Tell me about this tubing please

[mattsccm]

I rather fancy a Charge Plug 5. Many modern steel bikes are actually nothing very special with regards to the tubing.
How does the following sound?
FRAME/ Tange Prestige, seamless, double butted cro-mo. FORK/ Tange Infinity cro-mo, disc brake
I suppose my standard is 531c as that's what my better steel bikes are.

[Valbrona]

Seamless, double butted, heat treated 4130 (I think) cro-moly.

[531colin]

Be interesting to compare 531C and steel disc forks with the same tyre and pressure.......

[chocjohn9]

Ive not ridden a plug 5 but do have its, in effect, predecessor, the Juicer High. The frame is just lovely. Perfectly stiff in all the right places, but not overly so, giving a smooth and pleasant ride. The paint job is fantastic - mine has a hard winter life and it is difficult to scratch. I have often found myself opting to ride this bike, when I have other fancier things...

Just one point though. The 5 costs £1599, the 4 £1099. In my view, £500 well wasted. The frames are the same, 105 is fairly similar to Sram Rival, the wheels are the same. OK the brakes are better on the 5. I would pay a max £100 for that!

[The Mechanic]

Check out the Wiki entry below

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tange_International_Co.

[mig]

my winter fixed commuter is made from this stuff. not especially light but, yes, sturdy and knock resistant. it's a decent ride for the roads conditions that i'm sure we all have in the country each winter. mine is approx 14 years old and is still in A1 condition despite heavy use.

[Brucey]

the sticker is one thing, the tube gauges are quite another. It is the tube gauges that are important; if unknown, you can estimate these from the frame weight.

In terms of ride feel the fork is important too, and if it is a disc fork then it'll most likely be a fair bit stiffer than a lighter fork made for rim brakes.

I'm not sure quite what a frame made with (say) big stiff disc forks, big stiff disc seat stays/chainstays, but really lightweight main tubes would feel like. A bit odd, I'd guess.

cheers

[mattsccm]

Part of the mission is to avoid Shimano. Partly because of the shift .Must admit to always matching 105 to Apex from a quality point of view. Very tempted by the hydraulics as, good though my BB7s are, I believe that the hydraulics will be better. My Cotic X rides ok but the tubes are most definitely hefty and you can feel that.
Getting weights from Charge, indeed any communications is like getting blood from a stone.

[The Mechanic]

Try this link as well

http://www.bgcycles.com/frame-tubing-selection.html

[chocjohn9]

If it helps, I know that my Charge Juicer High 105 is 9.9kg, as an off the peg job....
I didn't mention earlier that the joins - welding - on my Juicer are very well done. It has been clearly been made well.
Whilst I can understand that for what ever reason you want to avoid Shinamo, you are paying a high price for the principle.

[PH]

I have a SOMA ES which is made with Tange Prestige, it's a lovely bike. How much of that is to do with the tube set I neither know nor care.

[mattsccm]

And I really fancy those hydraulics.
Having said that I have just found some nice Genesis frames. in 631 what ever that is . Got to be 531 at least.
Decisions, decisions.