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Conference noted::bicycle

Title: Bicycling
Notice:Bicycling for Fun
Moderator:JAMIN::WASSER
Created:Mon Apr 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3214
Total number of notes:31946

574.0. "Columbus tubing ???" by NEXUS::MONROE () Mon Mar 14 1988 12:51

    
    What makes Columbus tubing so special ??
    Is it that it's Italian made or somthing in the tubing ??
    Any comments PRO or CON 
    
    
                                                Tom
                                     (the guy looking for a bike)
                                 
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574.1Columbus originally gave more choicesGENRAL::P_DUNNMon Mar 14 1988 16:1027
    Until 4 or 5 years ago, the only established tubing manufactures
    were Columbus and Reynolds.  Each company had 2 types of tubing
    that were used to make high quality framesets; Reynolds had 531
    and 753, Columbus had SP and SL (road heavy and road light).  At
    that time the cost of a SP frame tubing set did not differ much
    from that of a SL frame tubing set so the biker could make a decision
    as to the type of tubing he wanted based on wether he wanted a 
    heavier/stiffer framset (SP) or a lighter/not_so_stiff frameset
    (SL).  On the other hand the Reynolds tubing sets were greatly
    differing in price (final frame cost difference $200-$350).  So
    for most bikers, Columbus offered 2 choices to Reynolds 1 choice.
     Also, if the frame was custom built you could get a framset with
    SP in the down tube, seat tube, and chainstays with the rest of
    the frame SL.  This made for a light/stiff frameset.  (I had one
    like this a I still think it was the best frame I ever rode, thanks
    to excellent building by STOUT.)  Anyway, this gave the biker even
    another choice that helped establish Columbus as (in my opinion)
    the best tubing maufacturer.  Now that there are more maufactures
    in the game (True Value, Tange, Vitus, etc.) Columbus has the advantage
    of being the established leader; and like all things established,
    the other companies have to prove there better, not just as good,
    to become the new leader.  I do also think that Columbus has an
    advantage being Italian made; advantage being that the pros (especially
    the Italians) will continue to give it their endorsment.  
    
    Paul Dunn