I saw this Reynolds 531 bike parked in Oxford and just seeing the old Reynolds 531 label brought back memories of when I started cycling and it seemed to be the choice of over 50-60% of cyclists.
When I started riding over 15 years ago. Buying a bike was straight forward. You chose a combination of Reynolds Steel Frames with a Campag or Shimano groupset. The models ranged from a heavy and sturdy Reynolds 501, to a Reynolds 531, then a Reynolds 531c and for the top racers a 631 and 731. I remember spending hours pouring through the back pages of cycling weekly looking at the different combinations of bike frames and groupsets.
On early club runs, we would meet at Otley market and there would be a good selection of Reynolds frames. I think most of the club members seemed to have a 531. (with mudguard holes of course – It was a cardinal sin to turn up on a club run in winter without mudguards and meant being dispatched to the back of the group)
My first bike was a Reynolds 501. I rode it for many years and I still have the steel frame rusting away in my garden somewhere. For many years it was my only bike. From doing my paperound, to those long club rides of riding upto 150 miles in a day – I even did my first 10 mile TT and first hill climb on that heavy steel frame. It was probably the best value material thing I ever owned. £250 – but hours and years of pleasure. These days I make use of more modern frames and am spoilt for choice with winter bikes, summer bikes, training bikes, time trial bikes e.t.c.
The Reynolds alloy steel frames were great value. Strong and sturdy, they could rust easily, but if you looked after them they could last for ever.
Reynolds 531 frames were introduced in 1937, so its testament to how good they were that they stayed in production for so long.
It also shows how slow bike frame technology was until the last two decades which have seen innumerable developments.
Nowadays the market for bike frames is increasingly dominated by Carbon Fibre at the top end and Aluminium at the bottom end. You can still buy a Reynolds 531 but it has to be by special order. Apparantely Reynolds 531 has become a term to imply ‘awesome’ or ‘cool’.
Every now and then you hear of groups of cyclists who like to still ride steel frames. A steel frame does have certain good properties – light and stiff but a more comfortable ride than aluminimum – more sense of give’. The best quality steel frames are often they are a lot lighter than people expect.
One reason steel frames have gone out of fashion is that steel is thiner than alumimium so it is much easier for robots to deal with aluminium than steel. And it is the mass production of aluminium frames which means they are always going to be cheaper than hand made steel.
My time trial bike frame is steel (A Steve Goff) custom order, but, I feel I ought to get a carbon fibre frame. The problem is most carbon fibre frames are actually heavier than this steel alloy Columbus frame that I use.
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I’ve been pretty lucky with my first road bike , I mean a lot of people would not really expect a thirteen year old to be bike bonkers let alone be one one of those lycra wearing people who are SO annoying always weaving through the traffic and getting to the lights first.
and I’ve discovered road bikes (which was a relief after about 9 years of chunky tyres low gears and flat handlebars) All thanks to my high geared old Reynolds 501.
anyway my first road bike is a Raynolds 501 , I know what you mean about it been heavy by modern standards it is, but I really love it I’ve done my longest ride I’ve ever (last saturday it was only about 50 miles to most people on this blog thats peanuts but you know
Emily
I love the look of the narrow tubes on steel frames. My first road bike was a Dawes milk race with Reynolds 500 tubes.
I think another reason bike manufacturers have gone for bigger alloy tubes is because they can put a huge logo sticker on the frame and you can read it from a mile away…