Lug for bicycle frame

Abstract

A lug for a bicycle frame, the lug comprising first and second connectors; a left lateral web connecting left sides of the connectors; a right lateral web connecting right sides of the connectors; and an opening between edges of the lateral webs. The lug has a cavity which is accessible via the opening. This makes the lug easy to manufacture by machining. Optionally each connector comprises a collar or tube.

Description

LUG FOR BICYCLE FRAMEFIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a lug for a bicycle frame, a bicycle frame incorporating such a lug, a method of manufacturing a bicycle frame, and a method of manufacturing a lug.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Known lugs for a bicycle frame are disclosed in FR2245520. The lugs are fitted with self-adhesive or resilient sleeves carrying markings in accordance with which the tubular ends of the pieces are cut to give a joint of maximum strength and support with the minimum of weld. These ends have cut-away regions, leaving extending fingers about twice as long as the diameter of the tube.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] A first aspect of the invention provides a lug for a bicycle frame, the lug comprising first and second connectors; a left lateral web connecting left sides of the connectors; a right lateral web connecting right sides of the connectors; and an opening between edges of the lateral webs.

[0004] The lateral webs make the lug easy to manufacture by machining, by providing a cavity between the lateral webs which is accessible via the opening.

[0005] The first connector typically terminates at a rim. The rim may be circular or noncircular. The rim may be planar or non-planar.

[0006] The second connector typically terminates at one or more rims. The (or each) rim may be circular or non-circular. The (or each) rim may be planar or non-planar.

[0007] Optionally each connector comprises a collar or tube.

[0008] Optionally each lateral web has a planar face.

[0009] Optionally each lateral web has a planar inner face and a planar outer face.

[0010] Optionally the planar inner and outer faces of the first lateral web are parallel with each other, and the planar inner and outer faces of the second lateral web are parallel with each other.

[0011] Optionally the edges of the lateral webs are upper edges of the lateral webs.

[0012] Optionally the edges of the lateral webs are lower edges of the lateral webs.

[0013] Optionally one of the connectors comprises an inner connector wall and an outer connector wall, together providing a clevis to receive a wall of a tube to form a double lap joint.

[0014] Optionally each connector has a connector axis, and the connector axes meet at a point of intersection inside the second connector.

[0015] Optionally the edge of each lateral web comprises a stiffening feature.

[0016] Optionally the second connector is a head tube, and the lug further comprises a third connector which is connected to the head tube by the left and right lateral webs.

[0017] A further aspect of the invention provides a bicycle frame comprising first and second struts; and a lug according to the first aspect, wherein the first strut is joined to the first connector and the second strut is joined to the third connector.

[0018] Optionally the first strut is bonded to the first connector by adhesive material and / or the second strut is bonded to the third connector by adhesive material.

[0019] A further aspect of the invention provides a bicycle frame comprising first and second struts; and a lug according to the first aspect, wherein the first strut is joined to the first connector and the second strut is joined to the second connector.

[0020] Optionally the first strut is bonded to the first connector by adhesive material and / or the second strut is bonded to the second connector by adhesive material.

[0021] The first strut is joined to the lug at a first joint, such as a single or double lap joint; and the second strut is joined to the lug at a second joint, such as a single or double lap joint.

[0022] Optionally the first strut is joined to the lug at a double lap joint and the second strut is joined to the lug at a single lap joint.

[0023] Optionally each strut has a strut axis, and the strut axes meet at a point of intersection inside the second connector and / or inside the second strut.

[0024] Optionally each strut terminates at the lug at a strut rim.

[0025] A further aspect of the invention provides a method of manufacturing a bicycle frame according to one of the preceding aspects, the method comprising joining the first strut to the first connector and joining the second strut to the second or third connector.

[0026] Optionally the first strut is joined to the first connector by bonding with adhesive material and / or the second strut is joined to the second or third connector by bonding with adhesive material.

[0027] A further aspect of the invention provides a method of manufacturing a lug according to the first aspect of the invention, the method comprising machining the connectors and the lateral webs from a single piece of material.

