Reynolds 531 *Competition.* Anyone heard of it? I sure haven't.
05-06-09, 01:23 AM
#1
Bicycle Adventurer
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 1,514
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Reynolds 531 *Competition.* Anyone heard of it? I sure haven't.
I have seen no information on this tubing anywhere... Even Cyclomondo doesn't have decals for it!
I'll have to get some new ones made.
-Nick
05-06-09, 04:14 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Lancaster County, PA
Posts: 5,045
Bikes: '39 Hobbs, '58 Marastoni, '73 Italian custom, '75 Wizard, '76 Wilier, '78 Tom Kellogg, '79 Colnago Super, '79 Sachs, '81 Masi Prestige, '82 Cuevas, '83 Picchio Special, '84 Murray-Serotta, '85 Trek 170, '89 Bianchi, '90 Bill Holland, '94 Grandis
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
10 Posts
It's basically 531C with the newer style decal, AFAIK - the middle-of-the-road 531 thickness. 531C was the successor to plain ol' reg-lur 531DB. The "C" stands for ... you guessed it.
05-06-09, 06:06 AM
#3
surly old man
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Carlisle, PA
Posts: 3,392
Bikes: IRO Mark V, Karate Monkey half fat, Trek 620 IGH, Cannondale 26/24 MTB, Amp Research B3, and more.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 46 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 42 Times
in
18 Posts
Middle of the road? I thought that C was close to the top end of Reynolds.
j
j
__________________
Cross Check Nexus7, IRO Mark V, Trek 620 Nexus7, Karate Monkey half fat, IRO Model 19 fixed, Amp Research B3, Surly 1x1 half fat fixed, and more...
--------------------------
SB forever
Cross Check Nexus7, IRO Mark V, Trek 620 Nexus7, Karate Monkey half fat, IRO Model 19 fixed, Amp Research B3, Surly 1x1 half fat fixed, and more...
--------------------------
SB forever
05-06-09, 06:19 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Northern Kentucky
Posts: 170
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I once found a site that had all the Reynolds stickers with detailed information but can't find it again. Does anyone have a link?
05-06-09, 06:45 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,159
Mentioned: 481 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3810 Post(s)
Liked 6,705 Times
in
2,613 Posts
Mark Bulgier has this late 70s Reynolds flyer on his site though it doesn't include 531c:
https://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalog...lds_Tubing-78/
And there's this page on Classic Rendezvous:
https://www.classicrendezvous.com/Bri...ds_gallery.htm
And then there's this chart below from https://www.equusbicycle.com/bike/reynolds/reynolds.htm:
Neal
https://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalog...lds_Tubing-78/
And there's this page on Classic Rendezvous:
https://www.classicrendezvous.com/Bri...ds_gallery.htm
And then there's this chart below from https://www.equusbicycle.com/bike/reynolds/reynolds.htm:
Neal
Last edited by nlerner; 05-06-09 at 06:48 AM.
05-06-09, 07:13 AM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Tampa, Florida
Posts: 13,954
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 413 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 109 Times
in
78 Posts
Around 1981 Reynolds rebranded their standard 531 DB tubing for marketing purposes. Their standard 531DB tubing was divided into 3 distinct sub groups:
531C = Competition, it was the old 531 DB tubeset
531ST = Super tourist, a heavier version of the classic DB tubeset
531 Designer Select = Designer Select tubesets allowed the builder mix n match 531C and 531ST.
At the same time Reynolds lightweight 531SL was rebranded into 531P or 531 Professional.
531P = 531 Professional which is the same tubeset as 531SL
531C = Competition, it was the old 531 DB tubeset
531ST = Super tourist, a heavier version of the classic DB tubeset
531 Designer Select = Designer Select tubesets allowed the builder mix n match 531C and 531ST.
At the same time Reynolds lightweight 531SL was rebranded into 531P or 531 Professional.
531P = 531 Professional which is the same tubeset as 531SL
Last edited by miamijim; 06-20-09 at 03:26 PM.
05-06-09, 08:29 AM
#9
Mostly Mischief
I have a bit of Reynolds info on my Gazelle site:
https://www.fivenineclimber.com/bikes...eynolds_80.htm
Thanks to miamijim et al.
Depending on the actual frame geometry and so on I should think it would make a fine light touring bike. The old DB 531 I have seen and own rides on and on and on....
https://www.fivenineclimber.com/bikes...eynolds_80.htm
Thanks to miamijim et al.
Depending on the actual frame geometry and so on I should think it would make a fine light touring bike. The old DB 531 I have seen and own rides on and on and on....
