Originally Posted by
CastleDerosa
Ok thanks ..but it still gets me worried knowing the frame is welded and not joined like a lugged frame ..how would it compare to lets say a high quality steel lugged frame like SLX or ???
Reynolds 853 is a generation later than Cyclex, the steel used in Columbus SL, SLX, SP, SPX, TSX, etc.
The tensile strength and yield strength of 853 are significantly higher than for Cyclex, and because 853 is air-hardening the tubing actually gets stronger at the TIG'd joints. There is nothing wrong with TIG welded frames using the new air-hardening steels. Because 853 is stronger than SLX, it can be drawn with thinner walls making it lighter. SLX tubing is standard diameter while 853 used in the 1999 Schwinn Peloton is oversized, giving the frame essentially the same stiffness as a similar SLX frame, but the 853 frame will be lighter.
853 has an ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 1250 MPa and a yield strength (YS) of 1,000 MPa.
SLX has a UTS of 900 MPa and a YS of 830 MPa. 1 MPa = 1N/square millimeter.