[0028] Optionally a machining head may move in and out of a cavity between the lateral webs via the opening during the machining.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0030] Figure 1 is an isometric view of a bicycle frame;

[0031] Figure 2 is a front view of the bicycle frame;

[0032] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the left side of the bicycle frame taken along a vertical plane A-A in Figure 2;

[0033] Figure 4 is a view of detail B in Figure 3, showing the left side of a seat tube / top tube lug;

[0034] Figure 5 is a first isometric view of the seat tube / top tube lug;

[0035] Figure 6 is a rear view of the seat tube / top tube lug;

[0036] Figure 7 is a second isometric view of the seat tube / top tube lug;

[0037] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the left side of the seat tube / top tube lug taken along a vertical plane E-E in Figure 6;

[0038] Figure 9 is a right view of the seat tube / top tube lug;

[0039] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the seat tube / top tube lug taken along a plane F-F in Figure 9;

[0040] Figure 11 is a view of detail C in Figure 3, showing the left side of a head tube lug;

[0041] Figure 12 is a right view of the head tube lug;

[0042] Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of the head tube lug taken along a plane Fl- Fl in Figure 12;

[0043] Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of the head tube lug taken along a plane G- G in Figure 12;

[0044] Figure 15 is an isometric view of the head tube lug;

[0045] Figure 16 is a plan view of the head tube lug;

[0046] Figure 17 is a view of detail D in Figure 3, showing the left side of a bottom bracket shell lug;

[0047] Figure 18 is a plan view of the bottom bracket shell lug;

[0048] Figure 19 is a first isometric view of the bottom bracket shell lug;

[0049] Figure 20 is a second isometric view of the bottom bracket shell lug;

[0050] Figure 21 is a right view of the bottom bracket shell lug; and

[0051] Figure 22 is a cross-sectional view of the bottom bracket shell lug taken along a plane I-I in Figure 12.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S)

[0052] A bicycle frame 1 shown in Figure 1 comprises three hollow struts 2-4 which are coupled to each other by lugs 20, 40, 60. The struts comprise a seat tube 2, a top tube 3 and a down tube 4. In this example the struts 2-4 have circular cross-sections, but in other examples the struts 2-4 may have non-circular cross-sections. Each strut 2- 4 terminates at a pair of strut rims, one strut rim at each end of the strut.

[0053] A seat tube / top tube lug 20 couples the seat tube 2 to the top tube 3. A head tube lug 40 couples the down tube 4 to the top tube 3. A bottom bracket shell lug 60 couples the down tube 4 to the seat tube 2.

[0054] The bicycle frame 1, and each individual lug 20, 40, 60, may be substantially symmetrical about a mid-plane A-A shown in Figure 2.

[0055] The bicycle frame 1, and each individual lug 20, 40, 60, each have left and right sides. Note that the terms “left” and “right” used herein refer to the positions of a feature when viewed from the rear in the direction of travel of the bicycle, when the frame is in an upright orientation as in Figure 2. Hence the left side of the bicycle frame 1 is on the left-hand side in Figure 2.

[0056] The lugs are manufactured separately (for instance by casting, additive manufacture or machining) then each lug is joined to a pair of the struts 2-4.

[0057] In the embodiments described below, each lug is joined to a pair of the struts 2- 4 by adhesive bonding, but in other embodiments of the invention one or more of the lugs may be joined to one or more of the struts 2-4 by welding, brazing, or any other joining method.

[0058] Referring to Figure 4, the seat tube / top tube lug 20 comprises first and second connectors 21, 22. A first strut of the bicycle frame (the top tube 3) is joined to the first connector 21 at a double lap joint, and a second strut of the bicycle frame (the seat tube 2) is joined to the second connector 22 at a single lap joint.

[0059] The first connector 21 comprises a collar with an inner connector wall 23 and an outer connector wall 24, together providing a clevis to receive a wall of the top tube 3 to form the double lap joint as shown in Figure 4. The top tube 3 is bonded to the first connector 21 by adhesive material 25.

[0060] The first connector 21 terminates at a rim shown most clearly in Figure 7. The collar in this example has a planar circular rim, but in other embodiments the collar may have cut-outs so the rim is non-planar, for example to form extending fingers as disclosed in FR2245520. The rim of the first connector 21 may be circular or noncircular, as required to match the cross-sectional shape of the top tube 3. The top tube 3 also terminates at the lug 20, at a strut rim which is inside the lug 20 as shown in Figure 4.

[0061] The top tube 3 may be bonded to the first connector 21 during manufacture of the bicycle frame 1 by applying a liquid bead of the adhesive material at the base of the clevis, inserting the top tube 3 so that it squeezes against the adhesive material and results in insertion squeeze flow to fill the gap between the parts, then allowing the adhesive material to cure to bond the parts together.

