Mike, I did email you about this but didn’t get a reply. I’ve always been happy with the frames I’ve had from you and don’t want to bleat about this one; the moment I got on it it just didn’t feel right. It had exactly the same build kit as my mk1 (the one with spread rear dropout/mech hanger), but I measured and re-measured and the numbers were way out. Basically, I assumed yours must have been a sagged figure, and seeing as though I didn’t get on with it I just got rid instead of trying to persevere.
I think, and I am sure that Mike will correct me on this, that it would be nigh on impossible for there to be a manufacturing error of that magnitude.
It’s not uncommon for mass produced frames to be out line after they’ve been welded and heat treated (I’ve heard Commencals and Intenses are notorious for this) but having incorrect geometry would require someone to reset the welding jig incorrectly before a production run started. That would mean you have a whole run of frames that were wrong and I imagine it would be easily spotted.
Fair enough, and as I said earlier I didn’t measure the mk1 to be able to make that comparison, but I know i measured it accurately, and I know they felt very different. Indeed, so much different that this was the cause of me getting the tape measure out to start with. How’s about someone or everyone measuring their bb heights just to see?
For the record, having owned 2x PA’s & 2x Alpines I certainly don’t have a problem with Mike’s designs, I’m just saying why I sold my 2nd Alpine.