Just found this website.
My wife and I purchased a pair of new Crescent racers back in the '70s. Mine is the 531 alloy and hers is the stainless steel (SS). The alloy version weighs 22 lbs and the SS weighs a pound more, however, the SS does indeed handle better under stress. We both raced for a while, and I envied her bike even though mine was nice enough. Up until now we hadn't used the bikes for over twenty years. Now I am riding the Crescents again and thinking about training enough to race (in my age-group).
Hope to hear about other bikes. I will send pictures if that is alright.
Joe L P. S. We have a few of the posters with the girl in the green dress on the orange 531 alloy bike. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Joseph Lacetera. MSTI (443) 417-6187 http://www.msti-md.com