Re: [CR] Reynolds Tubing and English/French/Italian

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From: <gpvb1@comcast.net>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR] Reynolds Tubing and English/French/Italian
Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 17:02:55 +0000


Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 12:25:45 +0000 From: <greenjersey@ntlworld.com> To: <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Subject: [CR]Reynolds Tubing and English/French/Italian

It is my understanding that regular 531 was rebranded as 531C when the lighter gauge 531SL was marketed in the early eighties. Interestingly according to Le Cycle in the late sixties all the top French makes eg Peogeot, Lejeune and Motobecane were using "Reynolds 3/10" for their Pro bikes. This is claimed for Pingeon's 60cm 1967 Tour winning bike. So much for the importance of rigidity! By the way Bill Philbrook always referred to tubes by their gauge, ie 22 and 24. No doubt some old English system maybe the same as spokes? Regards language in the peloton-bunch-field-gruppo. I've never heard seat mast in the Uk, post, pillar or pin but not mast. "Sprints and tubs" was universal and rear gear was usual combined with front clanger, no doubt a play on the way those Gran Sport changers worked. The only Italian I can think of in common usage is Tifosi and Gregario although when one of my feeble break-away attempts on a clun run is reeled in I announce "gruppo compato". But Italian has provided the all time classic cycling phrase "Uno homo solo commando" Apparently used by the radio commentator as Coppi topped the Stelvio alone. Magic. (sorry if I've abused Italian) Ray Green Brighton England

Again, not exactly (re: 531). Please see my post from yesterday with all of the relative weights of the various tube sets. "Standard" 531 was in-between the later 531c and 531st sets. In order of ascending weight, you had the following sets: 753T, 753R, 531 Professional, 531c, 531, 531st, 501, 501 All Terrain.

1970s "standard" 531 was typically the following in gauge:

Top Tube: 21/24 DB (0.8 / 0.5 / 0.8 mm) Seat Tube: 21/24 SB (0.8 / 0.5) Down Tube: 20/23 DB (0.9 / 0.6 / 0.9) Head Tube: 20 (1.0) Steerer: 16/13 SB (1.6 / 2.3) Seat Stays: 20 (0.9) Chain Stays: Taper gauge, about 0.8 / 1.2 mm Fork Blades: Taper gauge, about 1.2 / 1.8 mm (Imperial Oval).

3/10 was and is incredibly thin! 753T and the earlier "timetrial" version of Metric 753 only had 3/10 wall thickness in two places: the unbutted section of the top tube, and the unbutted section of the seat tube. That's an 85:1 diameter-to-wall-thickness ratio for the TT, and an incredible 95:1 for the ST!! (The "standard" Engineering buckling avoidance guideline, used for decades, was 50:1 max.).

Gregario Parker
Dexter, Michigan