With conventional diamond geometry, jarring vibrations are channeled directly to the rider’s spine. For any rider in any discipline, comfort matters, which is why bike companies have spent millions developing composites to deliver a more comfortable ride. But they have been stuck for decades, enslaved to the concept of a triangle.
In 2010, after a season filled with long-distance rides, Lou Tortola – inventor of the RoundTail™ – began to rethink the shape of a bicycle frame. Why had the bicycle frame remained nearly unchanged for so long? Tortola broke through
the barriers of the triangle. He believed that a pair of continuous rings beneath the rider would absorb road vibrations without compromising performance or lateral stiffness. Five months later, his vision became a reality.
Laboratory testing and Finite Element Analysis proved that the RoundTail™ provides more than 10 times the vertical compliance of a standard double-diamond frame, and the ring design absorbs 60 times more road vibrations. This breakthrough reduces stress and fatigue to the rider’s body, which means you can spend more time in the saddle – comfortably.
The RoundTail™ design delivers a bicycle that gives every rider – from the Iron Man competitor to the weekend warrior to the commuter – a strong, fast, enjoyable ride.
designer: Lou tortola
period: 2010
