Seat Post Sizes/Frame Material?

meagain

I'm guessing that a frame that takes a 25.4mm/1" post is NOT 531 or equivalent? The latter seems to be at or about 27-27.2, post-'50s anyway?

Any info/links gratefully received.

Thanks.

Dickie

My Lenton was 1" and that was 531. So not always so. What are you looking at Dave?

SamWise72

I think it depends WHICH 531 - there were different amounts of butting etc. I forget all the details, but 27.2 is for the thinnest/lightest. Older bikes will often be thinner seatposts. Same alloy, but wall thickness and butting makes a lot of difference to weight.

meagain

Thanks guys. Watching a Carlton on th'bay. It's local and looks quite nice. Post size is only clue to quality. But I think it's going to go to more than I'm prepared to pay, even tho' I'm after a 27" wheeler.

SamWise72

This one?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Carlton-cycle-bic ... dZViewItem

Campagnolo dropouts would normally connote a good frame - I'd be astonished if it's not 531, but it's probably straight gauge, as per the Raleigh Lenton. The Classic Rendezvous email list would be able to help you, as would the Raleigh/Carlton experts on Bikeforums Classic and Vintage section.

meagain

Yup, that's the one. Decided I don't want to get into a battle with only one other bidder and one who's prepared to travel such a long way to collect it! Call me suspicious if you like but smacks slightly of windmilling. The other bidder didn't try for much nicer Carlton also nearby a couple of weeks ago.
Frame No suggests it's a 1980 model.
There's always something similar along eventually...

SamWise72

Doesn't look 1980 to me, but I suppose it could be. I've had a Carlton from around then, and it looked a lot more modern than that. It looks more like a late 60's one I had, but it's a bit tricky to tell for sure - the photography aint helping:

meagain

Oh well. took a flyer - down to me at 92 quid. Bargain or shed or just OK? Find out tomorrow I guess!

stevechambers34

it's strange and you can never really guess you need to measure everything...for example I have a Carlton Corsair GT from 1979, it is built according to the Reynolds transfer that WAS on it before I repainted it from Reynolds 531 butted tubes forks and stays but the rear dropouts are pressed items as are the front , not Campagnolo or Gipiemme not even Suntour and yes the seat post according to my digital vernier is 27.2mm ,there was a similar one sold recently with comments on this? forum.You can also listen to the ring made by tapping the tubes ,but you need to have a good ear and a known frame to compare it to.
I believe Reynolds plain gauge used 26.4mm seat post but COULD be wrong.

SamWise72

You definitely get good frames with crappy dropouts, but not normally crappy frames with good dropouts. That said, it could certainly still turn out that we're wrong.

meagain

Well....the post is undersized, the seat tube being 27 dead internal by my reckoning! Reynolds sticker badly worn but 95% certain "531Fork Blades and Stays & Butted Frame Tubes". It's a Ti (Tube Investments) one and I can't recall when they bought out Reynolds. Fr No certainly starts with WE, which according to main web resource makes it post-73 and probably 1980. Has a standard integrated rear mech hanger so '70s-'80s sounds right.
She's a tired and care worn old thing (bit like the new owner really!), but all there and all works (ditto - nearly!). Shimano L/F hubs. Nice clamp on pump and bottle cage clamps. Surface rust but tubes "ping" nicely.
Belonged to seller's uncle who worked in a bike shop: it's an every day bike. The VCC would probably love it just as it is: I shall just clean and polish (it's VERY dirty) and tinker a little and will do nicely for wet CTC jaunts!
Thanks for all comments and knowledge.
And yes I could have gone down the local Hawk Cycles outlet and bought a brand new (and in some ways better) cycle for same money, but just wouldn't be the same.

SamWise72

You couldn't get anything comparable in quality for £92, and certainly nothing close in character.

meagain

And...the fork steerer is stamped "Reynolds 531 Butted" so the sticker doesn't lie - and indeed is if anything understated! All coming apart easily enough, so ain't been too mistreated.

meagain

The clearances are quite close. I was going to fit 610 Weinmann C/Ps: usually OK for 27" wheel framesets, but too long. Seat cluster lug stamped 73, which I assume is the angle.

SamWise72

If it's from 1980, it could well have had 700c's, which would mean that 27 will run up big, plus the clearances on a 1980 road/race bike will normally be tighter than on an older bike with 27's anyway. I put 27's on my similar vintage Gazelle Trim Trophy (simply cos I had them, and the old rim cracked), and clearances, whilst tight, were fine, but long reach brakes were DEFINITELY not needed!

meagain

SamWise72 wrote:

If it's from 1980, it could well have had 700c's, which would mean that 27 will run up big, plus the clearances on a 1980 road/race bike will normally be tighter than on an older bike with 27's anyway. I put 27's on my similar vintage Gazelle Trim Trophy (simply cos I had them, and the old rim cracked), and clearances, whilst tight, were fine, but long reach brakes were DEFINITELY not needed!

Good point - normally I'd be surprised if anyone changed TO 27s, but if the guy worked in a cycle shop then possibly a case of whatever to hand and cheap! The frameset is very nearly identical to the early '80s Raleigh Clubman which is my fixed. But then it would be - near enough simple badge engineering by then I guess.

I paid over the odds in my book, but not by more than about a twenty, so I can live with that! Carry on cleaning etc today....

meagain

I was wrong. A 610 Weinmann with blocks at very top of the slots will work! Good! Old side pulls are useless IMO/E. C/Ps with V pads not at all bad.

SamWise72

I like centrepulls. I wouldn't go so far as to say useless on the old SP's, but they're for sure not as good as a set of new dual pivots. Even the bottom scraping RX100 caliper I put on the front of my Gazelle is notably better than the old Weinmann that came off.

gma

stevechambers34 wrote:

it's strange and you can never really guess you need to measure everything...for example I have a Carlton Corsair GT from 1979, it is built according to the Reynolds transfer that WAS on it before I repainted it from Reynolds 531 butted tubes forks and stays

I've got a 1979 Corsair, with a 531 sticker on it. Doesn't have 531 stays/forks, just single butted main tubes. Maybe that's what you get extra with the GT.

stevechambers34 wrote:

there was a similar one sold recently with comments on this? forum.

That's my one. It's got a 26.8mm seat tube according to my el-cheapo vernier. Have bought it a new one but not fitted it yet...