Question about frame strength - reynolds 853 tubing

[y2kh8r]

I'm selling a triathlon bike, and I have a prospective buyer who is very heavy, and has broken some bicycles in the past. I don't know just how big this guy is just yet, but, the question is:

Do you think that my bike frame, with Reynolds 853 tubing, is stronger than a normal cro-moly/aluminum frame, or just lighter?

Bike is a 1999 schwinn circuit

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[StanSeven]

There's not much difference in strength between tubesets. Steel is steel. Any well made steel frame should handle some really heavy riders. But if that heavy person also is very strong, that's where problems might arise. Usually frames are the last to break and other components go first like pedals, cranks, bars, etc.

[Darth_Firebolt]

might ask this over in the framebuilders or Clydesdale/ Athena subforums?

[y2kh8r]

Thanks Darth, didn't realize there was a forum for this kind of thing... I figured since it was a triathlon bike, this looked like my best bet.

Usually frames are the last to break and other components go first like pedals, cranks, bars, etc.

This reminds me of when a friend of mine bought a wal-mart bike, he bent the one-piece crank within a week. He was heavy, but I didn't think he was all that heavy!

[thehammerdog]

There's not much difference in strength between tubesets. Steel is steel. Any well made steel frame should handle some really heavy riders. But if that heavy person also is very strong, that's where problems might arise. Usually frames are the last to break and other components go first like pedals, cranks, bars, etc.

Dude, that comment is so off base......tis why we have different types of steel.

[Rhodabike]

Reynolds 853 is very strong stuff. Rocky Mountain used to make their top of the line touring bike in it.