[0062] The second connector 22 comprises a tube or elongated collar with a bore which receives the seat tube 2, with an inner connector wall 26 bonded to the seat tube 2 by adhesive material 27. The seat tube 2 may be bonded to the second connector 22 by injecting liquid adhesive via ports 29, then allowing the adhesive material 27 to cure to bond the parts together.

[0063] The second connector 22 terminates at a first (top) rim and a second (bottom) rim shown most clearly in Figure 9. In this example each rim is planar and circular, but in other embodiments the collar may have cut-outs so one or both rims are non-planar. The rims of the second connector 22 may be circular or non-circular, as required to match the cross-sectional shape of the seat tube 2.

[0064] A left lateral web 30L connects left sides of the connectors 21, 22; and a right lateral web 30R connects right sides of the connectors 21, 22. The lug 20 may have left / right mirror symmetry so the lateral webs 30L / R are identical mirror versions of each other, with the left and right webs on opposite sides of the plane of symmetry A- A of Figure 2.

[0065] As noted above, the terms “left” and “right” used herein refer to the positions of various features when viewed from the rear in the direction of travel of the bicycle. Hence the left lateral web 30L and the left sides of the connectors 21, 22 are on the lefthand side when viewed from the rear in the direction of travel of the bicycle when the lug 20 is in an upright orientation; and the right lateral web 3 OR and the right sides of the connectors 21, 22 are on the right-hand side when viewed from the rear in the direction of travel of the bicycle when the lug 20 is in an upright orientation.

[0066] Each lateral web 30L / R has a first end 31 attached to the first connector 21 and a second end 32 attached to the second connector 22, as best shown in Figure 7. Each lateral web 30L / R is a plate with planar inner and outer faces 33a, 33b which are parallel with each other as shown in Figure 10. The faces of the left lateral web 30L are also parallel with the faces of the right lateral web 3 OR.

[0067] Each lateral web has a lower edge 34 which extends between the first and second ends 31, 32 of the lateral web, as best shown in Figures 7-9. Each lateral web 30L / R is thickened at the lower edge 34 to provide a stiffening feature, in this case a ridge or flange 35 which runs along the edge 34.

[0068] The lug 20 has a cavity 36 which is accessible from below via an opening 37 between the lower edges 34 of the lateral webs, as best shown in Figures 4 and 7. The lateral webs are joined to each other by a top wall 38 shown in Figure 4 so the cavity 36 is closed from above.

[0069] All parts of the lug 20 (including the connectors 21, 22 and the lateral webs 30L / R) may be manufactured by casting or additive manufacture, but more preferably they are manufactured by machining from a single piece of material - for instance by removal of material from a billet with a machining head. The opening 37 between the lower edges 34 of the lateral webs provides an easy route for the machining head to move up and down, in and out of the cavity 36, during the machining process. This up and down motion is also aligned with the bore of the second connector 22, which makes the machining process easy. Also, the planar faces 33a, 33b of the lateral webs, shown in Figure 10, are easy to machine.

[0070] During riding of the bicycle, the highest forces applied to the frame are typically vertical (for instance when landing off a jump) and such forces can cause bending of the seat tube 2, placing the top tube 3 into tension or bending. If the lug 20 had a more conventional design, these forces would cause cleavage at the adhesive single lap joint which can cause peel failure of the joint.

[0071] Each connector 21, 22 has a connector axis shown in dashed lines in Figure 4, and these connector axes meet at a point of intersection 28 inside the second connector 22 and inside the seat tube 2. Similarly each strut 2, 3 has a strut axis, and the strut axes meet at the same point 28. This geometry makes the joint particularly prone to such peel failure.

[0072] Because the lateral webs 30L / R webs are positioned on the sides of the lug, rather than the top and bottom of the lug, they are configured to feed the high vertical loads into the sides of the single lap joint of Figure 4 so that the joint is principally in shear, rather than in cleavage, which is less likely to cause failure of the joint.

[0073] As noted above, the head tube lug 40 couples the down tube 4 to the top tube 3. The head tube lug 40 comprises first, second and third connectors 41, 42, 43 shown in Figures 11 and 12.

[0074] A first strut of the bicycle frame (the top tube 3) is joined to the first connector 41 at a double lap joint shown in Figure 11, and a second strut of the bicycle frame (the down tube 4) is joined to the third connector 43 at a similar double lap joint.

