Today's Bike Ride

[daz h]

Dazz, Why? What's wrong with the 953 Rourkie?? Talking to a guy at Wilf's in Staveley on Sunday morning. He was on a 953 fillet brazed Steve Goff with a blend of Dura Ace / 105, Mavic rims on Hope hubs, but traditional 36 spoke. It weighs 17.6 lbs and he's over the moon with it.

Did it have Lugs on it
That wouldnt have been easy to fillet braze that. I can tell you that would require lots of skill
I used to sneak into Brazed frame at Raleigh on the night shift and practice welding the tubes up.
Its fairly easy but that was on the old Reynolds tubing. The 953 is ultra thin.
But Id have to say that Steel is the smoothest ride you can have. Carbon to me is to jooooooooaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrgggggggjolllllllty. Yeah to jolty.
And I maintain that if you break your fancy pants carbon frame then Well good luck. I can have mine repaired anytime.

I think with the 953 tubing , Reynolds actuallly help the framebuilders to learn how to weld it.

[daz h]

oh and mate
http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/builders.html

worth a look
but dont tell the carbonites

[dominion]

When carbon bikes go bad.....

[Hanneke]

Did it have Lugs on it
That wouldnt have been easy to fillet braze that. I can tell you that would require lots of skill
I used to sneak into Brazed frame at Raleigh on the night shift and practice welding the tubes up.
Its fairly easy but that was on the old Reynolds tubing. The 953 is ultra thin.
But Id have to say that Steel is the smoothest ride you can have. Carbon to me is to jooooooooaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrgggggggjolllllllty. Yeah to jolty.
And I maintain that if you break your fancy pants carbon frame then Well good luck. I can have mine repaired anytime.

I think with the 953 tubing , Reynolds actuallly help the framebuilders to learn how to weld it.

I am with you on the carbon Daz, really really really don't like it!!! But I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE my titanium roadbike, it is absolutely fab

[wheezing donkey]

Did it have Lugs on it
That wouldnt have been easy to fillet braze that. I can tell you that would require lots of skill
I used to sneak into Brazed frame at Raleigh on the night shift and practice welding the tubes up.
Its fairly easy but that was on the old Reynolds tubing. The 953 is ultra thin.
But Id have to say that Steel is the smoothest ride you can have. Carbon to me is to jooooooooaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrgggggggjolllllllty. Yeah to jolty.
And I maintain that if you break your fancy pants carbon frame then Well good luck. I can have mine repaired anytime.

I think with the 953 tubing , Reynolds actuallly help the framebuilders to learn how to weld it.

Daz, the bottom bracket appeared to have spear point lugs holding the seat tube and the seat clamp was a lug. Apart from that, head tube to top & down tubes was fillet brazed, as was top tube to seat tube and down tube to bottom bracket. Seat stays were 'shot-in' to the seat clamp.
I am not too sure about Reynolds being able to teach frame builders how to braze this tube set. Reynolds/Carpenter themselves did some prototype brazing on early THICKER than production sections. They then had to recruit Dave Yates to do prototype brazing on the thin production sections, to prove that it was feasible. Dave's fillet brazing stood up to something like twice the normal stress cycles that Reynolds would normally test to. Just google Dave Yates Cycles.
For something a bit different google Trevor Jarvis 'Flying Gate' Cycles. TJ is 75 years old and living with cancer. He is very old school and will not entertain 853 or 953. He currently builds in Reynolds 725 heat treated Chro-Mo, which has similar strength characteristics to the old 753 tubing and wall thickness similar to 853. Another builder will takeover production next year but TJ will still own the design and hence receive some royalties.
As for smoothness, local 'steel is real' afficionados keep telling me that the modern 'super strong' steels are tending towards being as harsh as aluminium and that titanium is the way forward. I'm wanting a new bike but can't make my mind up between top-end steel or titanium. Ali & carbon will not get a look in.
PS you still have not said why you are yearning for a Mercian when the Rourke is only 12 months old??

