Hows it going? I just wanted to get you guys' opinions and hopefully get you to answer a few questions for me. First, I am looking to build my first frame. I am already proficient at brazing from a couple of College and High School classes so im not worried there and I plan on using the tube mitering program on Nova to do all of my mitering. My problem is I am confused on which tubing to select to build with. Given that I am fairly confident that my first frame (road frame) will turn out ride-able, I would like to make it with some pretty nice tubing (Steel). I plan on using a lugged bb and just fillet braze the other joints. So, to my questions haha. Whats the advantage of over sized tubing that has the same thickness as standard (which most I have seen do)? I weight 146lbs, so I assume I could use .8-.5-.8 tubing, or will this be too thin for fillet and I need to use lugs? In terms of tubing, I would like something that feels like my 72 Peugeot with Reynolds 531. I believe 525 replaced it? I would like a relatively light frame to replace my road bike Im racing on now. Anyways, sorry this is a lot for one post but I want to make sure I have all the info I can get before I begin. Thanks and take it easy

I wouldn't be so confident about your first frame, there are a lot of things going on.

If you want the bike to ride like your 72 Peugeot, you might try the Columbus SL that Nova has. The tubes are traditional sizes. Oversize tubes will be stiffer, not sure there is much else to say. If you go with thin tubes, you have a somewhat higher chance of fatigue failures down the road.

Please quantify relatively light.

Bikes are amazing creatures and "ride-able" doesn't mean a whole bunch in terms of build quality.

Start cheap and thick with the first attempt. You'll probably be much happier in the end.

you can get Deda Zero Tre with fork blades for about $100 from Bringheli, that's what I would do. In fact, I did exactly that to practice my fillet brazing.

I guess by relatively light I meant that I would like the bike, put together with wheels and full component set, to weight about 20lbs or less. However I guess that would largely depend on the wheels and components. I just didn't want to purchase frame material that would give me a tank for a frame. I do agree with your suggestion to start off with thicker butts, I do believe I will do that. I was considering just going with Nova or Dedacciai tube sets on the first go around to get some practice in and to learn off of. Did you guys use lugs or fillet brazing your first build? Oh and I appreciate the help!

Yeah, let us know how that works out...

I was pretty confident too. So I built it with NOS 531 from the 60s, and Nervex lugs. Now that I can actually build rideable frames, I very much wish I had those bits back. I should have started with the cheapest tubing and lugs I could find. Hopefully you are more competent than I was.

I built my first with NNS 531 and Prugnat lugs from the '70s (new new stock). Of course it was the '70s. Life was so much easier then, you pretty much had your choice of 531 or 531.

Yeah, I burned a few little holes in my first set of 531..... about 1974.
Second frame, I could actually ride.

certainly some people could ride their first frame. There are ways of practicing that will get you there.

Thats what im shooting for. I fully understand that being able to braze alone does not make a good bike. I have no intention of coming out with a perfect bike haha, but I would like to be able to throw some wheels on it and ride the fruits of my labor. If only times where much simpler and 531 was still readily available it would make my life a lot easier. I guess Dedacciai tre it is for the first go.

Ceeway still has Columbus straight gauge tubes available. If you went lugged instead of fillet brazed his "bike in box" kit is pretty reasonably priced.

You're 146 pounds. That does indeed make the odds of a rideable first bike better (unlike my Clydesdale self).

I doubt you'd enjoy riding oversized tubing at your body weight. The frame would probably be too stiff, and beat you up.

I've never seen OS steel used on a smaller size. Has anyone else?