[0075] The first connector 41 comprises a collar with an inner connector wall 44 and an outer connector wall 45, together providing a clevis to receive a wall of the top tube 3 to form the double lap joint as shown in Figure 11. The top tube 3 is bonded to the first connector 41 by adhesive material 46.

[0076] The first connector 41 terminates at a rim shown most clearly on the left-hand side of Figure 15. The collar in this example has a planar circular rim, but in other embodiments the collar may have cut-outs so the rim is non-planar. The rim of the first connector 41 may be circular or non-circular, as required to match the cross-sectional shape of the strut 3. The top tube 3 also terminates at the lug 40 at a strut rim which is inside the lug 40 as shown in Figure 11.

[0077] The second connector comprises a tube or elongated collar 42 (conventionally known as a head tube) which is configured to receive a headset (not shown). The tube or elongated collar 42 will be referred to below as head tube 42. A headset is a bearing assembly providing a rotatable interface between the head tube 42 and the fork and handlebars of the bicycle.

[0078] The second connector 42 terminates at a first (top) rim and a second (bottom) rim shown most clearly in Figure 11. In this example each rim is planar and circular, but in other embodiments the collar may have cut-outs so one or both rims are non- planar. The rims of the second connector 42 may be circular or non-circular, as required to match the cross-sectional shape of the headset.

[0079] The third connector 43 comprises a collar with an inner connector wall 47 and an outer connector wall 48, together providing a clevis to receive a wall of the down tube 4 to form the double lap joint as shown in Figure 11. The down tube 4 is bonded to the third connector 43 by adhesive material 49.

[0080] The third connector 43 terminates at a rim shown most clearly at the bottom of Figure 12. The collar in this example has a planar circular rim, but in other embodiments the collar may have cut-outs so the rim is non-planar. The rim of the third connector 43 may be circular or non-circular, as required to match the cross-sectional shape of thedown tube 4. The down tube 4 also terminates at the lug 40 at a strut rim which is inside the lug 40 as shown in Figure 11.

[0081] The double lap joints may be formed during manufacture by a similar process to the double lap joint of the seat tube / top tube lug 20, so this process will not be described again.

[0082] A left lateral web 50L connects left sides of the connectors 41,42, 43; and aright lateral web 50R connects right sides of the connectors 41, 42, 43. The lug 40 may have left / right mirror symmetry so the lateral webs 50L / R are identical mirror versions.

[0083] Each lateral web has a first end 51 attached to a side of the first and third connectors 41, 43 and a second end 52 attached to a side of the head tube 42 as shown in Figures 12 and 15. Each lateral web 50L / R is a plate with planar inner and outer faces 53a, 53b, shown in Figure 14, which are parallel with each other. Unlike the lateral webs of the seat tube / top tube lug 20, the faces of the left lateral web 50L are not parallel with the faces of the right lateral web 50R as can be seen in Figure 13.

[0084] Each lateral web 50L / R has an upper edge 54 which extends between the first and second ends 51, 52 of the lateral web as shown in Figure 15. Each lateral web 50L / R is thickened at the upper edge 54 to provide a stiffening feature, in this case a ridge or flange 55 which runs along the edge.

[0085] The lug 40 has a cavity 56, shown in Figures 13-15, which is accessible from above via an opening 57 between the upper edges 54 of the lateral webs, as shown best in Figure 15. The lateral webs 50L / R are joined to each other by a bottom wall 58, shown in Figure 13, so the cavity 56 is closed from below.

[0086] All parts of the lug 40 (including the connectors 41-43 and the lateral webs 50L / R) may be manufactured by casting or additive manufacture, but more preferably they are manufactured by machining from a single piece of material - for instance by removal of material from a billet with a machining head. The opening 57 between the upper edges 54 of the lateral webs provides an easy route for the machining head to move up and down, in and out of the cavity 56, during the machining process. This up and down motion is also aligned with the bore of the head tube 42, which makes the machining process easy. Also, the planar faces 53a, 53b of the lateral webs, shown in Figure 14, are easy to machine.

[0087] Because the lateral webs 50L / R webs are positioned on the sides of the lug, rather than at the top and bottom of the lug, they are configured to feed vertical loads into the sides of the adhesive double lap joints so that the joints are principally in shear, rather than in cleavage, which is less likely to cause failure of the joints.

[0088] As noted above, the bottom bracket shell lug 60 couples the down tube 4 to the seat tube 2. The bottom bracket shell lug 60 comprises first, second and third connectors 61, 62, 63 shown in Figure 17.

