Eric Daume's list begs some lively discussion, but it does illustrate a larger point that I think is gradually becoming a universally held opinion, even though some people don't realize it, and that is the following:
The only thing front facing horizontal dropouts are good for is single speeding. Front facing horizontal dropouts were invented on single cog machines (true single speeds and IGH bikes). Derailleurs were cobbled onto proper front facing horizontals as afterthoughts, because that's what they were. Then, fancier manufacturers (typified by Campagnolo) integrated the derailleur hanger into the front facing horizontal dropout, and copied the silhouette of the cobbled together combo. Hand wavers try to argue that front facing horizontals allow you to "adjust chainstay length", but that is hand waving. Nobody really does that. There were excellent vertical dropouts for derailleur bikes in the 1930s and thereabouts, and I think it's a historical accident that they didn't become the standard. I've got 5 bikes in my stable with forward facing horizontal dropouts. All of them have a rear derailleur, and if I had a magic wand I'd switch four of them to vertical dropouts right now. The only one I wouldn't switch is my Black Mountain rim-brake Monster Cross....because I sometimes run it as a singlespeed. That's the only thing front facing horizontals are good for: single speed setups.
Now to Eric's list of claims:
- wheel removal is much easier (and moreso with fenders, and moreso again if you're running a derailer for some reason)
I mainly disagree. Without fenders, it's about the same. With correctly set up fenders, both are a pain with normal rear wheels*. Some people do weird fender installations to accommodate rear wheel removal but the result is ugly fender lines. For all rear wheels with full coverage fenders, the optimum is for the wheel to drop straight down. There are three ways to get that:
1. Vertical dropouts
2. Through axle
3. *A rear hub with no axle stub. Phil track hubs have this feature. So does the White ENO, the Paul WORD, and there have been others. It's a no-brainer for singlespeed fendered setups, IMO. Remove the bolts entirely and the wheel goes straight down and out.
Track ends with a derailleur is a pretty goofy setup, and definitely make rear wheel removal harder. See Klein mountain bikes in the early 90s.
- adjusting the wheel position doesn't affect the rim brake position nearly as much (nice for manual gear changes).
True! but that's a function of the angle, not the direction. Rivendell track ends have the same angle and the same attribute. It's absurd other manufacturers didn't copy it. Rivendell did not patent it (or any other thing) and have never sued anybody for copying anything. I wish my Crust SS Lightning Bolt had that gangster lean. It's the only imperfection on that bike, ATMO. I like that my Michigan Man has regular horizontal track ends, because I never change gears on it.
- QR can hold the axle *better* because of the angle of the dropout--the chain isn't just pulling the wheel straight in the dropout, some component of the force is going into the angled wall of the dropout.
Mathematically true. In practical terms: come on. Both are totally fine. If there was some real shortcoming to track ends, track racers and BMX bikes wouldn't use them. This is a non-issue in either direction.
track ends look nicer,
This is subjective, but I totally agree. A singlespeed with front facing horizontals looks goofy. In my stable, I tolerate the goofy look, but I strongly prefer the look of track ends, like Eric does.
If Rivendell had me spec the Roaduno, it would have Frank Jones Sr. ends.
BL in EC
On Sunday, July 16, 2023 at 9:48:42 AM UTC-7 Eric Daume wrote: