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    What are these things called?

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    23 Comments

    2. toddlikesbikes on

      Gussets

      You see them on some aluminum bikes too. I don’t think frames without them are necessarily less strong, just designed differently.

    3. stranger_trails on

      Gussets – they are to reinforce higher stress zones if frames (usually steel). Tubing on frames is often butted (thinned in the middle) and the gussets help keep the weld junctions strong enough while keeping the overall tubing from being over built. Headtube junctions are the most common to have gussets (either bottom or both top & bottom).

    4. chimi_hendrix on

      Rust Encourager /s

      But seriously moisture does tend to collect in the cutout and you’ll see rust colored discoloration. Not really anything to worry about

    10. pandemicblues on

      It’s a gusset. They not only reinforce, they direct surface loads to prevent stress risers. This the scalloped end of it on the tube.

      On old lugged steel frames, the failure would often occur at the pointy tip of a lug, because that was where the combined tube lug thickness dropped down to just the tube thickness.

    20. Horror-Raisin-877 on

      What I’ve wondered about in recent years is why gussets like these aren’t welded around the full perimeter. Water it seems would likely get in those gaps and that wouldn’t be good.

    21. SSPoncho on

      Reinforcing gusset. Typically welded close to the neutral axis of the tube to allow flex without cracking. The example you have posted is excellent.

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