I tried posting this question in the Road Cycling thread and it was suggested that I should come here. I hope it is not because I was asking a dumb or obvious question. I have tried searching the forum but only got general ideas or very specific details relating to vintage steel bikes.

So, here goes...

I am currently in discussions with Anderson, Independent Fabrication, and Waterford about a custom steel sport touring / club ride bike. This is to add to my current non-carbon stable. My Lynskey Helix OS is for crazy, club rides that take on various aspects of crits. I have done centuries on it as well but I feel that I have to be alert and ready for the whole ride because it has a more aggressive geometry. My Lynskey R330 is my general all-around bike for my weekend solo 60 mile training rides. Centuries on the R330 are more relaxing but slower than on the Helix OS because the geometry is probably more relaxed. This new bike is for century and double century club rides and being able to walk the next day.

I am slowly climbing up the learning curve regarding the various kinds of steel tubing - Columbus XCr, Reynolds 953, KVA MS2, and Waterford S3 - and the challenges in working with them and the various properties of each tube set for various parts of the bike - the front triangle consisting of the head tube, down tube, and seat tube could be stiffer while the rear triangle consisting of the seat stay and chain stay can be vertically compliant and a bit more flexible for comfort. Another recommendation is to use lugs instead of TIG wielding for better durability.

I realize that this might be a difficult question since these are not exactly common bikes - but any opinions on the tube sets and the lugging and the following bikes:
1) the Anderson Signature 953 (probably 953 front triangle and KVA MS2 or XCr rear triangle)
2) the Waterford ST-33 with 953 upgrade (they now recommend the KVA MS2 tube set because the 953 is quite hard to work with)
3) the IF Crown Jewel (Columbus XCr)

Perhaps I am over-analyzing this, perhaps the bikes may all feel the same once welded into a frame, and perhaps I am just trying to rationalize my decision to buy another bike, but please bare with.

Mark