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by JNRowe·6y ago·view on hn ↗
> "Sketch a bike" is almost like a test of "can you invent the diamond-shaped frame off the top your head?" Because of our mental model we don't even notice that part.

Distracting from your point, but there some awesome reconstructed diamonds floating around today. The two below are the first examples that sprang to mind because of how they invert the "missing" structure.

1. https://www.slowtwitch.com/Tech/Cody_Beals_Winning_Ride_7032...

2. https://www.slowtwitch.com/Products/Tri_Bike_by_brand/Cervel...

Perhaps, some of the artists in the original piece are reporting from a future of tri-frames, lefty forks and shaft drives³.

3. https://www.bikeradar.com/news/faster-than-any-chain-ceramic...

1 comments
Oof. The cantilevered rear wheel in the first link in particular makes me really uncomfortable for some reason.

I don't mind the "n-shaped" frame overall but something about the chunky frame combined with the rear wheel sticking off the back makes me think it's going to snap off - painfully for the rider - on the first pothole or hop.

I didn't realize that that the upper bar between the rear wheel and the saddle was so important to my psychological comfort, but I now I know. Even one of those skinny bars like the ones on old-school Schwinn road bikes would make me feel so much better about that bike.

Wait. Is there a bar between the bottom-bracket and the rear wheel on the non-drive-train side of the bike, or is it actually cantilevered in two dimensions?

> Is there a bar between the bottom-bracket and the rear wheel on the non-drive-train side of the bike, or is it actually cantilevered in two dimensions?

There is no seatstay on the unseen side, but the Ventum is at least symmetrical. My boss' TT bike is similar in design to Cervelo in the second link, but with an oversized chainstay on the non-drive side for claimed aerodynamic effect. It looks fine with a disc in, however with a 5-spoke it looks dangerously pre-broken to my eyes.

I understand feeling uncomfortable with the design, single-sided front "forks" are my personal cut-off for that queasy feeling.

Plus, if you've not seen TT bikes in person before, be prepared for weird buffeting sounds from the disc wheels the first time you do. They definitely won't make you feel more comfortable about them ;)