[vburke]

Just ordered myself a new road bike so i'll join you on this thread soon!!!!

Tonight it will be just down the canal on the Mountain bikes getting my leg strength back and not falling off!!

Have to wait till Dec for my bike - YIKES!! Still gives me chance to save up the cash.

[daz h]

Daz, the bottom bracket appeared to have spear point lugs holding the seat tube and the seat clamp was a lug. Apart from that, head tube to top & down tubes was fillet brazed, as was top tube to seat tube and down tube to bottom bracket. Seat stays were 'shot-in' to the seat clamp.
I am not too sure about Reynolds being able to teach frame builders how to braze this tube set. Reynolds/Carpenter themselves did some prototype brazing on early THICKER than production sections. They then had to recruit Dave Yates to do prototype brazing on the thin production sections, to prove that it was feasible. Dave's fillet brazing stood up to something like twice the normal stress cycles that Reynolds would normally test to. Just google Dave Yates Cycles.
For something a bit different google Trevor Jarvis 'Flying Gate' Cycles. TJ is 75 years old and living with cancer. He is very old school and will not entertain 853 or 953. He currently builds in Reynolds 725 heat treated Chro-Mo, which has similar strength characteristics to the old 753 tubing and wall thickness similar to 853. Another builder will takeover production next year but TJ will still own the design and hence receive some royalties.
As for smoothness, local 'steel is real' afficionados keep telling me that the modern 'super strong' steels are tending towards being as harsh as aluminium and that titanium is the way forward. I'm wanting a new bike but can't make my mind up between top-end steel or titanium. Ali & carbon will not get a look in.
PS you still have not said why you are yearning for a Mercian when the Rourke is only 12 months old??

Im not really yearning as such but I dont want to use my Rourke in the winter. I cannot fault the Rourke, Its a flying machine. I cannot describe enough how much smoother it is to ride than a Carbon bike. I rode a friends specialized roubaix and I know which bike id sooner ride over the cobbles.
Its too good a bike to ride through the shit and crap of winter and yesss i know its stainless steel and wont rust I just dont want to actualy chip the paint. Incidentally after probably a few thousand miles its not got one chip on it ?. Another testament to what quality painting does on a bike.
The problem is i know through experience that im prone to the odd fall on ice or the wet in winter and the rourke aint gonna get damaged like that.

So a dilemma
I have an old Raleigh that I fetched out the skip remember and had re painted at mercian and re built at the local bike shop. I hardly ride it and keep it for keepsake more than owt. Nip to the shop bike if you like.

That leaves my trusted Bianchi Aluminium that has done thousands of miles. 55cm which ive had for ages but is slightly to big for me. Its got veloce kit on, centaur brakes, and ZOnda wheels. So im thinking of getting a 53cm mercian and taking all the kit off it.

For winter id probably only need 631 tubing

You def need to try the 953 before thinking its harsh. Honestly its not. I think the opposite. Yes old school guys think its a step too far if you like and are wondering what the steel will be like after say 10 years usage.
I was worried that the tubes were so thin but its the complete article that strengthens the frame as with all frames.

One thing I cannot comment to be fair is what a larger heavier ride woiuld think. Im a tad under 11 stone and it feels perfect.

Every carbon bike ive ridden has flexing when your climbing Uphill hence all the latest ones have a bottom bracket that looks awful( tooo big).

[daz h]

Just ordered myself a new road bike so i'll join you on this thread soon!!!!

Tonight it will be just down the canal on the Mountain bikes getting my leg strength back and not falling off!!

Have to wait till Dec for my bike - YIKES!! Still gives me chance to save up the cash.

what have you ordered
welcome to the thread

[dominion]

Daz!!

Wanna buy a 631 fillet brazed bike with full Campag Daytona groupset and Mavic Open Pro's? Must be about the right size for you. Very few dry miles. I've got too many bloody bikes!!

[Antisocial]

40 mins off road testing my calf and the spare x bike. Calf still tight but improving. Still v tired though.