Technology
We use Reynolds steel for many reasons, the main one being that we value the experience of the original maker of butted bicycle tubing. Every high-quality bike out there has been influenced by the tubing technology that Reynolds have been perfecting for over 100 years. Reynolds 853 is still made in Birmingham and developments such as 953 tubing show that steel is as relevant today as it was when they invented butted tubing. Reynolds offer a range of steels from proven 520 Chrome-Moly (equivalent to Tange Prestige Cr-Mo or commonly used ‘4130′ tubing) and heat-treated 725 Chrome-Moly, to air-hardening, heat-treated 853 – a tube that redefined strength-to-weight ratios for steel when first introduced. We have one main aim with steel frames, and that is to produce a strong, durable frame with enough spring to add comfort and ride ‘feel’, but without excessive flex that can compromise the technical handling benefits of longer forks and wider bars. A down tube gusset reinforces the most stressed area of the frame as well as being an ideal place to mount the gear cable guides, plus we solder-seal the open end of the gusset to prevent unseen rust in this critical area. Tyre clearance is balanced with the need for chainring clearance. Details like this that come about from rider’s experiences are there in every bike frame we make.
- Super-strong 853 frame tubes are selected by diameter and wall thickness and vary dependent on frame size
- Crimp-free A-frame chainstays - enough chain and tyre clearance for winter riding and retain more stiffness than indented stays.
- Down-tube cables reduce outer-cable friction and limits water ingress into rear mech cable loop
