What are Double- and Triple-butted Frames?
For more than 15 years, BikesDirect has offered cyclists a wide range of of equipment to choose from. Many bicycles featured on the BikesDirect website are distinguished by such amenities as premium suspension systems. Others offer the benefit of advanced aerodynamic design. Bikes Direct also features bikes with double-butted and triple-butted frames. A double-butted bike frame is manufactured from tubing that is slimmer in the middle and thicker on the ends. Because the tubing ends must withstand stress when the bike is ridden, the ends are thicker to protect both the bike and the rider. When a bike frame is triple-butted, the tubing is thin in the middle and one end is thicker than the other. However, even less material is used at each of the tubes’ ends. This type of weight-reducing design is used where both speed and durability are required. Today, double-butting is a preferred method for making tubing, as it is less expensive and less time-consuming to manufacture. Both double-butted and triple-butted frames are used for road bikes in competitive cycling events.