Steel tube types used in Bikes

Runoutofgears

I’m looking for a steel framed road bike and after a quick review of the limited new bike market (majority seem to be high end and too costly for me), I’ve taken to browsing the likes of ebay and gumtree.

I’ve noticed that there are a number of types of steel used in bike frame manufacture and although I’ve heard of Reynolds 531 and Columbus and whilst both seem to be popular, there are others which I don’t recognise. My problem is that I don’t really understand if these others are “better” or “inferior” types or whether they are worth looking out for?

I’m not sure if it would be correct to try to put them in order of quality, cost, strength to weight ratio, or some other characteristic such as suitability for a particular application, but I was wondering if someone could help me here?

So the question is; can anyone list out the steel types generally in use in bikes, both old and new, and put them in order of “ greatness” so to speak ?

Cheers

TheScouser on an Italian

Hi to Runoutofgears & any others of you with the same dilema.Go to Google,put in Reynolds Cycle Tubing and you will have most if not all of the info' you need,all of course except for the experience of the individual.Try asking a few of your cycling buddies for a spin on their steeds,in most cases the effects of the road through the bike are instant.There are some products that if not repaired correctly(when the need arises) can end up with failures and weakend structures.Asking someone else to order/catagorise them for you is a risky business(in this day & age of suing the a*s* of anyone that can be deemed as,guilty of giving any unsound advice.There is a wealth of easily digestable info' on many different tubing products through Google.Good old 531(& in particular double butted) & Columbus tubing are tried,tested & proven.The only thing you might need is a slightly deeper pocket.With modern gear built onto a quality steel frame weight is not a real problem,unless of course the rider is a major factor themselves.Comfort and reliability are major factors for choosing steel,age of the rider and the s*it state of some of our roads needs to be factored in if you don't want your bones rattled apart on your rides out.The geometry of the frame and several other aspects need to also be considered.After you have got over the headache of all of this; relax in the knowledge that only you can fall out with you for your decision.You will still have your friends to fall back on.