Platy Lug: Different. Which one do you have?

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

I stumbled upon something very interesting. I was taking my mermaid Platypus out for a ride and I happened to notice what I thought was a large drop of water on the bottom bracket lug. It wasn’t - it’s a cut-out. It looked so foreign to me, so I looked at my raspberry Platypus. 

Totally different lugs. 

My raspberry is a sample bike. It made sense to me that it might have a different, simpler lug. But then I started looking on Instagram. Now, who takes photos of the bottom bracket lug (is that the name for it? I don’t know.)? Almost no one. But I found a mermaid Platy on Blue Lug’s account and it has the same lug as my raspberry bike. So, it is not because my bike is a sample. It seems some Platys went out with the cut-out lug, and some went out with the plain lug. I’ll attach photos in the following post…

Which lug does your Platypus have? Why do you think they built the bikes this way?

Leah

[Leah Peterson]

Here are the photos. 

1. Blue Lug’s photo

2. My raspberry Platypus

3.&4. My mermaid Platypus

5. A video

[Bill Lindsay]

Leah, "bottom bracket lug" is perfectly descriptive, but I think the term you'll see in print when lugs are being discussed is "bottom bracket shell".  That term isn't totally specific to cast bottom bracket shells like this.  The plain metal cylinder one would use in a tig welded or fillet brazed frame is also called a "bottom bracket shell".  Either way, your "bottom bracket lug" identifies what you are talking about just fine

BL in WC

[Leah Peterson]

Ok, good to know the real name. I will likely continue to mess it up. Did you see the photos? What do you make of this?

On Apr 8, 2022, at 9:11 AM, Bill Lindsay <tape...@gmail.com> wrote:

Leah, "bottom bracket lug" is perfectly descriptive, but I think the term you'll see in print when lugs are being discussed is "bottom bracket shell".  That term isn't totally specific to cast bottom bracket shells like this.  The plain metal cylinder one would use in a tig welded or fillet brazed frame is also called a "bottom bracket shell".  Either way, your "bottom bracket lug" identifies what you are talking about just fine

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[George Schick]

Guessing a bit here, but it seems as though the builders of Rivendell's production frames "use whatever's available."  I have one of those orange Rambouillet's  that was probably built in '02 or '03.  The rear dropouts are completely different than the ones built in later years. 

[lconley]

I would guess that in  these days of supply shortages, they might be using whatever lugs that work and are available at the time that they are building a particular batch. I know that they use different lugs for different size frames of the same model. Larger lugs can have the cut-outs to allow better flow of the brazing material, cut-outs in smaller lugs can sometimes be just decorative. These appear to be for better flow on larger lugs.

Laing

[Bill Lindsay]

Leah asked: " What do you make of this?"

Well DUH!  Obviously the plainer one is much much better, proven by you because you love your Raspberry Plat so much more than any other bike.  Reinforced by the fact that yoru Raspberry Plat absolutely DESTROYED the roadie-dominated club ride.  The plain one is faster, stronger and awesomer.  Believe the science!

They snuck the slow heavy cutout one onto your mermaid Plat to make you work harder, so your Racing Plat is that much more dominant during your Alpha demonstrations of prowess.  

Mermaid Plat -- training bike

Racing Plat -- event bike

;-P

Bill "proving the proofs which have been proven" Lindsay

Liv, MI

[Doug H.]

Leah,

This seems to be a question only Grant can answer. Lug design is an art and and a work of design engineering. Which do you like better?

Doug

[Leah Peterson]



As is usual, Bill is right. I would not dare argue with him OR his science. Also, he is funny. Yes, the cutout is the training lug and I am better for it, of that you may be sure! Maybe my next goal will be to work up to riding the Mermaid Plat on the club ride with that heavy lug and all. The ultimate demonstration of prowess.

Now, the thing for the rest of you Platy-owners to know is which kind of Platypus you want when the summer Platys arrive. Do you want a Racer Platy or a Training Platy? Both are excellent. I might recommend one of each.

