Reynolds — Butted Main Tubes The ultimate performance tube set?. Reynolds — Chrome-Moly Reynolds is our most popular tube set, it offers an excellent combination of comfort and performance. Reynolds is a Heat Treated thin gauge, tight tolerance seamless Chrome Molybdenum steel. This tube set is suitable for a wide range of riders. So for example, say a KN: We used to sell pre-kits to custom builders, which allowed them to size tubes and change things to some extent, but around the late 90s, mainly because tig welding came in, it dramatically changed the options — and we stopped selling full kits at around that time.
At one time we even had a robot operating some machines as we were selling up to standard tube sets in a single run, but now its rare to do more than of a specific tube in a single run. ST: When a tube set goes out from the factory, is it different for a lugged frame as opposed to a tig-welded frame?
A lugged frame would generally have longer butts to fit the lugs, but tube diameters and profiles can be selected individually. With tig welding, the choices available are even greater. At first they were concerned that the frames may not be stiff enough, so we worked with the designers to make a frame as stiff as a carbon frame.
Steel can actually be a very stiff material, and the first frames we built for them were too stiff, so based on feedback we were able to mix tubing to get it right.
ST: Steel has had something of a renaissance, how would you describe its characteristics compared to other materials — as a lot of riders out there have never actually ridden a quality steel bike? KN: There is no doubt that there is fashion element to it — steel making a comeback that is. What I would say is to bear in mind that there are thousands of alloys available; for example has been around for a long time, but current has twice the strength that it once had, and four times the strength of the original — it depends on what people want it for.
The characteristics of materials now, and their properties are far more advanced that they were in, say, the s — especially so in the last five years. ST: Titanium has always been considered a difficult and expensive material to work with, where does it fit with Reynolds?
Back in the s a number of builders tried to move from steel tig welding to titanium welding and there were a number of failures. There are a couple of main grades of titanium and we tend to work with these.
A number of builders such as Moots and De Rosa have invested in the machinery and have the expertise to do it properly, but few elsewhere have moved into titanium building.
A good titanium frame can last a long time — but interestingly, if you look at some of the high-end steel alloys they are as strong — even stronger than titanium — and are easier to work with. KN: Yes, but not anymore. They were very nice pieces of kit and that became a spin-off in the US, and they licensed them separately under the Reynolds brand. In around about the company was sold to a bigger company, they dropped the forks and started producing Reynolds wheels.
ST: Steel forks are having a slight resurgence, yet carbon still rules the roost — even on steel frames; what is your direction here? And could revive the fortunes of the most iconic steel tubing manufacturer in cycling history: Reynolds?
Historically, steel has been lauded for its comfort and durability but lambasted for its weight. A little like your elderly Labrador who gives you security and love but rarely moves from its basket. Not with They seemed keen.
This is unlike the sourcing of other steel alloys Reynolds uses, which is often dictated by market forces. Reynolds is part of the Niche Vehicle Network and one of the hot topics is recycling. While steel can be melted down and reused, you end up shredding carbon.
The number comes from the ratio of the three main elements used to create the steel. Not only was double-butted much lighter than its elder sibling, known as Reynolds HM, its tensile strength came in at a then impressive megapascals. Suddenly stiffness, lightness, durability and comfort were achievable using a material that frame-builders could manipulate easily. Post-war, cycle production increased with tubing leading the way.
But it took 23 years from its creation to mount the platform that would make it truly global. The next 24 out of 25 Tour victories came via Reynolds tubing. Those TdF victories brought Reynolds public acclaim, at odds with their humble beginnings…. This new-fangled rear-wheel drive, chain-driven cycle with two similar-sized wheels eclipsed more dangerous models such as the Penny Farthing, opening up a whole new world of freedom for the individual and a commercial opportunity for the entrepreneur.
However, when World War I broke out, the company shifted to producing tubing for military bicycles and motorcycles, moving to Hay Hall in Tyseley, Birmingham in to accommodate the increase in production. In they changed their name to Reynolds Tube Co. Ltd, introducing high manganese tubing the following year. However, it was in that Austyn Reynolds and Max Bigford introduced Reynolds , so named for the ratio of key elements making up this manganese-steel alloy.
This iconic tubing would go on to be known, loved and ridden by cyclists around the world, including Tour De France winners Charly Gaul in , Jacques Anquetil with a Reynolds-tubed Gitane in , and Eddy Merckx on a private-label DeRosa in In the company continued with their tradition of innovation by introducing the first heat-treated tubing to the industry,
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