Reynolds 531 Speedstream

does anybody know anything about this tubing? ever owned/ridden a frame made of it?

from an 80's reynolds brochure:

Reynolds 531 SL Speedstream
A completely new oval aerodynamic set
with improved weight characteristics (40% lighter
than the previous set) with increased efficiency
over teardrop profiles. Designed for lugless
construction for the competitor who demands the
very latest in frame tube design and technology.
Designed for track and time trials.
Set weight: 2100 grms (4.6lbs).

i'm mostly interested in its strength and stiffness, and how it would perform on london's roads being ridden pretty vigorously.

thanks for any help.

4.6lbs is a heavy tubeset compared to steel available today.
it will be superseded by any new tubeset apart from possibly 520/525 as far as strength and durability.
wall thickness and O/D will determine how the bike rides not the material differences of the steel.
what does riding "pretty vigourously" mean? jumping down stair sets? the tour riders climbing and sprinting will ride far more "vigourously" than anyone plodding round london.

cheers for the info.

i may have used the wrong word, and no i don't mean jumping down stairs or tricks.
i just mean fairly aggressive cycling, for example really mashing it when i'm in a hurry and over curbs/pot holes. oh and the fact i'm about 14/15 stone.

what i'm referring to as "aggressive" probably just seems it to me because of my size and the fact this is a low-pro made with aero tubing.

edit: anyway with regards to weight, isn't regular 531 4.5 lbs? thats never seemed heavy to me. (obviously compared to more modern steel tubesets it won't be the lightest thing around)

so it's an 80's low profile frame for track/time trialling?

have you already obtained it, or is it something you're thinking about buying?

sounds like a piece of history, and probably well made and interesting, but how much practical use compared to current frames you will get is debatable

i have just obtained it, its an eddy merckx track pursuit from i assume the mid 80's.

it does seem very well made, here's a picture:
http://static.londonfgss.com/attachments/11084d1244808788-img01.jpg

the picture doesn't do it much justice, the white is more pearl and the the frame feels solid. the shape of the tubing is lovely.

i'm not exactly going to abuse the thing, i'm just curious as to whether it will like a 15st, 6'5" man riding it on london's roads.

does anybody know anything about this tubing? ever owned/ridden a frame made of it?

When Reynolds started offering this set, "Lo Pro" was not invented yet.
The days of Dura Ace AX and 600 AX.
It was used on "normal" diamond frames.
Gazelle did some frames with these tubes.
Maybe Hinault' first Gitane time trail frames as well.

I can imagine that some of the first lo pro frames have been made with these tubes, although also in those days, the frames with Speedstream tubes were already known for their flexiness.

i just hope it doesn't come to the same sticky end as mike's low-pro did;

http://www.londonfgss.com/thread20485.html

I used to ride a Speedstream Mercian mid-80s. Stored away now, but I do recall it being flexier than other steel frames. Probably not what you would describe as bomb proof, and I am only 10.5 stone. I used to use it for dual carriageway TTs.

thanks alot for the info and photo!

I read somewhere this tubeset gets you chicks...

fucking rad.

Yep! I have a frame built made to measure and made from 531 speedstream tubing. Its hard to find and didn't seem to be readily available in 1985/86.
To be honest i didn't see the difference in performance! I still have the bike if you want to take a look/ride.
I used to use it for 25 mile tt's and 10's!

JD, i'd love to. i seem to recall seeing you at west's the other week?

Yes i was there. The bike is hung up in my warehouse after being retrieved from my parents loft and was built by Rick Powell who used to build for Raleigh Ti and now works at Universal Cycles in Maltby aka Dave Marsh

sounds very interesting, i look forward to seeing it. although riding it won't be an option i'm afraid - as i recall i'm about 10 times your size.

but i could try my best ;)

ride it to westies when you're next down if possible.

Its a 53.4cm seat tube with a 54cm top tube.Im still regreasing it after 20 plus years in storage. I just need to regrease the BB and and change the shifters from friction ones as they are a pain in the ass! Then i will be out on it.

just a tad too small :)

as i said i do truly look forward to seeing it, sounds really nice.

i have just obtained it, its an eddy merckx track pursuit from i assume the mid 80's.

it does seem very well made, here's a picture:
http://static.londonfgss.com/attachments/11084d1244808788-img01.jpg

the picture doesn't do it much justice, the white is more pearl and the the frame feels solid. the shape of the tubing is lovely.

i'm not exactly going to abuse the thing, i'm just curious as to whether it will like a 15st, 6'5" man riding it on london's roads.

I have a nice Assos saddle that would look great on that bike!

have you got a picture?

Yes i was there. The bike is hung up in my warehouse after being retrieved from my parents loft and was built by Rick Powell who used to build for Raleigh Ti and now works at Universal Cycles in Maltby aka Dave Marsh

AHA!!
sorry to be off topic but i have a raleigh ti track with rick powell stickers,
i assumed that rick powell was the name of a re-sprayer, you have solved my mystery!!
THANKYOU!

I own a Gazelle with this kind of tubing, Its very nice with full Campa SR and cobalty callipers.
It's not very stiff indeed but it looks fantastic!!!!!