[CR]re: Early Alloy Parts

(Example: Framebuilders:Bernard Carré)

In-Reply-To: <7DD013DE8DD14EED8764E86A2DC32889@JB>
References: <7DD013DE8DD14EED8764E86A2DC32889@JB>
Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2008 07:59:14 -0800
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
From: "Jan Heine" <heine94@earthlink.net>
Subject: [CR]re: Early Alloy Parts


http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com/images/1934ReyhandFull.jpg

Here is a ca. 1934 Reyhand, with almost everything made from aluminum (except the hollow steel cranks and steel frame/fork). Even cable housing is aluminum. Chainrings are Rosa aluminum, derailleurs both are almost all aluminum, stem and bars of course are aluminum, so is the seatpost with integrated head (Mavic/AVA). Rims and hubs are made from the shiny silver stuff, too.

The end result is a bike that weighs just 25.5 lbs. (11.6 kg for the majority of the globe), with wide tires, fenders, lights, racks, even the pump. It would be very hard to made a bike with similar specs this light today. All BQ test bikes have been heavier, once you factor in the weight of the wide tires and heavy saddle.

The bike and its sister were featured in detail in Bicycle Quarterly Vol. 5, No.1.

Jan Heine
Editor
Bicycle Quarterly
140 Lakeside Ave #C
Seattle WA 98122
http://www.bikequarterly.com