Classic & Vintage - columbus aelle

I checked out a recent thread on the 85 stelvio bianchi.Researched it on sheldons site , it states that the frame is Columbus Aelle R double butted CARBON MANGANESE tubing. Any of you guys familiar with this type of STEEL and how does it compare to say Reynolds 531 tubing? Is manganese used in todays bikes, also its ride characteristics, was it common in Italian frames in the 80s. Thanks looking forward to your insightful replies.

The Aelle tubeset was not just Mangenese-Molybdenum-steel (as was Reynolds 531 and some of the Ishiwata tubesets) but IIRC what made it cheaper is that it was a welded/seamed tube, not cold-drawn through a mandrel and die. Welding up tubes is a lot cheaper of a manufacturing process. "Purists" will say that the ride characteristics between a frame made with welded/seamed tubes and one built from cold-drawn tubes are noticeable...but I think it that might be imaginary. Thing is: most top-level frames would be made with everything top-level as well as the best building practices since these are the frames commanding the top dollar. Even so, some people rave about the ride quality of some sloppy, slap-dash French or Italian job with brazing blobs and file marks and crappy paint...so there's more to a great ride then just the craftsmanship..and maybe the tubing, too. In a BLIND test, I doubt I could tell you whether an IDENTICAL frame was made from 531 or Columbus SL or Aelle or Tange Champion #1 or Ishiwata 019 or Dedecchai or Oria or Falk or Mannesman or Excell...but then, nobody has ever done such a test, far as I know. And nobody should ride with a blindfold! :c)
But consider this: people get all excited about what a great ride a certain make or model is and then they swap the wheels off their "great bike" for a ride on their crappy old "beater"...and lo and behold, the beater suddenly becomes a whole new and wonderful discovery...

Bah! Never drink and write! Serves me right for relying on my crappy memory, Aelle is NOT seamed/welded, it's cold drawn straight gauge and about 430 grams heavier than SL. Here's the quotation from Columbus:

Aelle Carbon/Manganese/Vanadium 2,345 Lightweight and resilient, featuring cold-drown

thin-wall tubes. A tube set for amateur and sport cyclists.

Cromor 25 Cr Mo 4 2,190 Cold drawn and double butted, this tube set is ideal for more

demanding riders who favor the use of versitile, high performance frames at an affordable price.

Thron Chrome Molybenum 2,067 From the knowledge and experience of working with the EL/OS

in professional races, Columbus created a tube set with similar qualities at a lower price.

SL Chrome Molybdenum Cyclex 1,932 High performance, all purpose double butted road

racing tube set. SL has been the flagship tubing in the Columbus family for decades.

I have a Guerciotti that is Tretubi Aelle (3 main tubes). Near as I can tell, the frame dates from the late 80s. In fact there is a frame like it on eBuy now. It is not my lightest bike but I cannot say that it has ever disappointed me as far as ride.

Columbus is confusing, no? It is actually the pre-drawn billet that is "seamed". The aelle billet is electro-welded before cold drawing. So...it is cold drawn, seamless, but it really has a seam...just not like normal seamed tubes that are rolled and welded at their finished thickness. This technique is used in Cromor, Gara, Thron, and the forks and rear triangle of Brain.

Also, be aware that were two different Aelle, road tubesets. Standard Aelle was plain gauge, while Aelle R was butted.

The brand name, seamed tubest from the 1980s were good quality. I'd have no qualms riding any of them. In my opinion, the geometry, manufacturing practices and other factors make a bigger difference to ride quality than whether it is CMn or CrMo or MnMo.