[0089] A first strut of the bicycle frame (the seat tube 2) is joined to the first connector 61 at a double lap joint, and a second strut of the bicycle frame (the down tube 4) is joined to the second connector 62 at a similar double lap joint.

[0090] The first connector 61 comprises a collar with an inner connector wall 64 and an outer connector wall 65, together providing a clevis to receive a wall of the seat tube 2 to form the double lap joint as shown in Figure 17. The seat tube 2 is bonded to the first connector 61 by adhesive material 66.

[0091] The first connector 61 terminates at a rim shown most clearly at the top of Figure 19. The collar in this example has a planar circular rim, but in other embodiments the collar may have cut-outs so the rim is non-planar. The rim of the first connector 61 may be circular or non-circular, as required to match the cross-sectional shape of the seat tube 2. The seat tube 2 also terminates at the lug 60 at a strut rim which is shown in Figure 17.

[0092] The second connector 62 comprises a collar with an inner connector wall 67 and an outer connector wall 68, together providing a clevis to receive a wall of the down tube 4 to form the double lap joint as shown in Figure 17. The down tube 4 is bonded to the third connector 63 by adhesive material 69.

[0093] The second connector 62 terminates at a rim shown most clearly at the righthand side of Figure 19. The collar in this example has a planar circular rim, but in other embodiments the collar may have cut-outs so the rim is non-planar. The rim of the second connector 62 may be circular or non-circular, as required to match the cross- sectional shape of the down tube 4. The down tube 4 also terminates at the lug 60 at a strut rim which can be seen in Figure 17.

[0094] The double lap joints may be formed during manufacture by a similar process to the double lap joint of the seat tube / top tube lug 20, so this process will not be described again.

[0095] The third connector comprises a bottom bracket shell 63 which is configured to receive a bottom bracket (not shown). A bottom bracket is a bearing assembly providing a rotatable interface between the bottom bracket shell 63 and the crankset of a bicycle.

[0096] A left lateral upper web 70L connects left sides of the first and second connectors 61, 62, as best shown in Figured 17 and 19; and a right lateral upper web 70R connects right sides of the first and second connectors 61, 62, as best shown in Figures 19-21.

[0097] A left lateral lower web 7 IL connects left sides of the second and third connectors 62, 63, as best shown in Figures 17, 19 and 20; and a right lateral lower web 71R connects right sides of the second and third connectors 62, 63, as best shown in Figures 19-21.

[0098] The lug 60 may have left / right mirror symmetry so the lateral webs are identical mirror versions of each other, with the left and right webs on opposite sides of the plane of symmetry.

[0099] Each upper lateral web 70L / R has a first end 72 attached to the first connector 61 and a second end 73 attached to the second connector 62. Each upper lateral web 70L / R is a plate with planar inner and outer faces 74a, 74b which are parallel with each other, as shown in Figure 22. The faces of the left upper lateral web 70L are parallel with the faces of the right upper lateral web 70R.

[0100] Each lower lateral web has a first end 75 attached to the third connector 63 and a second end 76 attached to the second connector 62. Each lower lateral web is a plate with planar inner and outer faces which are parallel with each other. The faces of the left lower lateral web 7 IL are parallel with the faces of the right lower lateral web 71R.

[0101] Each lateral web 70L / R, 71L / R has an upper edge 80 which extends between the first and second ends of the lateral web; and a lower edge 81 which extends between the first and second ends of the lateral web.

[0102] The lug 60 has a cavity 82, best shown in Figure 22, which is accessible from above via an opening 87 between the upper edges 80 of the upper lateral webs 70L / R, as shown in Figure 19.

[0103] The cavity 82 is also accessible from below via an opening 88 between the lower edges 81 of the lower lateral webs 71L / R, as shown in Figure 20.

[0104] All parts of the lug 60 (including the connectors 61-63 and the lateral webs 70L / R, 71L / R) may be manufactured by casting or additive manufacture, but more preferably they are manufactured by machining from a single piece of material - for instance by removal of material from a billet with a machining head. The openings 87, 88 provide easy routes for the machining head to move up and down, in and out of the cavity 82, during the machining process. This up and down motion is also aligned with the axes of the first and second connectors 61, 62, which makes the machining process easy. Also, the planar faces of the lateral webs are easy to machine.

[0105] Because the lateral webs 70L / R, 71L / R are positioned on the sides of the lug 60, rather than being at the top and bottom of the lug, they are configured to feed high vertical loads into the sides of the double lap joints so that the joints are principally in shear, rather than in cleavage, which is less likely to cause failure of the joints.

