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From: wagner@uw-june (Dave Wagner)
Newsgroups: net.bicycle
Subject: Re: vertical rear dropouts
Message-ID: <42@uw-june>
Date: Wed, 8-May-85 20:19:49 EDT
Article-I.D.: uw-june.42
Posted: Wed May  8 20:19:49 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 10-May-85 00:45:52 EDT
References: <907@eisx.UUCP> <284@sdcc12.UUCP>
Organization: U of Washington Computer Science
Lines: 35

>  For some reason I recall only seeing track bikes with vertical
>  dropouts. Does this seem right?

Although it's not true that if it has vertical dropouts, it must be a
track bike, it is true that all track bikes have vertical dropouts,
for the following reason.  The wheelbase of a track bike is so short
that the wheel cannot be moved forward at all without bumping into
the back of the seat tube; therefore, the wheel could not be removed
from the bike (without deflating the tire, and maybe not even then)
unless the bike has vertical dropouts.  They're not very common
off the track because it's harder to build a frame with them.

In fact, I have a touring bike with vertical dropouts.  
This is pretty rare, and the only reason I was able to get them is
that I had the frame built to my specifications by a good builder.
Some people will argue that they don't belong on a touring bike,
since if your wheel goes out of true you can't make side to side
adjustments at the axle; my counterargument is that if it's so
bad that I can't true it on the spot, then it can't be ridden on
anyway!  I like the convenience and I also believe (note the key
word "believe" here, this is only my opinion and I don't want to
be the subject of a bunch of flames) that they hold the wheel more
securely than diagonal drops with adjusting screws.


			Dave Wagner
			University of Washington Comp Sci Department
			wagner@washington.arpa
			{ihnp4,decvax,ucbvax}!uw-beaver!uw-june!wagner

"The surest thing there is is we are riders,
 And though none too successful at it, guiders,
 Through everything presented, land and tide
 And now the very air, of what we ride."
	- Frost