Conference noted::bicycle

166.0. "Frame Alignment" by SUPER::CONNELL () Wed Nov 05 1986 12:41

    
    Since I've been involved in many discussions with other riders about
    frame alignment, I figured we could use a NOTE about it.
    
    Here's a story:  I had an expensive, custom built frame (name will
    go unmentioned), which I rode on happily for several years.  I raced
    on it hard in many criteriums.  I was particularly impressed with
    how quickly it cornered; it seemed to pull itself through corners
    that I didn't think I was going to make sometimes.  It also rode
    very straight when I went "no hands".  
    
    Then a shop I know got an alignment table.  I took it in one winter
    to get the alignment checked.  A few weeks later I went in to pick 
    it up.  The owner said, "Well I straightened your frame.  I have
    never seen a bike so far out of alignment, especially the fork.
    I had to bend it A LOT to get it in place."
    
    The bike still rides fine, although it doesn't seem quite as quick
    through the corners anymore.
    
    Pretty wild, huh?
    
    (P.S. I came back to DEC on another consulting contract, so I am
    happy to be back in this NOTES conference.)
    
    Chuck
    

    
    Chuck!
    
    Great to have you back. I'd say your B$%^a frame was out of alignment
    from the start, unless you dropped it hard. It probably cornered
    fast in one particular direction, and not so fast in the other.
    Cold setting does induce stresses in the frame which may or may
    not effect its riding qualities. Also, the "frame mechanic" may
    not know exactly what the geometry was supposed to be before he/she
    "aligned" it, so its current geometry may have deviated from the
    builders original design. This is especially true of fork blades,
    unless the mechanic knew the wheelbase and trail dimensions EXACTLY
    they may have altered the characteristics of the frame.
    
    Good luck,
    CdH