For Sale: Cantiflex tubes - the tubes that make you faster

In the 1930's, Horace Bates submitted a special set of Reynolds 531 frame tubes to the National Physical Laboratory for evaluation. The results showed that the tubes were almost twice as resistant to flexing as standard 531 tubes. The secret was in the way that the tubes were swaged down at each end to form an elongated arch. Bates named the tubes "Cantiflex" and in 1935 he was granted a patent protecting the design.

If you ride fast, buy the frame tubes designed to make you faster.

I have a number of tubesets for sale. These are part of the last batch of 531 Cantiflex to be manufactured. All Cantiflex from now will be made from Reynolds 631 tubing.

Set of three main Cantiflex tubes - £52.00.

PM or telephone: 07976 885316

Damn...where were you 6 weeks ago!

Do you still have a set?....Does it include the tube decals?...what do i do about lugs, chainstays, headube etc...you told me you did not have the Bates fork!...Cheers...Leon

I am interested in buying this tubeset if it's still available.
Thanks.
Matt

Do tubes' flavours become more complex and wonderful with age? Like a fine wine or the right kind of tubeless tyre.

yes, they kept lance armstrong's tour ones in a damp cellar to age them

Did they not go rusty? Or were they aluminum?

Tubs not tubes. Yes, Lance's nutty tyre supplier keeps loads of tubulars in his cellar. The older the better he claims. They become more supple with age or something. What was that shown on? He was interview in a documentary about it. ..

Big post here about storing tubs: http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index.php/t-187210.html

I already know about ageing tubs, and have already read that thread, but I was talking about tubes. Which is why I said "tubes" not "tubs".

I lost the point when you started talking about rusting..

Tubs not tubes. Yes, Lance's nutty tyre supplier keeps loads of tubulars in his cellar. The older the better he claims. They become more supple with age or something. What was that shown on? He was interview in a documentary about it. ..

its on one of those dvd's like 'The Science Of Lance Armstrong'.

That sounds plausible. It's probably still on my Sky box..

Hi,

Do you still have these Cantiflex tubes for sale?

Unlikely 6 months on.

Hi,
Yes I do have some tubes left. How many sets did you want? I did send you an e-mail yesterday, but I think my computer has developed PMT. Send me an e-mail if you got it, if not just reply on the forum. I sold a previous set for £50 incl. postage. Are you a builder?

Cheers charlie

Corr. Super flexy awesome.

Hi Charlie,

I didn't receive an email. Anyway, I have a bates that has had a head on which has deformed the top and down tube. By "a set" I assume you mean the three main tubes so I require one set. I'm new to the forum so can't email / pm you, however, I will phone you tomorrow on the mobile number you have quoted on the first post.

Cheers

Chris

I'm now the proud owner of a set of oddly shaped tubes. Thanks Charlie.

Everyone needs a set, if only to hang on the garage wall

I'm now the proud owner of a set of oddly shaped tubes. Thanks Charlie.

Everyone needs a set, if only to hang on the garage wall

• 1 from me! They really are lovely to look at, can't wait to get them built up. Might do that Dave Yates framebuilding course and build them up myself!
  

Glad to hear the tubes arrived safely. I don't think you could do better than Yatesy's framebuilding courses. I've never met a framebuilder who didn't think he was the greatest, but Dave is one of the few who has the right to be called one of the best. Right up there with Bill Gray and Stan Pike.
(Not a plug - the guy is a great engineer!)

+1 to Dave Yates being ace. He's a nice fella to spend a week in a workshop with too and you get free airshows from the Typhoons and the Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight.