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On another thread there was a mention of a Frank The Welder podcast on Vital, I don't know if anyone else knows it is there.
I didn't know much about the guys, least of all that he designed VPP and sold it on to Santa Cruz.
A good listen on the background and a link to the history for the sport right through to the current designs out there.
https://www.vitalmtb.com/features/The-Inside-Line-Frank-The-Welder,2612
I think vpp was invented by two other guys:
Thought he'd be too busy welding gnorpoons together to mess about with podcasts.😆
I imagine he can knock all 4 of them out in an afternoon....
Listened to the podcast, finding them great on the drive to and from work. Thought FTW said he was making one sample for Sick! so maybe the podcast was recorded before the Indiegogo campaign got four more frame sales?
I think VPP was invented by two other guys:
He thinks otherwise (and was surprised to not see his name on the patent) but obviously the Patent says the official version . He did sell a VERY similar looking design to SC. Listen to the 'cast or check out the pics on Vital.
Still a good listen.
Frank is a very decent guy too. Another one of the people deeply involved in MTB history that loves sharing his knowledge and experiences.
The pics are of a different design. It does not appear to embody the VPP concept that is patented, with the S-shaped axle path* and all. In fact, it looks more interesting than that as the axle path is not necessarily defined (look at the number of pivots) so will vary depending on how the bike hits a bump. Looking at it, I *think* that under pedalling it will behave like a single pivot - see how the lower link's movement relative to the chainstay is limited by a stop (which looks like it could be adjusted). But when hitting a bump, when the forces on the rear wheel will be upwards and backwards, not pulling the wheel in as would happen with chain tension, that lower link/chainstay join will open out, resulting in a more rearward axle path which should smooth the bump out. Interesting.
I will listen to the whole thing when I have time and see why FTW thinks there is a connection with the other guys.
*Early versions of the patent were a bit more vague about it, but they were all directed to fixed non-circular axle path designs as far as I recall.
Pretty sure he wasn't referring to VPP at all. He was talking about a 'soccer ball' type wheel path. He also mentioned that he took the proto to SC who thought is was great but 'already owned the best suspension platform'. VPP was created by the people behind Outland back in the 90's IIRC and the prototype on display is clearly much newer than that.
Morning Will.
Good afternoon fine sir.
Yeah he was talking about a high pivot design I think. You've got the wrong end of the stick OP.
Another fine pod from vital anyway, and he semms like a really sound, open minded fella. Great to hear his take on MTB evolution.
He says "football" and I think he means an oval pointy ended one. Apparently soneone else owns the patent on it (not Santa Cruz I think) and he isn't mentioned as inventor (which he should be if he invented it, even if he never owned it). It isn't clear how he ended up in that situation though.
You’ve got the wrong end of the stick OP.
They don’t let me on the darts team so that isn’t unlikely...