Originally Posted by
Kilroy1988
I'm not sure about that thing on the head tube/lug in the fourth picture but I assumed it was something that will not remain on the frame... Maybe I'm wrong. If it is staying I assume it's to protect the paint from cable rub but that strikes me as excessively excessive.
There have been so many threads around here about the different grades of Reynolds tubing (and Columbus, etc) I'm not sure whether to take your second question seriously. Here's the official Reynolds page for 853:
853 Steel - Seamless Air-Hardening Heat-Treated Steel (reynoldstechnology.biz)
It's the highest grade of tubing that Reynolds produces sans stainless products. Heat-treated 631, which is itself a slight derivative of 531 (and advertised as having 10% greater tensile strength). From 531 to 853 on a larger frame like the ones I'm used to riding you can shave about half a pound of weight and have a
stiffer frame to boot.
-Gregory
I don't want to split hairs too much, but I think what you meant is
stronger rather than
stiffer? From what I understand how it works is that the extra strength of fancy tubing allows for thinner walls and lighter frames, but with less stiffness since the tubing is thinner.