Leah

On Apr 8, 2022, at 9:42 AM, Bill Lindsay <tape...@gmail.com> wrote:

Leah asked: " What do you make of this?"

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[Leah Peterson]

Which bottom bracket shell do I like better? At first I was enthralled with the cutouts on the mermaid, but I like the sleek look of the raspberry. So, I guess I don’t know!

On Apr 8, 2022, at 10:03 AM, Doug H. <dhansf...@gmail.com> wrote:

Leah,

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[Bill Lindsay]

Triumph: "I almost kept up with Leah on her Racing Plat"

Humiliation: "I couldn't keep up with Leah on her Training Plat"

[Leah Peterson]

George, yes, but the mermaid Platys are from the same run of frames. I could understand if my raspberry biked used a different shell(it was a sample), but those mermaid bikes ought to be the same, right? Unless there is a size consideration? But then again, both of my bikes are 55s, so if size was the issue they should both have the same shell. I wrote to one RivSister; she has the simple, sleek shell. I think she rides a 50.

On Apr 8, 2022, at 9:32 AM, George Schick <bhi...@gmail.com> wrote:

Guessing a bit here, but it seems as though the builders of Rivendell's production frames "use whatever's available."  I have one of those orange Rambouillet's  that was probably built in '02 or '03.  The rear dropouts are completely different than the ones built in later years. 

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[Joe Bernard]

I believe Leah's use of the term "bottom bracket lug" (or lugs) is accurate. The bottom bracket shell is the cylinder the bottom bracket slides into; then there's the joints that connect seattube, downtube and chainstays to the shell. The shell on both her Platys is the same, the bottom bracket lug is different. 

Joe Bernard 

[George Schick]

Well, that kinda gives some credence to the idea that the builders may have run out of one type and just switched to a different one...IOW, they just used what they had in stock.  But, as Doug says, only Grant would know for sure.  Hmmm....come to think of it, didn't there used to be an old TV commercial for hair coloring that had the phrase, "...only her hairdresser knows for sure"?

[Joe Bernard]

Indeed, on my custom they didn't even give it a lug (maybe the angles didn't work). It's a fillet joint. And beautiful! 

[lconley]

I am pretty sure that Rivendell does not use separate shells in lugged bottom brackets, the threads are in the lug itself. 

Laing

[Bill Lindsay]

My understanding of the term is that they are all collectively called Bottom Bracket Shells.

The type of bottom bracket shell that has no lugs would more accurately be referred to as a "Lugless Bottom Bracket Shell"

The type of bottom bracket shell that has lugs as part of the casting (or the pressing) is more accurately referred to as a "Lugged Bottom Bracket Shell"

Paragon only sells the lugless type and calls them BB Shells.  Other framebuilder supply houses that sell both types call then Lugless BB Shells or Lugged BB Shells.  

Bill Lindsay

El Cerrito, CA

[Joe Bernard]

Then the bottom bracket lug is the shell and the bottom bracket shell is the lug. I just think you have to say "lug" in this instance in order to explain what you're discussing. My bike has a bottom bracket shell, too..no lug. 

On Friday, April 8, 2022 at 9:31:28 AM UTC-7 lconley wrote:

[Joe Bernard]

Anyway, I've derailed this thread long enough. Show Leah your lugged Platypus bottom bracket shells!

[John Hawrylak]

Leah

The cutouts in the mermaid colored Platy BB shell reduces the BB shell weight and compensates for the slightly longer lug section.  The mermaid Platy BB shell probably weighs the same as the BB shell in the raspberry colored Platy.   Have fun riding both

John Hawrylak

Woodstown NJ

[JAS]

The BB shell on my Platypus has the lug/cutouts.  And yes, my bike needs a cleaning!  I had to wipe off a splotch of mud before taking the photo, but isn't a dirty Platy is a happy Platy because it has been ridden? 

--Joyce

[Jon Dukeman]

Platty Meraid!

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[Leah Peterson]

For those who posted pics, can I put them in my Instagram stories? I have a poll up there, too…

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 8, 2022, at 6:14 PM, Jon Dukeman <row.n.2...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Jon Dukeman]

Sure!

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[JAS]

Leah, yes you may use my Platy BB lug photo.  If it matters in your research, my Platypus is a 55cm.

#RivSisters,

Joyce

[Roberta]

Mine looks like rowin 2 nowhere’s. Notice how the “fanciness” is facing toward the tire  it’s hard to see that looking at it perpendicular to the bike frame. 

[upyou...@yahoo.com]

Leah, 

I sent you my photo.  Mermaid Platy 50 sleek and simple.

Kate

[Chris Halasz]

From my 60cm green Platy: 

Cheers, 

Chris 

[Joe Bernard]

So only the 55 gets the longer lugs with cutouts. Interesting. 

[Leah Peterson]

Except my raspberry 55 didn’t get the cut out lug - it got the sleek one. One of each! What isn’t pictured in any of our photos is the cool swirl behind the cut out. Roberta noticed it. I’ll try to get a photo of mine. It’s just that it’s SO COLD in the garage.

On Apr 9, 2022, at 6:09 PM, Joe Bernard <joer...@gmail.com> wrote:

So only the 55 gets the longer lugs with cutouts. Interesting. 

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[REC]

Perhaps you got what was planned and they needed to go to plan B for the big lot of Platys.   

Truth be told, I never would have been able to tell you if there was a lug down there until I looked yesterday. 

On Apr 9, 2022, at 6:21 PM, Leah Peterson <jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Joe Bernard]

Ok here's my entirely unscientific and probably wrong theory: the 50cm 650b and 60cm 700c Platys have the same angles at the seattube/downtube juncture and use the same bottom bracket lug, and the 55 is different and needs a different shell/lug. IF this is true your two 55 Platys have slightly different angles. Or I'm full o' baloney. 

[Roberta]

The other day Leah asked me for a pic of my lug and showed me her two Platys' lugs.  Raspberry Platy=elegant, Mermaid (55cm)=OK.  Then, I saw the pretty swirls on the 55 Platys that you can only see from behind or in front of the appropriate part of the lug.  Hmmmm...  Kinda pretty.  Honestly though, I didn't even look before the other day.

I'd be happy with any of these, as long as my bike doesn't fall apart.  Pretty is nice bonus and I'd be happy with any of the above.

Roberta

[Lance Terry]

Plain here on my on mermaid Platy. 

[Leah Peterson]

Lance - what size? I’m trying to figure out if the 60cm has the fancier lug. So far they all have the sleek lug, and the 55 got the fancy. 

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 15, 2022, at 6:22 PM, Lance Terry <lwt...@gmail.com> wrote:

Plain here on my on mermaid Platy. 

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[Lance Terry]

Mine is a 60cm, also. Joe's theory seems pretty sound. 

[Doug H.]

I think it is time to ask Grant. I'm intrigued. Leah, was your raspberry Platy sort of a pre-production model? If so, I think Joe has nailed it.

Doug

[Joe Bernard]

"Joe's theory seems pretty sound", "I think Joe has nailed it." 

I like the direction this thread has taken recently! 😂

Joe "occasionally right" Bernard

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

Hi Doug, 

My bike was the final sample before production. Will said on the website that “it came out perfect” so I always assumed no changes were made. I did email Grant about the lug question, and while he didn’t give an exact answer, it sounds like there are 3 shells that can be used and it depends what the frame shop has at the time. But now I wonder if there is more to it than that, because all the 55s have the longer, cutout lug (with the exception of my raspberry sample, which sounds delicious, by the way) which might suggest the choice of shell has to do with the size of the frame.

It’s quirky!

Leah

[Eric Daume]

They likely build the frames in batches of sizes, so they can minimize setup of the weld fixtures. So they likely use whatever BB shell they have enough of on hand to build out that frame size. 

Eric

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