Hello Ray. In 1999 I had Steve Rex build me a custom road frame and fork u sing 753, and have gotten nine years of good ridding out of it. It is ho lding up well, and I expect to get many more years of good riding from it . I'm a little taller and heavier than the average cyclist, but the fram e is still going strong. In my experience with 753 this is a bike that sho uld have many more years of good riding in it. Let us know what you decide d.
Tom Harriman
San Francisco, Ca
> Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:19:29 -0400
> From: wheelman@nac.net
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Subject: [CR]RE: Vintage Rivendell on eBay
>
> I own an early Waterford Rivendell in very very good condition. These
> photos tell me that this is one of them. Mine is also 753 tubing used on
> the earlier models and yes it has the Waterford decal on the left
> chainstay.
>
> The 753 tubing was kind of special and my concerns would be for the amoun
t
> of rust you see on the seat tube. I wonder if the structural integrity of
> that tube has already been compromised. So far the price is pretty decent
.
> I would like to hear from some 753 aficionados on the list to either add
> to or detract from my assertion.
>
> In other words, is 753 thinner or maybe prone to corrosion more than le
ts
> say 531?
>
> A side note, my Riv like many of my bikes uses the crossed cables under
> the downtube for the derailleurs. Under certain situations when I hit a
> bump the cable strikes the dowtube and make a ring that is both beautiful
> and sweet. It is right on pitch and for that reason I have not tried to
> dampen it. They must use 753 when making chimes.
>
> Ray Homiski
> Elizabeth, NJ USA