The tubeset choice will probably matter more to a heavier rider because of the flexibiliy/stiffness issues. I know that although my SPX Bottecchia is heavier than my Tange #1 Centurion, it rides more smoothly over rough roads and bumps and seems to "go" during out of the saddle mashing. The weight difference is virtually unnoticeable when riding.

Weight of the rider is probably more important. A light rider generally prefers a lighter, more flexible frame, and a heavier rider will prefer a heavier, stiffer frame.

the one i was referring to was ~10 years earlier and had only ~3 tubesets being compared.

thanks for posting this one, though...i'm sure it's more comprehensive...i'll give it a read!


IIRC the technical term is that all carbon-steel alloys, regardless of what magical alloying elements have been sprinkled in, have the same modulus-of-elasticity.

Eddy Merckx would disagree with y'all. Supposedly back in the '70s he complained that the ride of 753 was too harsh for a 3 week stage race. In response Reynolds created the 653 tubeset - a mixture of 531 and 753 tubes.

Sure, but manufacturers would have been dumb to dismiss whatever Eddy said. I'm sure he was wrong at least once in his life. It's still a good marketing plan to follow much of what Eddy recommends.

In teh shootout article teh reviewer did percieve differences between some of the frames, but not all. That does not mean they are all the same.

How can any of us say we know better then Eddy?

I don't know better than Eddy, for sure, but it's still possible for him to perceive things that aren't there. He's still a human being.

The bike I just finished has a Peugeot 531P frame, 27 x 1 1/8 Panaracer Pasela tires and an old school fork- I can honestly say it's the best riding road bike I've ever ridden.

Regarding weight (better stated, mass), in my opinion the advantages of marginally lighter frames/forks/components are as follows:
1. improved performance not due to mass but superior engineering of high end hardware (frame stiffness/flex included here)
2. a good feeling due to genuine aesthetic pleasure, pride, flaunting one's wealth, getting sponsored, etc.
3. possible margin of victory when competing at a professional or near professional level for significant money or prestige
4. marginal performance improvement due to reduced mass - think about it, how much time/effort/money it takes to lose 8 oz from a bike versus from yourself?

Robots had a fair amount to do with the building of my Fuji Finest, and it is medium gauge double-butted tubing. Through the combination of geometry, tubing, wheels and tires, it is the smoothest-riding bicycle I've ever been on. I have lighter, faster, and more nimble, but nothing that is as smooth. The builder obviously can play a role, but I think the influence of the design has more to do with the ride than the execution (barring glaring flaws of course).

That's true, but for the whole classic peleton to share the fact of delusion about frame materials? Why DO they let Trek just go changing the frame every year?