RE: [CR]Mixed Tubing Bikes ?

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Content-class: urn:content-classes:message
Subject: RE: [CR]Mixed Tubing Bikes ?
Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2004 14:02:53 -0400
Thread-Topic: [CR]Mixed Tubing Bikes ?
Thread-Index: AcSL1gpMmDJzQlF1QeGI+9eIqZ3qmwAhv5Uw
From: "Bingham, Wayne R." <WBINGHAM@imf.org>
To: "Classic Rendezvous" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>


Richard Cielec wrote, in part:
>>>>I am generally aware that bicycles were constructed of mixed tubing to acheive particular ride characteristics. And, some of these "mixed" bicycles offer excellent rides. May I ask those who know the tubing mix of their bikes if they would offer comment - what tubes, year, make, model of bike, how the bike rides, etc..?<<<<

I have a copy of the original build sheet for my Stan Pike, which was built in '83. Even though the frame sports a Reynolds 531SL red label, the frame is made up of various types of tubes, all identified on the sheet. The mix is as follows:

Reynolds 531 - top tube, seat tube, head tube Super Vitus - down tube, seat and chain stays Columbus - forks

I believe it was quite common for builders of the era, particularly small-output builders, to mix tubes based on what their vision of the frame was. (Or maybe they were just using what was lying around the shop.)

My Pike is quite light, considering weight was not a consideration at the time. It's built with a mix of various components. Gipiemme/Modolo (crankset/seatpost/brakes), N-Rec (shifters/derailleurs), Record (hubs/BB), Galli (rims), 3ttt (stem/bars), Edco (headset). I haven't really weighed the frame. Maybe someday. It's a great riding bike, one of my favorites, but I haven't put thousands of miles on it either. I've ridden it with two different wheelsets, the Rec/Galli 15g 32 spoke 3x set mentioned above, with UFO tubulars, and with Rec/Sun 15/16g butted 32 spoke 2x front 3x rear with Michelin somethingorothers. However, the wheelset probably has more to do with the "feel" of a bike than the tubes used. At least IMO.

Wayne Bingham
Montevideo Uruguay (temporarily)