Originally Posted by
T-Mar
I don't see what relationship Reynolds 501 has with the introduction of TIG welding. 501 was introduced circa 1983 and all the early 501 frames that I'm aware of were lugged, with the notable excpetion of Peugeot's internally brazed model.
Likewise, the ecomonics of TIG welding itself were secondary. The prime reason for the for the adoption of TIG welding was the flexibility it provides in frame design, when not restricted by lugs. Developing lugs is very expensive and eliminating them provides great flexibility in both angles and tubing diameter and shapes.
This is what happens when one presumes too much. First, I have always been intrigued with my 1985 Peugeot PH 501. From the Peugeot catalog.
Until now lugless racing bicycles made with high quality lightweight tubing were produced on by a few very talented craftsman and priced way beyond the budget of most riders. Once again Peugeot has been the innovator making the first lugless bicycle using Reynolds 501 chromoly tubing. The result is out lightweight and affordable PH 501.
While I am highly skeptical of catalog hype, the bike was relatively light (23 lbs with pedals) and lugless. Since 501 was Reynolds butted version of their 500 CrMo it made sense that a lugless butted frame could be made as well as a lugged frame, as the lugs work as external butting. The mistaken post was meant to say the prior to 501, "Reynolds" CrMo frames were plain gauge or "straight pipe", instead I made the blanket statement that all bike frames prior to 501 were straight pipe, which was obviously wrong; but you quoted me before I could edit that out; you are very fast!
Anyway my post should have been Peugeot specific, but it certainly resulted in a plethora of information from T-Mar; not the result I was hoping for, but it turned out not to be a total loss.
