Centerline Studies

In early 2006, we already had a few prototypes being worked on. We had numerous prototypes being worked on, including two dual-link style bikes being worked on ( a 5 inch version, and a 6 inch version). We were trying new stuff, improving existing stuff and generally trying to maximize the performance of suspension, braking, and pedaling efficiency.
Jim Colgrove, the father of OCLV, happened to be passing by my desk and asked an off the cuff question “why doesn’t anyone put the pivot right in-line with the hub axle?”Because I had my head wrapped so far around multi-link suspensions designs for the past few months, my gut reaction was, “Well, because it wouldn’t do anything – you’d still just have a single pivot bike.” A short discussion about wheel paths and brake locations followed.