525 Steel

BigLights

Hello
Does anyone know/have any experience with a Reynolds 525 Steel frame? What are they like? I'm trying to decide whether to get the Ribble 7005 Audax (Alu) or take a punt on this new Ribble REynolds 525 which they say will be 'nice', whatever that means. It's for commuting and to just go on slightly longer range after work cruises on the way home.

Barteos

As one frame builder said grade of steel on its own makes no difference to how the bike rides only how light/heavy it is.
On average though most of steel frames will be comfier than alu ones.

ugo.santalucia

Take a punt... I know I would

random man

I've got a Revolution Country Explorer touring bike made of Reynolds 525 and it does give a very comfortable ride over long distances but is relatively heavy, but comfort is more important when touring, and I'm very happy with the frame.

drlodge

525 is the replacement for 531, so should give a similar ride. More comfy than Aluminium I reckon, should be excellent value with the recommended carbon forks.

keef66

Go on, buy one. Then you can tell us what it's like.

Heavier than Alu but a more forgiving ride I would expect. I think I'd choose a steel frame if I had to replace my bike right now

BigLights

well, I would take a punt but I need to wait until it's in Bikebuilder on the website....I'm cranking it on B2W as it does save me a little bit. I'm getting impatient because my current commuter (Sirrus hybrid effort) is really falling to bits and needs a lot of work to keep on the road. I don't want to use my carbon bike to cycle through London over the winter in the interim. aaarghh hurry up Ribble.

When I do try it I'll update you, fear not.

Monty Dog

525 is a chrome-moly whereas 531 is a chrome-manganese - to the rider it probably makes little difference. The quality of the ride will depend a lot on the size of the frame and the weight of a rider - if you want more comfort, wear decent shorts, fit fatter tyres and don't pump them up rock-hard!

Headhuunter

Monty Dog wrote:

525 is a chrome-moly whereas 531 is a chrome-manganese - to the rider it probably makes little difference. The quality of the ride will depend a lot on the size of the frame and the weight of a rider - if you want more comfort, wear decent shorts, fit fatter tyres and don't pump them up rock-hard!

I think the numbers Reynolds use refer to the ratios of different elements like manganese, chrome-moly etc in the mix which make up the frame... Not sure what number refers to which though, you should look up the Reynolds website...

BigLights

I have done - it explains the frame, but i've not found any reviews of how they ride and all that. I'll wait another couple of weeks and see if there's any progress, if not I'll plump for the Audax effort which gets raved about. headhuunter you've got one don't you.

giant_man

i was looking at these, good price I know that much

priory

i recently bought a raleigh clubman in a box from ash cycles. tredz do a similar discount if you don't mind putting it together ( just wheels and handlebars and font mudguard) . It is 520 I think . The wickipedia page shows no difference between that and 525, so i suppose there might be some weight difference.
I am very pleased with it. It seems stronger and stiffer than any of my previous lighter frames , and stiffer than a larger 531 frame and forks that is 30yrs old . The stiffness means it handles well. i would say it is comforable, although i have always wondered why we obsess about the frame material in that regard when surely most cushioning and vibration absorption would be down to the forks and tyres if they are not race-hard(perhaps so even then).
The extra weight does not matter to me, and for the frame alone probably is much less than a kilo .