can anyone identify my new frame? reynolds 531c steel
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can anyone identify my new frame? reynolds 531c steel
initially posted this in Fix/SS forum, they reconed i'd have more luck over here
Recently bought this frame as a pre converted fixed gear. was lying in the back of a bike shop. The whole bike was very cheap. Stuck some deep V's on it, a new break lever and a bigger back cog. It’s got no markings on it at all apart from the knackered paint job and a bit of decal...
I don't really know too much about bikes in general but every bike shop I’ve taken it into has been seriously admiring the frame and I’m wondering if I’ve picked up a bit of a bargain. It’s got a 531c sticker on it, that might have been stuck on for show but its light as hell. In fact it's lighter than alot of my friend’s pretty expensive fixies. I’ve been doing a bit of research on the steel type and it seems to be fairly high quality competition racing steel. You can just make some lettering out on one of the tubes. It looks like "PH" or "FH"?
Anyway, if anyone has any ideas it'd be great to know what type of frame this is. If it's a good'n I’d quite like to restore it to it's original paint job. If not then I think I’ll just powder coat it black.
Cheers.
Recently bought this frame as a pre converted fixed gear. was lying in the back of a bike shop. The whole bike was very cheap. Stuck some deep V's on it, a new break lever and a bigger back cog. It’s got no markings on it at all apart from the knackered paint job and a bit of decal...
I don't really know too much about bikes in general but every bike shop I’ve taken it into has been seriously admiring the frame and I’m wondering if I’ve picked up a bit of a bargain. It’s got a 531c sticker on it, that might have been stuck on for show but its light as hell. In fact it's lighter than alot of my friend’s pretty expensive fixies. I’ve been doing a bit of research on the steel type and it seems to be fairly high quality competition racing steel. You can just make some lettering out on one of the tubes. It looks like "PH" or "FH"?
Anyway, if anyone has any ideas it'd be great to know what type of frame this is. If it's a good'n I’d quite like to restore it to it's original paint job. If not then I think I’ll just powder coat it black.
Cheers.
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Can't help much, but the BB shell and long point lugs indicate a frame of some quality. What size seatpost? If 27.2 that can help confirm the decal.
The front fork doesn't look like a match. The excess spacers up top help confirm this.
(Edit) Are those canti's f&r? Do they look like they were added later?
The front fork doesn't look like a match. The excess spacers up top help confirm this.
(Edit) Are those canti's f&r? Do they look like they were added later?
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Last edited by Ex Pres; 07-01-09 at 08:47 PM.
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i'm not sure, a few mates have pondered this aswell, the general consensus is they were added later, but thats just a buncha hunches.
not sure about the post, i've had a look and i can't see anything that has the size on it. is there anyway to tell apart from taking it into a shop?
not sure about the post, i've had a look and i can't see anything that has the size on it. is there anyway to tell apart from taking it into a shop?
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i'm not sure, a few mates have pondered this aswell, the general consensus is they were added later, but thats just a buncha hunches.
not sure about the post, i've had a look and i can't see anything that has the size on it. is there anyway to tell apart from taking it into a shop?
not sure about the post, i've had a look and i can't see anything that has the size on it. is there anyway to tell apart from taking it into a shop?
This might be a dumb question, but since it hasn't been asked in this or the SSFG thread, have you looked for a serial number?
#6
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Maybe some better photos out in the sun up against something white (like a garage door) might help. Take some shots of the seat-stay lugs and shots of the head-tube area as well.
The fork is definitely not original.
Italian or English threaded BB?
Calipers will help you determine the width of the seat-post.
The fork is definitely not original.
Italian or English threaded BB?
Calipers will help you determine the width of the seat-post.
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The track frame ends look original, there is no clear sign of haphazard workmanship where the stays end. The workmanship and shaping of the head lugs seems good, pending better photos. Reynolds decals can be had on Ebay, so sadly that is no longer a significant sign. The angles do not look hugely steep.
I'd jump to a guess that it may well be a decent track frame, perhaps specialized for a track event where close-quarters racing was expected. Can't offer anything about nation of origin or make.
I'd jump to a guess that it may well be a decent track frame, perhaps specialized for a track event where close-quarters racing was expected. Can't offer anything about nation of origin or make.
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The track frame ends look original, there is no clear sign of haphazard workmanship where the stays end. The workmanship and shaping of the head lugs seems good, pending better photos. Reynolds decals can be had on Ebay, so sadly that is no longer a significant sign. The angles do not look hugely steep.
I'd jump to a guess that it may well be a decent track frame, perhaps specialized for a track event where close-quarters racing was expected. Can't offer anything about nation of origin or make.
I'd jump to a guess that it may well be a decent track frame, perhaps specialized for a track event where close-quarters racing was expected. Can't offer anything about nation of origin or make.
@jet sanchEz - i'm assuming BB is bottom bracket, how do i know if it's italian or english? is it the direction of the thread? i tried to get the bottom bracket changed so i could get an easier gear ratio (got a bigger back gear instead) but the shop couldn't get it out, managed to mangle it a bit during the attempt... it's a bit of a creaky mess now...
