RE: [CR]Reynolds 531 vs Columbus

(Example: Framebuilders:Masi)

Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2002 16:24:35 -0400
From: "Mark" <rena.cutrufelli@comcast.net>
Subject: RE: [CR]Reynolds 531 vs Columbus
In-reply-to: <183.9b9deed.2a3fef70@aol.com>
To: DAVIDTESCH@aol.com, rocklube@adnc.com, francopedia@yahoo.com
Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org


Not the answer I was hoping for but... Reading between the lines I guess (hope)from yours and other comments I don't have anything to worry about (relative to fatique) in the SL tubed 83 Masi GC that you built and I own, esp. since it is only 54cm? You would think rider weight would be a big factor in tubing fatique. The GC is still said to be fine, top shelf, SL or not? Besides the fork blades which you recognized as New Continental oval are Reynolds, I gather.I would imagine that the greatest stress would be on the fork tubing (maybe another naive erroneous assumption on my part)wouldn't it?

Mark (trying to recoup from tubing fatigue and feelin fat at 157lbs) Cutrufelli in Laurel,MD

-----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-admin@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-admin@bikelist.org]On Behalf Of DAVIDTESCH@aol.com Sent: Monday, June 17, 2002 10:06 PM To: rena.cutrufelli@comcast.net; rocklube@adnc.com; francopedia@yahoo.com Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: Re: [CR]Reynolds 531 vs Columbus

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

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