A Triumph with a step-through frame
Woman with a step-through frame bicycle in the 1890s

A step-through frame (also known as open frame,[1] drop frame,[2] or low-step frame) is a type of bicycle frame, often used for utility bicycles, with a low or absent top tube or cross-bar.[3][4]

Since mounting or dismounting a step-through does not require swinging one leg to hip-height, they are widely used as delivery bicycles, and for other purposes where the rider has to mount and dismount frequently.

Traditionally, bicycles with a step-through frame were known as "ladies'", "women's" or "girls' bicycles", as they allow skirts or dresses to hang fairly normally. Bicycles with a high top tube (cross-bar), known as a diamond frame, were known as "men's", "gents", or "boys' bicycles". Even in the 1800s, women often rode "men's" bicycles and vice-versa; from the 1890s onwards, women commonly wore bloomers to cycle. Since the late 20th century,[citation needed] descriptions that describe the frame style, rather than the presumed gender of the rider, are becoming increasingly common.

Advantages

Disadvantages

Variations

Mixte

A Peugeot mixte frame bicycle

One particular type of step-through frame is called a mixte. In a mixte frame, the top tube of the traditional diamond frame is replaced with a pair of smaller tubes (lateral tubes, or lats) running from the top of the head tube all the way back to the rear axle, connecting at the seat tube on the way. The normal seat stays and chain stays are retained. This provides the lower standover height of a step-through frame bicycle with a strong diamond-frame geometry.

Mixte (pronounced [mikst]) is a direct appropriation of the French word meaning "mixed" or "unisex". The usual North American bicycle industry pronunciation of this loan word is /ˈmɪkstiː/.[8]

A variant on the mixte uses a single, full sized top tube running from the upper head tube to the seat tube, but retains the middle set of stays.[8] The FNCRM (Fédération Nationale du Commerce et de la Réparation du Cycle et du Motocycle) calls this style a sport.[9]

Other named French styles of step-through frames, in addition to mixte and sport, include berceau, Anglais, jumele, col de cygne and double col de cygne.

Cross

A Dahon folding bicycle with a cross frame

Another type of step-through frame is called a cross. The cross frame consists mainly of two tubes that form a cross: a seat tube from the bottom bracket to the saddle, and a backbone from the head tube to the rear hub.[10] [11]

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ^ "Nimrod road tests the Jack Taylor touring bicycle". Cycling. March 16, 1960. Retrieved 2013-04-02. their range of seventeen models includes a woman's open frame bicycle
  2. ^ Sewall, E. D. (13 May 1897). "The Women's Bicycle and its Predecessors". The Iron Age. New York. 59. OCLC 14153896.
  3. ^ "Top Tube". Sheldon Brown. Retrieved 2010-02-07.
  4. ^ Oxford English Dictionary (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. 1989. cross-bar, n. 1. a. A transverse bar; a bar placed or fixed across another bar or part of a structure. spec. The horizontal bar of a bicycle frame
  5. ^ a b Van Der Plas, Rob, Bicycle Technology, San Francisco: Bicycle Books (3rd ed.), ISBN 0-933201-30-3, ISBN 978-0-933201-30-9 (1995), pp. 60-2
  6. ^ a b Peterson, Leisha A. and Londry, Kelly J., Finite-Element Structural Analysis: A New Tool for Bicycle Frame Design: The Strain Energy Design Method, Bike Tech, Bicycling Magazine, Vol. 5 No. 2 (1986)
  7. ^ Wingerter, R., and Lebossiere, P., ME 354, Mechanics of Materials Laboratory: Structures, University of Washington (February 2004), p.1
  8. ^ a b Brown, Sheldon (April 19, 2010). John Allen (ed.). "Mixte". Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Glossary. Harris Cyclery. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
  9. ^ "Hirose's Photo Gallery 9 - 216 Sport車 （製作過程）".
  10. ^ Brown, Sheldon. "Cross Frame". Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Glossary. Harris Cyclery. Retrieved 2011-05-04.
  11. ^ Cross Frames at rijwiel.net http://www.rijwiel.net/kruisfre.htm

External links

Category