[0106] In summary, each lug described above comprises two or three connectors. Each connector is either configured to connect the lug to a strut of a bicycle frame via a joint (such an adhesive joint or a welded joint) or configured to connect the lug to another part of a bicycle via a bearing assembly (such as a headset). In the embodiments above, each lug is either a seat tube / top tube lug, a head tube lug, or a bottom bracket shell lug but the invention also can be used for other types of lug for a bicycle frame.

[0107] The lug has lateral webs connecting left and right sides of the connectors, and a cavity between the lateral webs which can be accessed via an opening between edges of the lateral webs.

[0108] The lateral webs provide a relatively open design which is easy to manufacture by machining. Optionally the cavity (and / or the opening into the cavity), may be filled or covered when the frame is integrated into a bicycle. Alternatively, the opening may remain open, so the cavity remains accessible as the bicycle is ridden.

[0109] Optionally the cavity may be used as an accessible storage area, or cables may be routed to / from one of the struts via the opening or accessed via the opening.

[0001] Although the invention has been described above with reference to one or more preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that various changes or modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A lug for a bicycle frame, the lug comprising first and second connectors; a left lateral web connecting left sides of the connectors; a right lateral web connecting right sides of the connectors; and an opening between edges of the lateral webs.

2. A lug according to claim 1, wherein each connector comprises a collar or tube.

3. A lug according to any preceding claim, wherein each lateral web has a planar face.

4. A lug according to any preceding claim, wherein each lateral web has a planar inner face and a planar outer face.

5. A lug according to claim 4, wherein the planar inner and outer faces of the first lateral web are parallel with each other, and the planar inner and outer faces of the second lateral web are parallel with each other.

6. A lug according to any preceding claim, wherein the edges of the lateral webs are upper edges of the lateral webs.

7. A lug according to any preceding claim, wherein the edges of the lateral webs are lower edges of the lateral webs.

8. A lug according to any preceding claim, wherein one of the connectors comprises an inner connector wall and an outer connector wall, together providing a clevis to receive a wall of a tube to form a double lap joint.

9. A lug according to any preceding claim, wherein each connector has a connector axis, and the connector axes meet at a point of intersection inside the second connector.

10. A lug according to any preceding claim, wherein the edge of each lateral web comprises a stiffening feature.

11. A lug according to any preceding claim, wherein the second connector is a head tube, and the lug further comprises a third connector which is connected to the head tube by the left and right lateral webs.

12. A lug according to any preceding claim, wherein the first connector terminates at a rim.

13. A lug according to any preceding claim, wherein the second connector terminates at one or more rims.

14. A lug according to claim 13, wherein the second connector terminates at first and second rims.

15. A bicycle frame comprising first and second struts; and a lug according to claim 11, wherein the first strut is joined to the first connector and the second strut is joined to the third connector.

16. A bicycle frame according to claim 15, wherein the first strut is bonded to the first connector by adhesive material and / or the second strut is bonded to the third connector by adhesive material.

17. A bicycle frame comprising first and second struts; and a lug according to any of claims 1 to 14, wherein the first strut is joined to the first connector and the second strut is joined to the second connector.

18. A bicycle frame according to claim 17, wherein the first strut is bonded to the first connector by adhesive material and / or the second strut is bonded to the second connector by adhesive material.

19. A bicycle frame according to any of claims 15 to 18, wherein the first strut is joined to the lug at a first joint and the second strut is joined to the lug at a second joint.

20. A bicycle frame according to claim 19, wherein the first strut is joined to the lug at a double lap joint and the second strut is joined to the lug at a single lap joint.

21. A bicycle frame according to any of claims 15 to 20, wherein each strut has a strut axis, and the strut axes meet at a point of intersection inside the second connector and / or inside the second strut.

22. A bicycle frame according to any of claims 15 to 21, wherein each strut terminates at the lug at a strut rim.

23. A method of manufacturing a bicycle frame according to any of claims 15 to 22, the method comprising joining the first strut to the first connector and joining the second strut to the second or third connector.

24. A method of manufacturing a bicycle frame according to claim 23, wherein the first strut is joined to the first connector by bonding with adhesive material and / or the second strut is joined to the second or third connector by bonding with adhesive material.

25. A method of manufacturing a lug according to any of claims 1 to 14, the method comprising machining the connectors and the lateral webs from a single piece of material.

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