Hi, First post here. I’ve read the forum a lot since it started but havent got round to asking things. Im a hobby builder, mainly tigging steel frames, based in France but from the UK. Ive built around 35 frames i think, i’m not sure exactly i haven’t been counting.
Im looking to build a breakaway frame and so far have struggled to find couplers. I’d like to do a ritchey style seatpost breakaway with a break at the downtube near the bb. However im really struggling to find a 38mm dia or larger coupler for the downtube. I could use the ritchey breakaway system but the rider is very keen to use a larger diameter downtube, ideally 38mm+ , and it seems the the ritchey kit is 35mm maximum.
As far as i can tell S and S don’t really sell to amateurs and the Paragon Santana ones are only available in smaller diameters in steel. I’m not really set up to machine a ritchey style DT coupling unfortunately as i sold my lathe when i moved recently. Is anyone aware of any other options?
Ive seen other DIY options like these, which i could do but the tube in sleeve connection doesnt fill me with confidence and the bolted together rear end isnt as tidy as id like
Is this going to be a one-off project, or do you plan on doing this more than once? A Ritchey-style collet system would be pretty simple to have a machine shop do for you. The clamp is a bit more complicated, but if you forgo the pivoting clamp in favor of bolts, it would be much more manageable:
Have you contacted S&S directly?
Last time I went there I bought from them no problem - given I was only in need of a wrench as I had lost mine.
If you are confident in your English you could call, they are a small company, I am sure they are being careful of who they sell to because of liabilities but if you explain the situation they may be understanding, a call from a real person does miracles vs an impersonal email
Id happily build a few so yeah it would be cool to get some machined. I was wary because i havent seen a ritchey clamp up close and wasnt sure exactly what the clamp looks like/what the interface between the clamp and lip looked like. Two bolt clamp would be fine by me i think.
I did email Santana and they didnt have anything unfortunately.
I havent actually emailed them as ive seen a few builders online saying it wasnt possible to get them so i assumed the answer would be no. But I can certainly drop them a message or give them a ring, never know.
I havent actually found any Ritchey systems for sale, but apparently you can get them directly from Ritchey in Europe without too much trouble. I guess you just pay shipping and import fees to get them here.
