[CR]comparison of 753 frames: Raleigh Team vs. Waterford 1250

(Example: Bike Shops:R.E.W. Reynolds)

Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:02:43 -0600
From: "Steve Kurt" <kurtsj@mtco.com>
To: Classic Rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: [CR]comparison of 753 frames: Raleigh Team vs. Waterford 1250

hi gang,

I've got a early 80's Raleigh Team, built with Reynolds 753 tubing. It's a lovely bike, with superb craftsmanship. Possibly the best production frame made??

For better or worse, it's my fastest bike, so I tend to ride it frequently. There are days, when it's hot and I'm sweating a lot, that I'd rather be riding a bike that I didn't worry as much about. For that reason, I've been thinking that a Waterford built from 753 might be a good bike for those rougher conditions.

A Waterford 1250 in my size was available on ebay recently, and I was seriously tempted. My only question was whether it would ride similarly to the Team, especially in terms of weight and stiffness. The Team strikes me as being a rather light frame, especially since I ride large frames.

Does anyone know how the two compare? Or does anyone have a 61cm c-c seat tube, 58cm c-c top tube 753 frame available??

regards,
Steve Kurt
Peoria, IL