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dibs

Make sure you've got enough moolah left over for a Thomson 400mm seatpost...

#38089

Are 501 frames really that shit?

Well, they're not the best, but it will be more than enough to able to make a bike out of it.

ride it till it fall apart, that's all that matter.

they are OKish the budget tubing from Reynolds for mass market production

Edit: what Ed says

the 501 feel light though so i guess i'll use it till it falls apart.

They're not shit. Just not very special either.
What Rik wrote.

Don't waste your time trying to identify the frame, because it ain't a Colnago.

Are the different Reynolds not chronological?

No.

But the classiest frames used 531 in the 60s/70s? Were the other grades available back then?

531 was regarded as better than the others at that time. but there wasn't any other option.
Unless The Japanese were at it also at the same time. Ishiwata or whatever it's called.

Not forgetting Columbus and Ateliers de la Rive (Vitus), both more or less contemporaries of Reynolds.

501 is fine.

If you saw a steel OTP nowadays which said "100% cr-mo double butted frame & forks" it would be a pretty good frame.

Some of the cheaper raleigh 501 frames had shit dropouts that easily snap, but if its built well it will be a good dependable frame.

Not forgetting Columbus and Ateliers de la Rive (Vitus), both more or less contemporaries of Reynolds.

I had a 80's racing bmx that was Japanese, think it was Sanko double butted cr-mo.

There is also Tange.

But the classiest British frames used 531 in the 60s/70s? Were the other grades available back then?

ftfy

Italians frame builders used Columbus, French makers used Vitus. Reynolds had just the one alloy back in the olden days, although they did offer it in plain guage as well as butted, and latterly in several variants aimed at specific markets such as 531Pro and 531ST. After almost half a century of little change, they had a rush of blood to the head in the 80s with the launch of 753, basically the same manganese molybdenum alloy as 531 but with additional heat treatment, and 501, a chrome molybdenum alloy much like the ever popular 4130, followed by 853 and the ensuing plethora of variants to provide a wide range of qualities to diffuse the brand into different market segments.

Sanko double butted cr-mo.

There is also Tange.

Not sure how long their histories are, Columbus and Vitus both go back to pre-war. In the meantime, others such as True Temper and Dedacciai also offer steel tubes for bicycles. I've had frames made with Reynolds (531, 753, and in the family we've had 501 and 653 too), Ishiwata, Tange and Sanko, and the truth of the matter is that the frame builder has much more influence over the end result than the tube maker does.

+1. Just remember who made the frame and how has a lot of bearing. A double butted 501 frame can be lighter than a 531 frame.

Ah so 501 came after 531. you're right I was only thinking of British frames as that's what I have in the hallway.

another point though well presented is these days double butte cromo is already a good thing to see.

of course what is done with the tubes is more important than they material itself.

got me bike hooks installed and working at work... just need to add a 4th mount for the new brompton

I have a row of bike hooks in the work room. Pretty close together so that I need to alternate, such that the bars dont clash. I feel like a child in a sweetshop, each time I'm picking oine to take out.
I plan on building a small bikeshed based on a flatpack outhouse, where I can hang them.

Its arrived.

Nice, BMC's have such an 'intentional' look, cant wait for locals customs (b*#tards) to release mine.

Ah so 501 came after 531. you're right I was only thinking of British frames as that's what I have in the hallway.
another point though well presented is these days double butte cromo is already a good thing to see.
of course what is done with the tubes is more important than they material itself.

Plenty of great 501 frames out there. I used to commute on one which felt somehow lighter than the alu frame I commute on now.

Reynolds 501;

Ed
Looks the same in 531

Don't waste your time trying to identify the frame, because it ain't a Colnago.

It's a small step away from being a Pinarello though!

Ed
Looks the same in 531

The one I show was advertised as 501, and have you lost a bolt on your right hand brake levers?

@Kingcutter - Is that definitely 531, the sticker looks like a purple 6 which would be 653 right?

The sticker is purpose and it does look like a 653, kingcutter?

Indeed 653 sticker but I think put on after a respray it may well have been a 653 but I doubt it I was looking at the Holdsworth history did not do a lot of 653