Reynolds Vs Columbus
Greg Egan
I received some advice that my current Reynolds 531 frame was probably better
than a bike I was looking at, which used Columbus Cromor. Any opinions/facts
on this? I'm interested to see how the whole range stacks up.
da...@erinet.com
>I received some advice that my current Reynolds 531 frame was probably better
>than a bike I was looking at, which used Columbus Cromor. Any opinions/facts
>on this? I'm interested to see how the whole range stacks up.
I'm not sure what you mean by "better". If you mean more expensive,
Reynolds 531 frames are usually priced a bit higher than Colombus
Cromor frames. The 531 tubeset from Reynolds is probably closer in
price bracket to a Columbus SLX frame. For durability, etc. they are
all identical.
From a standpoint of ride quality, I doubt that you or anyone could
tell the difference, although I'm sure you will get some comments to
the contrary.
Try to find a copy of the December, 1996 issue of _Bicycle Guide_
magazine. In that issue, the editors tested 7 Italian frames built by
Antonio Mondonico. The frames were identical in all respects, except
that they were built with Aelle, Cromor, Thron, Brain, SLX, Neuron and
EL-OS tubesets from Columbus. Each bike was the same size and equipped
with the same components. The bikes were "numbered" but otherwise
were not distinquishable. This is about as close to a "blind test" as
you'll get on bicycles.
And the results? The bikes were just about identical. To quote the
article " . . . the personality of a bike is determined much more by
fit, frame geometry and components than by what kind of tubing lies
under the paint."
From a table in the article, the frame only weights were:
Aelle 4lb 12oz
Cromor 4lb 7oz
Thron 4lb 12oz
Brain 4lb 8oz
SLX 4lb 8oz
Neuron 4lb 0oz
EL-OS 4lb 0oz
The fork weights ranged from 1lb 6oz (SLX!) to 1lb 9oz (Aelle).
Strangely enough, the EL-OS fork weighed in at 1lb 8 oz, cancelling
out some of the benefit that you paid for in the lightweight frame
tubes.
One observation from all of this was that the weight of the lugs
and brazing material are significant -- largely overshadowing the
actual weight of the tubesets.
The 1996 price ranges on the frames was $460 (Aelle) to $1275 (EL-OS)
-- they would be even more today. Except for bragging rights, it is
quite unclear what you get for the greater expenditure.
.............dh
Robert Perkins
> > <egan.51....@gil.com.au>...
> >> I received some advice that my current Reynolds 531 frame was probably
> > better
> >> than a bike I was looking at, which used Columbus Cromor. Any
> > opinions/facts
> >> on this? I'm interested to see how the whole range stacks up.
> >>
>
If you really care, get the book "Touring Bikes" by
Tony Oliver. It has excruciating detail about the
various weights of Reynolds (531, 531c, 531ST, 653, 753, 853)
and Columbus (Cromor, Aelle, SL, SLX, SP, MAX, etc).
Both manufacturers make great tubes; the question,
more importantly, is which weight of tubing is appropriate
for your needs? Also, who made your frame is more important
than whether it has columbus or reynolds tubing.
Or, just ride the bike and see if you like it.
Rob
Jon Clare
David Rees <dr...@microtec.net> wrote in article
<01bcb374$40bfef70$5ff7eccd@hal>...
> 753 is not heat-treated 531. They are completely different alloys. 531 is
> great stuff, if you want a r3esilient/flexy frame. It's suitability
depends
> on your weight, frame size, etc..
>
>
753 is heat treated 531 - at least according to the information on the
Reynolds web site - they should know!!
--
Jon Clare
Dept of Electronic and Electrical Eng
University of Nottingham, UK
PGobat8203
> 753 is not heat-treated 531. They are completely different alloys. 531 is
>> great stuff, if you want a r3esilient/flexy frame. It's suitability
>depends
>> on your weight, frame size, etc..
>>
>>
>
>
>753 is heat treated 531 - at least according to the information on the
>Reynolds web site - they should know!!
OK guys...here it is...753 (chrome molybdneum vanadium) is NOT heat
treated 531...it IS a different alloy which is heat treated. 731 IS heat
treated 531 (manganese molybdneum) but drawn to a thinner gauge. 501 is
standard Chrome Molybdneum. 853 is an air hardening alloy that hardens
after heating upon exposure to air.
Paul
pgoba...@aol.com
Jon Clare
Look at www.reynoldsusa.com which gives the chemical composition of 753 and
531 (ie its the same). Either that web site is wrong or most of the
opinions expressed in this thread are wrong (except the one that states 753
is heat treated 531) - which is it?
--
Jon Clare
Dept of Electronic and Electrical Eng
University of Nottingham, UK
PGobat8203 <pgoba...@aol.com> wrote in article
<19970829160...@ladder02.news.aol.com>...
John Thompson
In <01bcb6b4$cb3751a0$6e4c...@norton.eee.nott.ac.uk>, "Jon Clare" <Jon....@nottingham.ac.uk> writes:
>Look at www.reynoldsusa.com which gives the chemical composition of 753 and
>531 (ie its the same). Either that web site is wrong or most of the
>opinions expressed in this thread are wrong (except the one that states 753
>is heat treated 531) - which is it?
When I went for 753 certification, the Reynolds rep told me 753
was heat-treated 531. This was over ten years ago, though...
-John (John.T...@ibm.net)
John Thompson
In <5tvah7$m...@nntp5.u.washington.edu>, f...@u.washington.edu (Frank Miles) writes:
>In ancient times (late 70's, early 80's), Colombus forks were made in
>so that the wall thickness was either constant or increased toward the
>dropouts. The Reynolds forks, IIRC, had a tapering/decreasing wall
>thickness toward the forks.
>I doubt if this made much difference in total bike weight, but the
>riding characteristics could be significant. It certainly led to my
>choosing Columbus for building my touring frame.
>Whether the gauges are still this way -- don't know.
Reynolds forks are "taper-gauge" such that the wall thickness
gradually decrease from the crown end to the dropout end --
*BEFORE THE BLADE IS TAPERED!* This is done so that after the
tapering operation, the wall thickness is constant from crown end
to dropout end. Reynolds claims that this improves the handling
characteristics of the fork.
Other companies' blades are (AFAIK; Reynolds claims a coopyright
on the "taper-gauge" feature) straight gauge before tapering and
therefore become thicker at the dropout end after the tapering
operation.
I've made and ridden frames with both types of forks and honestly
can't tell any difference I would attribute to this feature,
either in handling or durability.
-John (John.T...@ibm.net)
Troy A. Courtney
I'm looking at a spec sheet for 531, 731, and 753. ALL have the same
material composition. 731 is the same as 531 EXCEPT that it has internal
ribs at the butted ends. 753 is heat-treated where as 531 and 731 are
stress releaved. 731 feels more like 531 to work with and nothing like any
heat-treated tubesets I've worked with. 731 is a fairly light tubeset as
well. I recently finished a 731 OS 56tt/55st frame with 531 oval chain
stays, 753 seat stays, and Henry James lugs and BB....3.6 lbs.
--
----- __o
---- -\<,
_____ (_) / (_) _____
tr...@interaccess.com
Jon Clare <Jon....@nottingham.ac.uk> wrote in article
<01bcb6b4$cb3751a0$6e4c...@norton.eee.nott.ac.uk>...
> Look at www.reynoldsusa.com which gives the chemical composition of 753
and
> 531 (ie its the same). Either that web site is wrong or most of the
> opinions expressed in this thread are wrong (except the one that states
753
> is heat treated 531) - which is it?
Tullio
Mr. Bill wrote:
>
> Jon Clare wrote:
> > 753 is heat treated 531 - at least according to the information on the
> > Reynolds web site - they should know!!
>
> described the proportions of the ingredients in the tubing
> (Iron-Manganese-Molybdenum).
I think that you'll find that this numbering system applied only to 531
and not its variants and related products.
Todd
Tullio's Big Dog Cyclery
LaSalle, IL
e-mail: tul...@TheRamp.net