This post makes fair sense - especially since track bikes often have heavy tubing anyway. Tubing itself makes no difference to ride quality as you say - its all about tube guage, butting profiles, geometry, and perhaps construction (although wise builders on this list have led me to agree it really doesn't matter much).
But my original comment still holds I believe. Why? Because the use of cheap tubing is a "marker" that the frame was built for a price. This is not always the case, as nice Rene Herse Speedy tubing bikes exist. But in general, if the maker is cutting cost on tubing, they are also probably making a frame for a price sensitive buyer. That means that build quality is likely to be less than first rate as well.
Mike Kone in Boulder CO
> Hey Mike and Lug sniffers,
\r?\n>
\r?\n> I have ridden plenty nice Aelle tubed bikes including one on the track.
\r?\n> Whilst it may not be the pro choice I never found any of the bikes
\r?\n> lacking or left out, or missing anything. It might be a little heavier
\r?\n> but I never noticed. The colour, the size, the level of finish, the
\r?\n> style of lug work and details would be the first things I would
\r?\n> consider. Tubing type sits far latter in my appraisal book. Rode plenty
\r?\n> of 531, 753, SL and SLX bikes that just didn't have fizz, pop and a
\r?\n> feel about them too. Nice tubing is nice tubing but me thinks more is
\r?\n> in the maker and construction than the tubing. So, I wouldn't agree
\r?\n> 100% that the tubing sticker makes a bike not worth considering.
\r?\n>
\r?\n> Who here would claim to know the difference (between and Aelle tubed
\r?\n> bike and say SL or SP) when riding it?
\r?\n>
\r?\n> ciao,
\r?\n>
\r?\n> Ben Kamenjas,
\r?\n> Sydney, Oz
\r?\n>
\r?\n> On 31/08/2006, Mike Kone in Boulder CO wrote:
\r?\n>
\r?\n> >
\r?\n> > Aelle Columbus tubing - the brand is therefore "don't bother shipping
\r?\n> > me to the US".
\r?\n> >
\r?\n> >
\r?\n>
\r?\n> >
\r?\n> >> Perhaps some sharp eyes could gander and say what it
\r?\n> >> is.
\r?\n> >> 110027422510
\r?\n> >> Don Wilson
\r?\n> >> Los Olivos, CA USA