Cycling UK Forum

Hi sarniacycle,
On the Thorn forum there is a link (in an old advert from a private sale) to an original cyclosportif brochure and order form:

http://web.archive.org/web/200307191137 ... /cyclo.asp
http://web.archive.org/web/200611181132 ... ifSpec.pdf

this is what is written in it regarding brakes:
"We have designed the Cyclosportif to accept mudguards (with close, but adequate, “road” clearances) when fitted with 700 x 23 (and some 25) tyres. The actual drop that we build to is 48mm (+/- 0.5mm), this allows the fitting of either 39-49mm (shallow drop) or 47-57mm (deep drop) Shimano brakes (alternatively, 39-50mm Campagnolo brakes may be used)".

You can also eyeball one that was recently offered for sale on eBay:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/175571475596?f ... 7675.l2557

Here you can see the front tyre -a Continental 700Cx25 - fits cleanly under the Tektro R359 brakes, but at the rear there looks to be only just room to squeeze a narrow mudguard between the tyre and seat tube.

Even though the brochure refers to the tubes as R725, I don't see anywhere near enough room for a 28 with a mudguard at the rear, and that was not what the designer intended:

"Whilst we are convinced that 26" wheels are the best choice for lightweight, medium and heavyweight touring, we feel that for ultra-lightweight touring, particularly when undertaken by very fit individuals, who wish to travel at great speed, and for whom comfort is only a secondary consideration, the 700C wheel still has its place. If you are genuinely capable of maintaining a high average speed, say 20mph (32kph), then you should find it easier (albeit less comfortable) with narrow (700 x 23mm) tyres, not because they roll better than high quality 26 x 1.5" (which they don’t) but because they cut through the air better!"
and

"When not equipped with mudguards the clearances are such that the cycle does not look at all “gappy”. You could, if you wished, just squeeze in (some, but not all, manufacturers’) 700 x 28 tyres".

Good luck with your search, but PWA is right, if you want to ride 28's the Audax is where to look...

When I looked into putting a bicycle shed in the front garden for my recumbent, I discovered any "outbuilding" (which includes garden sheds) forward of the main front wall of the house (not garden wall) would need planning permission. That's why you generally don't see garden sheds in front gardens.
Some smaller-than-a/shed bike store maybe possible
Some more information here:
https://www.gardenroom.guide/shed-in-front-garden/
Frustrating when you're trying to do your bit and commute by pedal power, you can park your car on a paved over front garden, but not keep your bike dry in a shed there!!

Personally for a retirement present
~in hilly countryside ~ I would choose their Classic Lightweight model, with 9 wider range gears, and a lifetime warranty, for £975:
"The Classic Lightweight is a perfect all rounder. People use this bike for a variety of applications from urban commuting, to light touring. This is how a bike should be: light, simple, fun and versatile. It has plenty of gears for hills, all the mounts for mudguards and racks, an efficient yet comfortable riding position, and a timeless aesthetic. We designed it to be your go-to bike for life."

https://www.templecycles.co.uk/products ... 4423195734

Hello Richard,
A quality, lightweight, new 3 speed gents diamond frame bicycle is available, in Bristol, in a variety of sizes:
with "durable 4130 Double Butted Chromoly Steel frame ...strong, lightweight, comfortable to ride, and it’s also covered by a 5 Year Warranty" with full mudguards
for £635.00
see: https://www.templecycles.co.uk/products ... hree-speed

Appreciating this is a month after OP first posted,
but this lightweight upright bike listed on eBay
seems to be just what you are looking for (no connection to the seller):
Dutch Gazelle Lausanne X-tralite reynolds 531 frame/forks, with straight handlebars, which the seller says weighs 14kg with mudguards, large saddle, heavy duty rear rack & battery lights. Whats not to like!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225082001944 ... SwFudi1yiy

This image shows how Reynolds have changed the way they marked their tube sets from stamping to a type of printing, sometime before or by the late 1980's as it is a 653 tubeset: Reynolds 653 replaced 531Professional and 653 appeared in Raleigh catalogues in 1987...

This post by Doug Fattic, a framebuilder on another forum describes some of the stampings found on Reynolds, Columbus & Tange fork steerers:

"The amount of depth of the stamped impression varied. Some you could barely see while others were much clearer Here is a picture of an SLX tube after they had started using graphic discharge to mark their tubes. Instead of saying what the wall thickness was in numerals, they marked what model of tube it was. During this marking time period they also included the date by month and year when it was manufactured. Next to it in yhe picture are 2 old Columbus steerers with 2 different dove images. I don't know anything about time frame or models on either of them except the bigger image came from a set I got in the 70's when I was 1st teaching frame building classes.

Reynolds use to mark their tubes around the short butted end. In other words reading around the tube instead of lengthwise like on the SLX tube pictured. The top line would say Reynolds 531 and below that on the 2nd line would be the wall thickness of the tube in sheet metal designation. For example if it was a 1" top tube it might say 20/23 (which is roughly equivalent to 0.8/0.5 mm) or 19/22 (close to 0.9/0.6 mm). The smaller the number the thicker the tube. Of course as soon as the graphic discharge markings were sandblasted or emeried they disappeared.

