fatigoworld

I am looking into buying a specific lugged columbus SL touring frameset. the main reason im considering it is because it has enough tire clearance for snow tires, which would be great for me this winter. i am currrently riding a reynolds 853 frame with a very light steel fork. my question is.....how would these frames compare?

in weight? (the seller claims the SL weighs 6 pounds including frame, fork, and headset...does that sound right? and weight IS important to me....a pound difference may be a deciding factor in this)

in stiffness? (would the lugs and SL tubing make for a stiffer ride compared to 853? assuming both were decently made)

in ride quality? (is classic touring geometry more comfortable than road geometry?)

55/Rad

I have 2 frames with Columbus SL, (Fuso and Vetta) 1 with SLX (Pinarello) and currently 1 with 853 (Waterford) plus I had a Lemond with 853 previously.

I love them all - seriously. But if I had to choose only one, it would be the Waterford. While all the bikes are setup similarly, this one stands out. It's just livelier and lighter. And it too, has a steel fork.

JMO....

55/Rad

fatigoworld

did your lemond 853 feel as stiff as your SL frames?

531Aussie

theory goes is that the newer, heated treated steels are stiffer and lighter. Lighter, because they have thinner walls and are usually made without lugs, and stiffer because they usually have larger diameter downtubes, and is air hardened. (someone correct me if I'm wrong .

As far as weight goes, i don't think there's a big difference. I have a 58cm 2004 Columbus Ultrafoco, lugless frame which is 1670g, but my 1988 531 lugged Raleigh is 1865g. I also weighed a 57cm LeMond Zurich 853 which was 1770g. I've weighed other 853s that are around the smae mark.

The only thing I've notice on new heat treated, tigged frames is a little more rigidity. but I suspect alot of that comes from my broad-bladed carbon forks. Older, thin-bladed steel forks are more flexy than most of the large-bladed carbon stuff

alanbikehouston

Assuming the two frames are precisely the same size, and have precisely the same geometry (identical chainstay length, identical wheelbase) you would not be able to tell which is which if you were riding blind-folded (always a bad idea).

The "feel" of a bike is determined by its geometry (especially chainstay length and wheelbase, then seat post angle, and head tube angle, its rims, tubes, tires, bars, bar tape, and saddle. The brand of tubing does not have an effect on "feel".


And, if they are the same size, the total "built" weight of the bikes will be within one pound of each other. So, if you weigh 190 pounds, with one bike you would be pushing 210 pounds up the hill, and on the other bike, you would be pushing 210 1/2 up the hill or 209 1/2 up the hill. And, if your "brain" or legs can tell any difference between pushing 210 versus pushing 210 1/2 pounds down the road, please donate your body to science. That would mean that merely by pedaling, you can tell if your water bottle is 90% full or 40% full.

fatigoworld

weight matters to me because i carry my bike....a lot. i live on a 3rd floor walk up, im a commuter to and from nyc, and im a bike messenger in manhattan. so i definetly can tell the difference in a 21 pound vs 18 pound bike.....ive ridden and carried both, and if im not sacrificing ride quality, the lighter the better....

531Aussie

He's not just talking about different brands, he's taking about 2 different steels from different eras. Columbus SL is basically the Columbus version of 531, and 853 is air-hardened, tigged, and with an oversized downtube.

I tell ya right now I could tell the difference between my tigged Ultra Foco frame and a 531 frame.

Some people say that air-hardened 853 revolutionised bike steel! In the mid to late '90s, all the steel dudes were dumping their 531, SLX and SL frames to get 853

Hocam

The 853 will be stiffer as it benefits from oversized tubing, and lighter due to thinner wall sections.