Mini Pumps?

[sgtiger]

SGT- that's a very unusual frame - what kind of bike is that?

It's a custom Rodriguez Adventure. I'm 5'1 3/4" with a 26 in. standover. So long torso with short stumps for legs. The guys at R&E thought I'd be better off on a modified step-through frame than to try to shorten the seat tube down which would lengthen the DT way too much(can't remember why that wasn't ideal) and make it come in at a wierd angle(maybe, that's why). The short tube from the top of the ST to the sloping TT helps brace the TT and gives the frame strength overall for hauling heavy loads(gear + heavy rider-50 lbs. over my ideal weight). The problem with some frames is they flex(this might only be an issue with steel) a bit too much when fully loaded and this problem can be worse in a step-through design. I'm guessing that's what the whole discussion about lateral stiffness meant between BIAK, Smiley, and the actual builder guy(Sorry, I don't remember his name.) Anyhow, to give you an example of why lateral stiffness might be important: BIAK's previous touring bike would flex when he was climbing hills with a load which caused his chain to jump to a smaller cog and throw him off of his cadence.

Hopefully the more technically apt riders will weigh in and explain things better or correct me if I'm wrong. (Yoohoo, BIAK! Time to put that physics degree to use.)

[Sorry for the thread highjack]