• could you do the equivalent the trendy MTB steel frame guys do* and use a double butted down and top tube?

    Aiming for that as it is yes. Butted front triangle, heavily ovalised chainstays and skinny seatstays.
    I'd like an ovalised top tube and I'm not sure of the order of machining for tubing. If it's butted and then ovalised, fine. They won't be able to do it the other way around so I may have to chose between round butted or straight gauge oval for the top tube.

  • As a serial Ti user for the last 15 years - in order
    Omega plain
    Walty plain
    Moots plain
    Moots plain
    Genesis DB
    Moots plain
    Enigma plain

    The ones with the most distinct qualities are Genesis and Enigma. Genesis is the stiffest, Enigma is the most absorbant. So one of each in my mini survey.
    Moots is the highest perceived quality and price - and they make a strong case for the materials they choose.
    So I think the answer is not really which tubing type, but design intent/gauge/shaping/angles make the most difference. And I would pay a premium to get all those in a butted frame (the weight loss is not important for me).

  • Thanks, you've some experience then!

    I think I'm just going to go ahead with getting a sample from Waltly in straight gauge. If nothing else I can just get a feel for geometry and usability.
    In the end, it'll be cheaper and I didn't want to make it premium, I wanted affordable so maybe it's a blessing.

About

Avatar for zephyr26 @zephyr26 started