Some manufacturers like True Temper never marked their tubes. This could become a headache if they were removed from the packaging the distributor used to say what the tube was".
Other posters added:
"Not all steerers were stamped."
"After about 1980 they [Columbus] used graphite discharge marking on the frame tubes but continued to stamp the steer tube."

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vint ... tamps.html

There are a couple of examples of the "Reynolds" stamp on the fork blades themselves here, where the topic is also discussed https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vint ... lades.html

cyclop wrote: ↑29 Jun 2022, 7:30pm Do reynolds 531 forks always have a Reynolds stamp on the steerer?

I think this earlier post by Brucey gives the best answer to your question about Reynolds stamp markings on the steerer tubes:

Brucey wrote: ↑2 Feb 2013, 4:10pm The Raleigh Richmond was for many years black with gold decals, and fitted with centre pull brakes. I'm not sure that I ever remember one with decals that look like that or with canti bosses fitted.

British Eagle did a model called the 'Richmond' too; it might be an early incarnation of that. IIRC their frames (which could be branded variously) were otherwise fairly anonymous and may indeed be where I've seen that top eye treatment before.

BTW if the fork is reynolds 531 tubing then for many years this could be easily identified by the stamp markings on the steerer and the fork blades. These marks are very shallow and you need to remove all the paint to see them. If the frame has been enthusiastically abraded then they may no longer be visible. Also after a certain date they may have quit stamping them, too. But if the marks are there they will be in a typeface about 1.5mm height, all capitials, reading 'REYNOLD'S BUTTED TUBE' in a single horizontal line.

cheers

you can see an example here:

I just came across 8 pages of Jan Heine's thoughts & analysis together with a number of drawings all on the same subject of steering geometry , to add to your collected material:

"Front-end Geometry for Different Speeds, Loads and Tire sizes" by Jan Heine

I saw it buried in this website - the Aus frame builders collective - whilst looking for something else (Reynolds 653 'All Terrain' specs):

https://1filedownload.com/au-frame-builders-collective/

with enticing paragraph headings such as -

'Modernity takes its toll' ; 'Empirical data is still best'
&
'Experiencing Wheel Flop and Oversensitivity'

interestingly in this last section he compares steering geometry - and considers the influence of specific named tyres - on various bicycles including a Mercian King of Mercia, a Rivendell and an Alex Singer....more food for thought and reflection on this absorbing subject.

Thank you very much Mervyn, that's wonderful of you to have shared this information; I am sending him a message now.
And a big welcome to the forum!
I just looked up Brucey on the Cambridge University Cycling Club website following the hint from Paulatic and am so impressed that Brucey still holds the club record for 4-UP mens 100km team time trial and the 10 and 30 mile mens' tandem record!
Thighs of brass indeed!

Get well soon Brucey!!

I've just been on the Addenbrookes website to check the address to send Brucey a card, as I've always enjoyed and appreciated reading his contributions on this forum, and was very saddened by this terrible stroke, & then I saw this, which would be a great way for forum members to send Brucey some well wishes, pictures and encouragement:

"Letters from loved ones
We know it is very difficult not being able to see loved ones and how important it is to stay in touch. Our ‘Letters from Loved Ones’ service helps families and friends share messages and photographs with patients in our hospitals. To help you communicate with your loved ones, you can send a message and some photos by filling in our Letters from loved ones form. We will make sure these are printed and delivered to the patient".

The challenge is a name and a date of birth (are required fields); how can friends from the forum send him get well wishes?

https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/contact-us/let-u ... ones-form/

Wishing you a speedy and full recovery Brucey. Very saddened to read about what’s happened to you. Even in this short time you’ve been much missed. You’re quite a legend and looking forward to having you back on here, and you enjoying riding your favourite bikes again.

I’ve followed this discussion with interest, I have a couple of red 3rd edition Raleigh Randonneur (i.e 708 & Magura hydraulic rim brakes)

To OP - possibility of a replacement 708 frame in 24 inch:
“Reynolds 708 Handbuilt Raleigh Randonneur
24 inch Lightweight Mens Racing Tourer.
On eBay item no: 303756963516

No relation to the seller.

CJ,
I read your comments on half step specific SunTour front derailleurs in this post with great interest, as I want to set up my old 80's tourer so. Would you be able to indicate what were the SunTour model numbers made for the half step specific front derailleurs?

"my front mech is a rare SunTour specially made for half-step triples...But you'll be very lucky to find a half-step triple mech now. They were rare even when they were current. But I did see a couple of them (a cheaper model than that shown above, alpha-3000 I think) amongst a load of braze-on type SunTour front mechs on a stall at Mildenhall Rally last year".

I've found the Shimano models (M700 deer head variant), but haven't been able to identify which SunTour models and sub models were specifically designed for Half Step triple gears.

From your photo of the front mech I saw it looked like Suntour XD 7000 Sport, but then I found there were 2 variants, GT & GX! (ST-FD-XS00 GT/ GX)

I've seen NOS Suntour XD 7000 Sport can be bought in the US from BikeStash (http://www.bikestash.com/product_info.p ... ucts_id=60), but I want to get the right one!

What about the MounTech?

Thank you,
Dominic