Fraser's Travel bike frame

A travel frame with relaxed geometry for Audax rides. It's a 56cm sloping top-tube frame which since it's for long-distance riding has a higher handlebar position. The extended head-tube eliminates some headset spacers. Made to suit a Van Nicholas 57mm-reach-brake fork with mudguard eyelets

The brief was to fit 700x28C tyres with mudguards, and some 700x32C tyres without. Caliper brakes with 57mm reach enable this to happen. Shimano's BR-R650 is the best choice here, an Ultegra level brake. To provide rack and mudguard mounts, and stainless rear-wheels axle clamping faces, Llewellyn dropouts were the best choice. The frame was built of a mix of Life and Zona tubing.

The Ritchey Breakaway frame components make this a travel frame that can be pulled-down to fit into a suitcase. Long 425mm chainstays and a longer front-centre (BB-axle to front-wheel-axle) give a more stable and relaxed ride with less front-to-rear 'pitching' on rough surfaces. The frame came in at 1680 grams: that's perhaps 80g for the Breakaway, 105 grams of paint, and 200 grams for the peace-of-mind and smooth ride of lightweight steel!

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