tube on a 55cm. If you need a 53cm Yaqui, you get a 650 bike.
That’s the bike I currently own (55cm Aerolite). Don’t really want 650’s.
I’m starting to think a steel Curtlo with a 6cm headtube might be really cool.
“I’m starting to think a steel Curtlo with a 6cm headtube might be really cool.”
6cm on a steel bike is a no go. the smallest head tube i’ve ever seen is the 7.6cm on a kestrel airfoil pro. and this assumes 1 1/8" on the steerer.
if i was 5’10" or shorter i’d be riding 650c. there’s so much more you can do with that bike.