Originally Posted by
squirtdad
There are many brands and "models" if you will for tubing... Reynolds 853,531, Tange 1, 2, Columbus sl, slx, el, neuron, True Temper, to name a few. it is not just the tubing that makes the bike but the build/specs etc.
853 is pretty special stuff, though.
AFAIK it's the only steel that actually gets
stronger at the joint, and as such I guess it has quite light butting. This means making a lugged frame with the stuff is a bit of a crazy waste; aside from exotic brews like Aermet 100 (barely steel, roughly only half iron), I doubt you could build a lighter frame from any steel other than 853.
Of course, it still needs to be designed, built, and sized right for it to make a good bike.
Anyway, if I was thinking a steel frame, I'd be tossing up between 853 or one of the stainless alloys if I wanted to do the lugged bit.