Hi again,
yes, that is a logical train of thought and I agree that it ultimately depends on who made it. I don't have any great pics but I helped a friend buy his first racer just before leaving NYC. Ebay, bad photo ... you get my drift. Aelle tubing mentioned in the auction ad. $250 - whole bike. Why not I thought ... the manufacturer was Montagner and I had previously owned one of them and could vaguely recognize the decals style. Good enough for my mate to start on. Boy did my eyes pop when I opened the box. Only Aelle tubing .... but just beautiful and far better quality and detailing than my "better specc'ed " Montagner that I previously owned. All out pimp paint, chromework, finished very nicely. Perfect. I seriously considered for a minute telling my mate it was crap and I'd find him something else. Great bike to look at and ride. Similarly, there is a few Colnago's in a LBS down here - one of them is actually a Saronni (made by Colnago) with Aelle tubing. There seems no difference in quality between that and it's SL cousins that are made from the exact same era and hanging up next to each other. I am sure some builders just went through the motions thinking they were making just fodder and it didn't matter ... yet some spent the same amount of time and care irrespective of the tubing decal. Depends who made it. We're it from Raleigh or Peugeot I would expect a drop in standard when a "lesser" spec. tubing is used.
The bike in question looks interesting and even with the one crappy pic looks like it's been cared for. Memory like a sieve .... is Aelle seamed tubing or plain gauge? Can't recall.
ciao,
Ben Kamenjas Sydney, Oz
On 01/09/2006, at 1:05 AM, classicrendezvous-request@bikelist.org wrote:
>
> This post makes fair sense - especially since track bikes often have
> heavy tubing anyway. Tubing itself makes no difference to ride
> quality as you say - its all about tube guage, butting profiles,
> geometry, and perhaps construction (although wise builders on this
> list have led me to agree it really doesn't matter much).
>
> But my original comment still holds I believe. Why? Because the use
> of cheap tubing is a "marker" that the frame was built for a price.
> This is not always the case, as nice Rene Herse Speedy tubing bikes
> exist. But in general, if the maker is cutting cost on tubing, they
> are also probably making a frame for a price sensitive buyer. That
> means that build quality is likely to be less than first rate as well.
>
> Mike Kone in Boulder CO
>
>
> -------------- Original message --------------
> From: Ben Kamenjas <bici_pimp@mac.com>
>
>> Hey Mike and Lug sniffers,
>>
>> I have ridden plenty nice Aelle tubed bikes including one on the
>> track.
>> Whilst it may not be the pro choice I never found any of the bikes
>> lacking or left out, or missing anything. It might be a little heavier
>> but I never noticed. The colour, the size, the level of finish, the
>> style of lug work and details would be the first things I would
>> consider. Tubing type sits far latter in my appraisal book. Rode
>> plenty
>> of 531, 753, SL and SLX bikes that just didn't have fizz, pop and a
>> feel about them too. Nice tubing is nice tubing but me thinks more is
>> in the maker and construction than the tubing. So, I wouldn't agree
>> 100% that the tubing sticker makes a bike not worth considering.
>>
>> Who here would claim to know the difference (between and Aelle tubed
>> bike and say SL or SP) when riding it?
>>
>> ciao,
>>
>> Ben Kamenjas,
>> Sydney, Oz
>>
>> On 31/08/2006, Mike Kone in Boulder CO wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> Aelle Columbus tubing - the brand is therefore "don't bother shipping
>>> me to the US".
>>>
>>>
>>
>>>
>>>> Perhaps some sharp eyes could gander and say what it
>>>> is.
>>>> 110027422510
>>>> Don Wilson
>>>> Los Olivos, CA USA