Re: [CR]Reynolds 531 vs Columbus

(Example: Production Builders:Cinelli:Laser)

From: <DAVIDTESCH@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2002 22:05:36 EDT
Subject: Re: [CR]Reynolds 531 vs Columbus
To: rena.cutrufelli@comcast.net, rocklube@adnc.com, francopedia@yahoo.com
Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org


In a message dated 6/17/02 6:34:50 PM Pacific Daylight Time, rena.cutrufelli@comcast.net writes:


> Best overall frame tubing of all time" I'd go with Reynolds 531."

Couple things about these choices, Among the lists I also belong to a "frame" list, and I have seen ad nauseum debate about frames "going soft" and referring to silver brazing as "soldering," and on and on. One point that is pretty consistently overlooked, is that Columbus tubing has chromium in it, Reynolds does not. What does that mean? as fatigue occurs, it occurs more noticeably in tubing that contains chrome. Columbus is 4130, good ole' chromium molybdenum. Reynolds is manganese molybdenum. The curve of the fatigue cycle is much flatter in Reynolds, than in Columbus. Now is this something that one can quantify in an accurate manner? Well, I have sure seen lots of people who think they can, but if they could they would get the Nobel prize. How does this relate to vintage bikes? (would not want to close without that). If all this blather is true, a vintage Reynolds bike would be closer to new characteristics than a vintage bike built with any kind of 4130 tubing. Also, I have never seen a tube smoother, more free of surface defects, and more dimensionally correct than Reynolds. Dave Tesch