05-06-09, 09:29 AM
#11
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,786
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3588 Post(s)
Liked 3,400 Times
in
1,934 Posts
It's great tubing; gauged for competition use. There were heavier sets ("ST" or "Special Tourist") and lighter sets ("Special Lightweight") as well. These were always available from Reynolds, but it wasn't until the late 70s that distinguishing decals were provided. Until that point (and in many cases, even after that point) generic "531" decals were used.
06-20-09, 02:10 PM
#17
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 23
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
to resurrect an old thread, I recently became the owner of a nice 59cm 531c frame, and this stuff, while the ride is smooth, it is really flexy. When i put my weight onto the pedal (190ish), I can see the bottom bracket bend slightly and the chain rub on the FD. Anyone else experience this?
[edit: after a bit of googling, found out this is par for the course for this tubeset]
[edit: after a bit of googling, found out this is par for the course for this tubeset]
Last edited by boswell; 06-20-09 at 02:20 PM.
06-20-09, 03:30 PM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Tampa, Florida
Posts: 13,954
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 413 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 109 Times
in
78 Posts
to resurrect an old thread, I recently became the owner of a nice 59cm 531c frame, and this stuff, while the ride is smooth, it is really flexy. When i put my weight onto the pedal (190ish), I can see the bottom bracket bend slightly and the chain rub on the FD. Anyone else experience this?
[edit: after a bit of googling, found out this is par for the course for this tubeset]
[edit: after a bit of googling, found out this is par for the course for this tubeset]
06-20-09, 04:02 PM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Syracuse, NY
Posts: 209
Bikes: 1978 Raleigh Team Record, 1979 Motobecane Mirage, 1985 Gitane Professional
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
06-20-09, 04:13 PM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Right where I'm supposed to be
Posts: 1,634
Bikes: Franklin Frames Custom, Rivendell Bombadil
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 116 Post(s)
Liked 209 Times
in
127 Posts
Boswell . . That's the way 531C is. No way would I tour with it, but regular riding is fine.
I had a bike with 531C until it met a car, it was a bit flexy, but that's what I liked about it.
I had a 531ST frame made in 1999 by Franklin Frames aka Jack Franklin, it was the very last tube set he could get from England, and my choice of 18" stays was no easy task to get for him. It's a heavier set and better for touring. The BB flex is better controlled. I use 185mm arms and have no complaints about flex. It rides like a dream over rough stuff with 72 degree angles and 35mm tires.
531 is classic old school steel. Treasure it
I had a bike with 531C until it met a car, it was a bit flexy, but that's what I liked about it.
I had a 531ST frame made in 1999 by Franklin Frames aka Jack Franklin, it was the very last tube set he could get from England, and my choice of 18" stays was no easy task to get for him. It's a heavier set and better for touring. The BB flex is better controlled. I use 185mm arms and have no complaints about flex. It rides like a dream over rough stuff with 72 degree angles and 35mm tires.
531 is classic old school steel. Treasure it
06-20-09, 04:33 PM
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Abington, PA
Posts: 554
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Every steel bike has a certian amount of flex. That's what makes it such a nice ride. I think people make too much of it. Try riding an aluminum frame. It won't flex, but the ride quality stinks. I get rub when I ride my 531c Franklin Custom. It's part od fthe deal.
06-20-09, 04:35 PM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,159
Mentioned: 481 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3810 Post(s)
Liked 6,705 Times
in
2,613 Posts
I had my 531c bike out for a 60-mile ride a couple of weekends ago, and it felt great. Lots of rolling hills on that ride, and I had no ghost shifting in or out of the saddle, but I'm at 160 lbs on a 60cm frame.
Neal
Neal
06-20-09, 04:40 PM
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Lancaster County, PA
Posts: 5,045
Bikes: '39 Hobbs, '58 Marastoni, '73 Italian custom, '75 Wizard, '76 Wilier, '78 Tom Kellogg, '79 Colnago Super, '79 Sachs, '81 Masi Prestige, '82 Cuevas, '83 Picchio Special, '84 Murray-Serotta, '85 Trek 170, '89 Bianchi, '90 Bill Holland, '94 Grandis
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
10 Posts
06-20-09, 05:40 PM
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: SE, Michigan
Posts: 518
Bikes: k2 Zed 3.0
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
I'm 220lbs, with a 531c frame. Yeah, the flex is there, but if you're running downtubes, you can always adjust the front derailleur as needed to prevent noise. I'm currently riding a 54cm frame though, wishing it was a 56cm =-/ .
06-20-09, 09:58 PM
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,768
Bikes: Cinelli, Paramount, Raleigh, Carlton, Zeus, Gemniani, Frejus, Legnano, Pinarello, Falcon
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
8 Posts
I have a 84 Team Raleigh in 531c, was my main riding bike for a long time until I went back to my Cinelli years ago. No complaints on ride, I generally prefer Reynolds. I should pull that bike out and ride it again!