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View Full Version : Steel: A question...

catulle
10-07-2006, 07:48 AM
In the late sixties, early seventies, there were only two steel tube manufacturers for bicycles worth mentioning: Reynolds and Columbus. Moreover, each only had a few tube offerings (Reynolds two or three, Columbus three or four) which were clearly identified in terms of more desirable to less desirable. And each had one tube that was the top-of-the-line. Top-of-the-line frames were easily identified by the type of tubes it had.

I guess that due to the fact that most frames now days are not made of steel tubes, the whole thing about which steel tube to be chosen is no longer an issue. However, I imagine that for the ones in the know, steel tubes remain clearly identifiable and categorized. Would someone in the know please provide us with an up-date on who's who in the steel tube world. Thank you...!!
catulle
10-07-2006, 09:46 AM
Evidently, steel ain't the cat's meow no mo'. Anyway, the Columbus site has some very interesting information about their tubes. To make a long story short, they currently seem to have three types of steel tubes: Spirit, Life, Zona. All have different characteirstics, and the lightest set is the Spirit which for a 54cm frame weighs 1000grs. There is no mention of the new stainless tubes on their site.

I haven't been able to find information about Reynold's. I understand that currently Tru-Temper also has a line of popular tubes among frame-builders. But Tru-Temper is totally foreign to my frame of reference.
bironi
10-07-2006, 09:57 AM
Pretty good info here.

http://strongframes.com/material_tech/

Byron
catulle
10-07-2006, 10:08 AM
Pretty good info here.

http://strongframes.com/material_tech/

Byron

Great site. A one-stop-shop type of deal. Thanks...!
Big Dan
10-07-2006, 10:24 AM
Tico, how about KP website?

www.bikelugs.com

:)
cydewaze
10-07-2006, 10:37 AM
Wow, that 953 looks awesome.
Fixed
10-07-2006, 11:53 AM
Tico, how about KP website?

www.bikelugs.com

:)
this cat is a bro
imho
cheers
rePhil
10-07-2006, 12:24 PM
this cat is a bro
imho
cheers


Is it someone who sits at the cool kids table at lunch? Or????
catulle
10-07-2006, 02:09 PM
Tico, how about KP website?

www.bikelugs.com

:)


Hey, thanks..!
Korn Julio
10-07-2006, 02:13 PM
Wonder which one Serotta uses? Spirit or Life?
Fixed
10-07-2006, 05:43 PM
Is it someone who sits at the cool kids table at lunch? Or????
bro a cool cat , a good dude someone you like too hang out with and respect.
almost all the cats here are bros imho
cheers
Marcusaurelius
10-07-2006, 07:20 PM
True Temper OX platinum is a really great tubeset the equal of anything out there. It's incredibly strong and light. Of course reynolds 853 is very good and columbus makes some very good stuff as well. I think Serotta uses custom made columbus tubes for the most part but I seem to remember they use other brands as well.
dekindy
10-07-2006, 09:25 PM
http://strongframes.com/material_tech/specs/?PHPSESSID=d7bf9038dcb98da825e65675e1af2dab
Serpico
10-07-2006, 09:42 PM
Steel, Alum, Tit descriptions
I think you're looking at a different webpage than I am
.
Bud
10-07-2006, 10:46 PM
Wonder which one Serotta uses? Spirit or Life?

I'm pretty sure my steel Fierte is Spirit. It is Niobium and says P2S on the Columbus label. I recall having looked this up once and found it was Spirit.