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That is a real odd duck. Not sure I have ever seen track ends and canti studs together on anything other than a 29er SS. On the other hand, I happen to think that that is an excellent set up for number of uses.
Could it originally had an IGH hub? Or some gonzo CX person who raced ss/fg?
jim
Could it originally had an IGH hub? Or some gonzo CX person who raced ss/fg?
jim
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I'll get some new photos up tommorrow and check for a serial, are steep angles a good thing or bad? forgive my ignorance i'm fairly new to this game.
@jet sanchEz - i'm assuming BB is bottom bracket, how do i know if it's italian or english? is it the direction of the thread? i tried to get the bottom bracket changed so i could get an easier gear ratio (got a bigger back gear instead) but the shop couldn't get it out, managed to mangle it a bit during the attempt... it's a bit of a creaky mess now...
@jet sanchEz - i'm assuming BB is bottom bracket, how do i know if it's italian or english? is it the direction of the thread? i tried to get the bottom bracket changed so i could get an easier gear ratio (got a bigger back gear instead) but the shop couldn't get it out, managed to mangle it a bit during the attempt... it's a bit of a creaky mess now...
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that thing would be oh so sweet with an IGH and some nice strong wheels
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found a serial: 5571
New photos... hope that helps.
Serial
BB
Decal
Front
Headset side
Full
Rear Brake
Rear Brake 2
Seat Stay (i think?)
New photos... hope that helps.
Serial
BB
Decal
Front
Headset side
Full
Rear Brake
Rear Brake 2
Seat Stay (i think?)
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#17
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A track bike with canti brakes?? That seems really weird to me. Can't wait to see what people come up with.
Too bad about the fork.
Too bad about the fork.
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it is an odd one: some of those features look to be "British" like the rear loop cable bridge and the "Dutch" style seat clamp bolt (which may take a inch-fraction Allen wrench rather than Metric) but why the canti brakes and track ends! The fork could be a replacement for another that had canti bosses. Construction looks very good, and the serial number points to a small-output/custom shop, which makes sense with these unique features...is it 55cm? That could explain half of the 5571 number, but I doubt that 71 is the year, probably the 71st frame from this builder. (on second thought it looks bigger than 55, so scotch that) On third thought: the paint on the top of the rear triangle is masked and re-sprayed (badly) so now I think the loop and canti-bosses were add-ons.
Too bad it has that horrid half-round-divot lockring (I hate them) but you might just resort to "full destruction" of the BB unit, and there's nothing about that Nervar that demands to be saved. If you can get the LH crankarm off, try soaking the lockring in penetrant and then use a sharp chisel and try to hammer-turn it off. If no luck then I'd *carefully* cut it away with a Dremel and cutoff wheel.
Too bad it has that horrid half-round-divot lockring (I hate them) but you might just resort to "full destruction" of the BB unit, and there's nothing about that Nervar that demands to be saved. If you can get the LH crankarm off, try soaking the lockring in penetrant and then use a sharp chisel and try to hammer-turn it off. If no luck then I'd *carefully* cut it away with a Dremel and cutoff wheel.
Last edited by unworthy1; 07-05-09 at 11:28 AM.
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My guess... Used to be road frame. Somebody wanted cantilever brakes and track drop outs, so they added them. Bike's from the mid to late 80's though. Forks not original, as others have said. Gearing is insane though; must suck to go up hills.
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it is an odd one: some of those features look to be "British" like the rear loop cable bridge and the "Dutch" style seat clamp bolt (which may take a inch-fraction Allen wrench rather than Metric) but why the canti brakes and track ends! The fork could be a replacement for another that had canti bosses. Construction looks very good, and the serial number points to a small-output/custom shop, which makes sense with these unique features...is it 55cm? That could explain half of the 5571 number, but I doubt that 71 is the year, probably the 71st frame from this builder. (on second thought it looks bigger than 55, so scotch that) On third thought: the paint on the top of the rear triangle is masked and re-sprayed (badly) so now I think the loop and canti-bosses were add-ons.
Too bad it has that horrid half-round-divot lockring (I hate them) but you might just resort to "full destruction" of the BB unit, and there's nothing about that Nervar that demands to be saved. If you can get the LH crankarm off, try soaking the lockring in penetrant and then use a sharp chisel and try to hammer-turn it off. If no luck then I'd *carefully* cut it away with a Dremel and cutoff wheel.
Too bad it has that horrid half-round-divot lockring (I hate them) but you might just resort to "full destruction" of the BB unit, and there's nothing about that Nervar that demands to be saved. If you can get the LH crankarm off, try soaking the lockring in penetrant and then use a sharp chisel and try to hammer-turn it off. If no luck then I'd *carefully* cut it away with a Dremel and cutoff wheel.
heh, aye, it was a bit brutal going up the hills... i stuck a 22 tooth gear on the back so it's a bit easier now. though my knees are still pretty sore. had the seat up pretty high to counter, but put it back down as i wasn't fond of using my testicals as a shock absorber.