Nick T’s Apilia 10-Speed

Posted January 3, 2012

We’ve seen some odd bends/tubes around here (example 1, example 2), but this may take the cake. This is Nick T’s OTSG First Apilia 10 5-Speed with paired seat tubes. I’m not exactly sure what the benefit of something like this would be. Ideas?

Dear Oldtenspeed I bought it in Portugal Its too small for my 1.80m 52cm frame, unlugged fettled joints Never seen a frame like it before Name is APILIA…not APRILIA How old is it? Who made it? It has got double dropouts, fixed position and adjustable. Stronglight (holow) cottered crank
Nick T.
Xylonbikes

http://twitter.com/rossmevans Ross Evans

Looks like it’s an early racing bike – or at least a spin-off on a racing model with the rear wheel tucked into the seat tube….very cool!
http://profiles.google.com/asm826 ASM 826

The purpose of the paired seat tubes was to permit the the rear wheel to be mounted so that the tire went between them. This allowed the wheelbase to be shortened, making the chainstays shorter and changing the frame geometry. Coupled with angle of the head tube and a minimal rake of the fork, it could make a frame wheelbase shorter. Everything else being equal, a shorter wheelbase would make the frame stiffer.
- BeaterRezQ
  
  Perhaps your eyes see something that mine don’t, but that rear wheel does not appear to go between the dual seat tubes. Also, the chainstays and overall frame appear to be longer not shorter.
  The old cruisers used a dual top tube, did that have an added benefit to the ride or was it merely cosmetic and cool?
  It’s altogether an odd looking frame/bike…makes me like it all the more.
  9/10 cool factor!
  - http://profiles.google.com/asm826 ASM 826
    
    I assure you, shortening the chainstays and altering the frame geometry is the purpose of the design. While the tire does not protrude through the split, it does set forward enough that it would rub on a traditional tube. This design feature is still being done on modern frames, although modern materials allow it to be done by shaping the seat tube . Here’s one example. Scroll though the pictures until you get to the detail of the rear wheel/seat tube.
    http://www.bikerumor.com/2011/12/27/2012-specialized-venge-pro-unboxed-weighed-first-impressions/
    - BeaterRezQ
      
      ASM,
      I can totally see purpose and practicality of design, and I have even seen older bikes with the slanted seat tube design..I just don’t see it on this bike in particular.(imho)
      Here’e one that was designed with the riders continued genealogy in mind; just in case she/he had pedal slippage.
      (OTS/Cameron once again I apologize in advance for posting pics of bikes that most likely don’t belong in here…but it’s most always to prove a point)
      I love you man!
- Anonymous
  
  Also note, it had double dropouts. vertical in front horizontal in the back.
BeaterRezQ

Dual water bottle holders?
John H

Chrome under the head tube… would be super-cool if the whole bike was chrome.
http://profiles.google.com/asm826 ASM 826

Here’s another old example of short wheelbase frame design:
http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/builders/duke-builders2.jpg
- BeaterRezQ
  
  Kool-a-mundo!
  ” So many bikes, so little money! ”
  BRQ
- Anonymous
  
  Now, if there were a way to get around the BB, we could really short those stays.
http://profiles.google.com/asm826 ASM 826

And here’s one more, a short wheelbase 1946 tandem.
The same idea, shortening the chainstays by modifying the seat tube.
http://oldbike.wordpress.com/1948-rensch-paris-cycles-swb-tandem/

Old Ten Speed Gallery

The only carbon you'll see around here is in our carbon dating.

Nick T’s Apilia 10-Speed