Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - How much can a steel frame take?

Hi all,

I am quite sure there is already a thread that has the information I seek, but I couldn't find it, so, please, bear with me.

I myself am not a Clydesdale at about 180cm and 85 kilos, but I thought this forum might be the right one to ask the question.

So: are there any practical limits to what a frame can take? I'd think that super thin tubing might not be able to handle a juggernaut revving, but is this limited to the said super frames?

I bought an older road frame (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170375291480&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT) made of Columbus SLX off eBay and am waiting for it to arrive. I keep reading of people who tell that older steel frames feel limp under them and I doubt they are necessarily even as "big" as I am. Wanted to know if the tubing might make the ride feel not so tight and maybe even too soft and if I should have bought some other frame with better tubing for someone of not that wispy make.

well when I started I stood 6'6" (198cm) and 300 lbs (136kg)...

rode my trusty Trek 850 mtb...

curb jumping, bunny hops... basically my urban assault vehicle...

I broke 1 spoke...

I've ridden gaspipe hi-ten steel, 4130 butted steel, Reynolds 631, True Temper Platinum, all without problems.

The only frame I've ever busted was an old Cannondale. And it's not anything against them these days; it was the early days of Aluminium frames when they did those bonded-alu joints.

Frame will be absolutely fine. Make sure you have a robust wheelset with the tyres at the appropriate pressure.

Nice Frame.

I ma about 6'4'' 255 (down from 295) and built up a thin tubed double butted cro-mo Specialized Allez of mid 80s vintage. No problems with it. Soaks up the road way better than my Cross Check. Only time it ever feels the least bit noodlely is when at top speed under load climbing - then not a problem but its there.

Built up with 9 speed Veloce - very nice

That looks like a nice frame. I raced a couple of different Italian steel frames in the 80's and early 90's. Those years were some of the sexiest frames ever made. They had steep, aggressive geometry, more like a crit bike, and rode well. The SLX is a lighter tubing and might lead to some flex in the BB in an all out sprint, but for everyday riding, you should have no issues. I still have an 80's steel frame and I think it rides so much better than my carbon frame I might paint it and switch over the components so it is my every day bike.

Over 400 lbs on our tandem (True Temper cromo). Longer tubes and not flexy. But 48 spoke Deep V wheels:D

I would think a lite cromo frame would be eliminating weight by butting the tubes. Meaning thick walls at the joints and thinner in the mid sections of the tubes. Not thin at critical points so more than likely not too oflexy.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2558/3894124359_8b52539e4b_o.jpg

Okay. Nice to know there should be no problems with the frame. Thanks, guys!

i roll a true-temper trek from '92... @ 300# it seems to do just fine for me... but i can see the BB rock back and forth a bit while i'm thrashing away on the trainer... not worried about it though as I'm not on it to race, use it for my longer road rides is all