georgiaboy

Columbus Thron - low-end standard steel tubing

7005 aluminum - lightweight strong

Question: In choosing a frame material for touring and long riding distances is steel although low-end to be preferred over any grade aluminum tubing?

sydney

It's actually a question with no answer. Besides being highly subjective, it's more about how it's built, the fit and geometry, than about just steel or aluminum.

georgiaboy

Two frames the exact same geometry and they both fit me perfectly. Which frame material is better Columbus Thron or 7005 Aluminum?

sydney

Try em and decide.Noone else can tell you. Neither is 'better'but they might feel different to you . What I might think doesn't matter.

georgiaboy

Thanks for responding. I looking for a comment from someone who may know about or has experience with frame materials. I have actually rode a bike with 7005 aluminum. Its just the Columbus Thron I don't know much about. And this material is not readily available to test out on a frame in a bike shop. So I threw the question out.

Nessism

Thorn is a medium thick tubeset that would be ideal for touring in my opinion. You could load it up and not have to worry about handling instability.

7005 is a type of aluminum, more information about thickness and butting configuration is needed before assessing it's suitability for your purpose.

If it was me, I'd just go Thorn and be done with it.

Good luck.

Ed

sydney

Well actually, sydney does,but you aren't buying it.Riding a 7005 bike doesn't tell you much if anything about another one with a totally different tubeset.

sydney

Beleive Thron to be available in standard and oversize, with different butting. One may be more appropriate depending on rider size and weight and specific intended use.

georgiaboy

Okay Sydney thanks for responding

robo

I would guess that the steel frame would be somewhat heavier, but if the weight difference isn't a big deal (should be negligible for a touring bike that's going to be loaded anyway), i would go with the steel. It'll probably ride a bit more comfortably, and can be easily repaired, you can have extra fastners brazed on, etc.

I don't know about Thron tubing specifically, but the above applies to any quality cro-mo frame.

Nessism

Thorn is OS and only comes in one butting configuration. Check the link below for more info.

https://ceeway.com/Thron.htm

sydney

Maybe my official columbus tubing guide is out of date?

georgiaboy

Thanks for the info guys. One butting configuration. Good or Bad thing?

cs1

Unless you are going to have the frame custom made, I'm guessing your not, give us the make and models you are thinking about buying. This should make the decision easier.


Tim

vainamoinen

for touring I would think a steel frame would be preferable because it can be repaired by anyone with a MIG welder or even with an oxyacetylene torch and some brass.

Whereas welding aluminum is a little trickier.

This would only really be an issue if you were doing some fairly remote touring.

I wonder though, can you repair a frame with JB weld?

jz19

Columbus Thron may be in the lower end of Columbus current line of tubing but it is still quality tubing in my book. I would not define R531 as low end either and the two are comparable from what I've heard.

georgiaboy

I was looking at the Marin Eldridge Grade. One of the few steel hardtail complete bikes.


https://www.marinbikes.com/bicycles_2...dge_grade.html