Quote Originally Posted by wheezing donkey View Post
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).