Design completed:
As it turned out the design ended up being a simplified version compared to drawing posted previously. Unfortunately, they (Waltly) decided the ovalised top-tube I wanted was "unworkable". In reality, I don't think they could figure out how to weld it to the seat tube & seat stays. It's one of those things where I know what I wanted, but trying to communicate it to someone in a different country via e-mail with the slight confusions that can occur with translation/interpretation between languages all got a bit hard (that is not a dig at them, just the reality of the interactions - they were quite good again otherwise). Same thing with trying to get a guide tube run through the downtube and into the bottom of the seattube for the dropper cable. I pushed a bit harder on this one but I kept getting told it was "unworkable" or getting design alterations that weren't close to what I was asking. What I eventually figured out was that they make the frame first,
then add any cable guide tubes later. I'm fine with it, and ultimately it was only really for aesthetics and wasn't going to effect the operation of the bike - so I just went with external routing on the down-tube and through a port into the seat-tube again. Although I couldn't get the ovalised top tube I had wanted, I still wanted to try and combat the front-end flexiness of my first frame so I went with a larger diameter top tube, and a more angular profile and thicker walled downtube (1.1mm wall thickness). The keen-eyed geo freaks might notice that the BB has actually risen despite my earlier plans to lower it - but that's because this frame is going to setup as a mullet with a 27.5" rear wheel. I decided it's a frame I'm getting built purely for fun rides, and while the rollover of a 29er rear is handy over rocks - they just don't feel as lively to me everywhere else. Front end will be a 29x2.5" and 140mm fork, with 27.5x2.5" out back.