^I agree on all counts.
MK I had a purity of design that MK II lacks. But while it looked better sitting there in the pic, it was much more difficult to ride- to the point of unpleasantness- and it wouldn't accomodate a streamliner shell. Now the pics of MK I are all that remain of it in that form. I could certainly duplicate it but I don't want to and unless one moves the seat up near the headtube ala Cruzbike, it's not a user-friendly layout.
The long frame tubes stiffen right up when I put little brace tubes between 'em. It's amazing how effective those little braces are; the frame was so springy it was like a suspension component without 'em. I'm not through hacking and tacking yet and you are exactly right, I plan on putting two more in there.
The 20" tires may or may not roll harder than the 26"ers. For sure the front tire is not a low r.r. design; but the back one might be OK. The main criteria for my tire choices at this juncture was that they hold air. I do have some nice fancy-dancy all-aluminum BMX wheels waiting in the wings if R.R. MKII progresses to where I think it deserves them, and if they go on I would probably BUY some NEW tires!!!
