mtb-timeline

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Tubing

Before the the coming of carbon in 1990, all mountain bikes started their life as a box of metal tubes. Before Cannondale and Klein made aluminum commonplace in 1984, 99% of all MTBs were built from steel tubing¹⁾ from dozens of suppliers, from gas pipe to Reynolds. MTBs with a quality steel sticker were a cut above the rest, and probably a lot lighter as well. How important are these stickers, other than in dating the bike? A full materials science primer will follow, but for now, consider two bicycles:

A 2024 Huffy Classic Deluxe, complete with fenders, basket, rack and a chain guard. Single speed.
- Weight: 47 → 52 pounds.
- Cost new today: $219.99.
A 1938 René Herse touring bike, complete with fenders, bottle cage, pump, racks front and back, light and bell. 10 speeds.
- Weight: 17.50 pounds.
- Cost new (reproduction) today: $14,200. ²⁾

Have bicycles regressed? Is the metal in the Huffy that much denser? Solid iron, maybe? Did the Unobtanium tubing used in the René Herse make it weaker than the Huffy?

Strong, Light, Cheap… Pick Two. Keith Bontrager

The René Herse was made of Reynolds 531 tubing, which debuted three years before, reducing some frame weights by nearly 50%. Double butting, tempering and careful blending of alloys can produce tubing which is 10x stronger then mild steel, allowing for Reynolds 531 frames to weigh 3.75 pounds, where some of the original MTB klunkers had frames over 20 pounds.

Any of the tubing manufacturers documented here make excellent tubing and any MTB with their decals is a cut above the heavy and weak gas-pipe bikes sold in certain department stores. So, is the best tubing simply what is strong and light? Well, yes…

Gary Fisher's converted 1942 Schwinn Excelsior still holds the Repack course record for a rigid bike. Weight: approximately 50 pounds. More info at: Charlie Kelley's website.

1947 René Herse, built with Reynolds 531 tubing. Since Reynolds 531 debuted in 1935, road bikes could often achieve weights under 18 pounds and remain reliable. The drillium saddle probably helped.

Overall resources:

Bundles of Ritchey Logic tubing waiting to be mitered and TIG welded. ritcheyloggic

Reynolds tube sampler reynoldstechnology

Columbus tubing on fresh fresh frames at Mason Cycles. base-mag

¹⁾

Other early Al frames include: Cunningham, 1978 -> 1993, Speed & Research, 1982, Crotch Rocket, 1983, …

²⁾

Comes with an optional reproduction Nivex derailleur.