Is Reynolds 531 still available?

Reynolds 531 is now only available by special order. (T45) Reynolds has superseded this tube set with a number of innovations such as Reynolds 753 and the more current 853. Reynolds also produces stainless steel tube sets for bicycle frame building – these are 925 and 953.

Where is Reynolds steel made?

Birmingham
The name has been synonymous with the British cycling industry since 1898, and it still manufactures tubing in its Birmingham factory today. The Reynolds company name stretches as far back as 1841, but it was the end of the 19th century when it moved into the bicycle trade.

What is Reynolds 520 chromoly?

With similar properties to our original 531 brand alloy. For cycling, these are mandrel butted for accurate profiles, and available in a wide range of shapes. The Reynolds “520” range uses the same alloy, made under license for us in Taiwan and subject to the same quality standards. …

What is a Reynolds frame?

Reynolds Technology is a manufacturer of tubing for bicycle frames and other bicycle components based in Birmingham, England established in 1898.

How is a bike frame measured?

Most manufacturers now measure the frame from the centre of the crank axle, to the top of the seat tube. Most road bikes are measured in centimetres (cm), whereas mountain bikes are generally measured using inches (in). Kids’ bikes are measured by wheel size rather than frame size.

Is Reynolds 501 any good?

Re: Reynolds 501 IIRC the alloy is chrome/molybdenum as against the manganese/molybdenum of 531. Having had a couple of Dawes Horizons made of 501 I’m of the opinion it gives a heavier frame for the same size, but it’s strong and the bikes always felt/handled well. They certainly gave good and long service.

What is the lightest Reynolds frame?

Reynolds 953: a variant of stainless steel, this one rivals Ti and carbon fiber on weight, but with the ride of steel. Columbus Spirit Niobium: similar in weight to the 953, the Spirit is one of the lightest steel tubes sets available.

Is DOM tubing stronger than chromoly?

From the research I have done, chromoly is generally 20-25% lighter than DOM. The reason for this is only because chromoly is stronger so you can use a thinner wall tubing and have the same strength. It would be interesting to see the difference.

Is chromoly stronger than titanium?

Both have their place, Titanium is 1/3 lighter than Chromoly, it is also stronger than chromoly but more flexible (less Ridgid). So depending on the designer both can be used to their full potential.

What size is a 20 inch bike frame?

SIZING (ROAD BIKES)

HEIGHT FRAME SIZE
5’3″ to 5’5″ 19 to 20 inch
5’5″ to 5’7″ 20 to 21 inch
5’7″ to 5’9″ 21 to 22 inch
5’9″ to 5’11” 22 to 23 inch

Why was Reynolds 531 used in bicycle frames?

And because of the availability of a wide range of butting, diameters and thicknesses of tubes, along with different stays and fork blades, it became the tubing of choice for most frame builders. Reynolds 531 bicycle frame tubes.

What do the numbers on a Reynolds 531 mean?

When it was launched in 1935, Reynolds 531 revolutionised bicycle frame building. The magic numbers, which adorn virtually every classic racing bike with a little sticker on the seat tube, derive from the ratio of the three main elements that are used in the make up of 531’s steel alloy tubes: manganese, carbon and molybdenum.

When did the 531 bicycle frame tubes come out?

Reynolds 531 bicycle frame tubes. Introduced in 1935 and for many years at the forefront of alloy steel tubing technology, 531 cycle tubing has been superseded by more complex alloys and heat-treatment / cold-forming cycles as Reynolds continues to compete with other manufacturers of steel for the bicycle industry.

What was the weight of a Reynolds 531 tube?

To put it into perspective, a 531 tubeset was advertised in Reynolds’s 1947 catalogue as weighing 3lb compared to the 4.5lb of the company’s original butted tubes at the turn of the century — which were themselves revolutionary.