on a crusty rusty UO10

"531 Bacofoil. Sounds good enough to eat."

-Kurt

but curiously also in red:

It's always 4:20 somewhere!

This is a fun thread.

I seem to recall that the higher-end Louison Bobet bicycles sold by Cyclo-Pedia used to carry a similar generic-looking Reynolds decal. Maybe the cost of licensing the names of well-known racers meant the manufacturers had to economize on decal purchases?

I'm surprised not to see a photo (I don't have one to share, unfortunately) of the "1020 Tubing" sticker that came on my 1979 Motobecane Super Mirage. I thought it was pretty cool at the time--assumed that it meant the tubing was comparable to--or maybe even better than--Reyonolds 531. It wasn't until maybe ten years later that I learned it was a bold declaration that the frame was made from gas pipe. But by that time I was firmly convinced that the bike was a great rider, and I never managed to unconvince myself of it. Because, I guess, it really was a great rider.

You'd think the decals just came with the tube sets. I also can't imagine Reynolds accepting manufacturers thinking up their own 'Reynolds 531' decals and putting them on whatever tubing.

Based on my own experience with lower end French bikes I'm inclined to think that geometry and choice of parts are far more important factors than the tubing used. Mercier made some really nice bikes with their 'Spécial Luxtub' and 'Tubes Allégés Spécial 28-26' tubes.

Awww ... The '420' decal looks convincing enough, but the effect is totally spoiled by the warning sticker below.

Peugeot US Express

Interesting...
When I think of L1011, I think of the Lockheed TriStar airliner.
... and it's not steel.
(except for a small amount)

Steve in Peoria

I’ve always loved this fake Vitus “Super Carbonite” label.

I remember those!

I think the term my friends & I used to use was "recycled swing sets".

Yeah, the #2 engine tends to incinerate stuff on the rear rack, and nobody likes you in pacelines...

The good thing about gas pipe that seldom gets mentioned is that it's less prone to denting than lighter, classier, thin-walled tubing. (I admit that that's a purely empirical observation on my part.) That should count for something, shouldn't it? I always thought that bike manufacturers should have talked up their low-end stuff as "77% more dent-resistant that Reynolds 531," or whatever.

Yes, there is something magical about a few of those bikes.

In fact, it makes me wonder what the practical difference is between low end and high end steel tubes. Sometimes the difference in weight is trivial. I suppose there is a difference in strength, but I don't crash my bikes often, so how much does that matter?

When I was young and foolish, I was putting on my gloves while rolling through city traffic. I lost control and fell. My bike frame slammed against a signpost and got a dent in the top tube. This was my 1975 Raleigh Gran Sport with all butted 531 tubes. I was so sad. The bike rode fine, but I was angry about it.

Now that I'm older, I'm still just as foolish. I still do things like put my gloves on while riding. When will I learn?

Oh, come on. What's the big rush?

While riding my '82 Guerciotti (Columbus SL), I kicked up a 3/4" lock washer that was in the street. It hit the underside of my downtube and put a nice dent in it. You couldn't see it unless you looked under the tube. But, I knew it was there and it pissed me off.

As I recall, that was one of Schwinn's primary sales points for their Chicago-forged frames. In fact, I could have done a testimonial for them. "I rear-ended a city bus at 20 mph and didn't bend a thing!" In fact, I was happy I didn't damage the bus. And another lesson learned the semi-hard way early in my riding career: when motorpacing, don't get distracted.

Well you obviously got that falling down out of your system. Well done, you!

I rear-ended a parked car at cruising speed and bent both the top and down tubes of my Schwinn Continental, so they're not that strong. But the fork and wheel were fine.

But a bent Continental or Varsity can always be bent back, like with a Li'l Brute. They bend smoothly without kinking or buckling, and straighten out well without (as far as I know) ever cracking there later, the way thinwall tubes always do.

Miyata-built Univega Gran Premio.

I just left the shortened frame alone cuz I appreciated the sportier ride...