Cycling UK Forum

markjohnobrien wrote: ↑16 May 2023, 10:31am

pwa wrote: ↑16 May 2023, 7:03am

markjohnobrien wrote: ↑15 May 2023, 8:47pm

Apologies for the thread resurrection but had two year gap from forum and I wholeheartedly agree with these sentiments.

Not a custom made to measure, but I’m looking forward to Dave Yates painting my Reynolds 525 touring frame (made by him). Adding Hope headset and bottom bracket and thinking about different permutations for a possible build. It’s exciting!

Dave Yates has long had a very good reputation among people who know about these things. So I am curious about why he likes using Reynolds 525 tubing, rather than just using the pricier tubes such as 725. The big cost with his frames has always been his craftsmanship and care, with the tubes themselves being a smaller part of the cost. So DY must see something he particularly likes in 525, or something he is not so keen on in the dearer tubes. I wonder what it is.

My understanding is that he has nothing against pricier tubing (such as Reynolds 725) and would build if asked but viewed Reynolds 525 as perfectly good for touring as it has thicker tubing to resist dents from heavily loaded bikes, has good strength although not as high as 725, and meets all his requirements for an excellent touring frame at slightly lower cost.

He is now retired but has sold me an unpainted Wanderer 525 frame (that he took around shows to show the quality of the build), and is painting to a colour of my choice. This frame was once the basis of a Cycling Plus Touring Bike of the Year. Very exciting!

pwa wrote: ↑16 May 2023, 7:03am Dave Yates has long had a very good reputation among people who know about these things. So I am curious about why he likes using Reynolds 525 tubing, rather than just using the pricier tubes such as 725.

PH wrote: ↑16 May 2023, 11:33am

pwa wrote: ↑16 May 2023, 7:03am Dave Yates has long had a very good reputation among people who know about these things. So I am curious about why he likes using Reynolds 525 tubing, rather than just using the pricier tubes such as 725.

Good article here on appropriate tubing for a touring frame, though I'm sure as with most things cycling not everyone agrees. This is by an occasional forum poster, though I've not noticed them on here recently.
https://www.bretonbikes.com/homepage/cy ... e-tourists

pwa wrote: ↑16 May 2023, 1:48pm Reynolds say it is easy to work with, presumably being easier to bend, drill and file than some steels. And the inability to have an ultra-thin wall isn't a problem if dent resistance is valued more than shaving grams off.

I am sure there was a thread on this a long while back, in the days of Brucey.

pwa wrote: ↑16 May 2023, 1:48pm Reynolds say it is easy to work with, presumably being easier to bend, drill and file than some steels. And the inability to have an ultra-thin wall isn't a problem if dent resistance is valued more than shaving grams off.

I am sure there was a thread on this a long while back, in the days of Brucey.

pwa wrote: ↑16 May 2023, 7:03am Dave Yates has long had a very good reputation among people who know about these things. So I am curious about why he likes using Reynolds 525 tubing, rather than just using the pricier tubes such as 725. The big cost with his frames has always been his craftsmanship and care, with the tubes themselves being a smaller part of the cost. So DY must see something he particularly likes in 525, or something he is not so keen on in the dearer tubes. I wonder what it is.