Moots News 02/26/03
Reynolds 6/4 tubing benefits
The catalogue/website points out many of the benefits offered by this material, but I wanted to expand on this and give you some of the facts and figures provided to us by Reynolds. These tests were conducted by The Institute of Metallurgy and Materials University of Birmingham and The Welding Institute, Cambridge, England. Reynolds is a bicycle tubing company in Birmingham England that has been producing butted bicycle tubing since 1897.
The following are comparisons made using the same diameters and gauges. Here are the numbers.
Strength: The 6/4 tubing is 15-18% stronger than 3/2.5
Stiffness: The 6/4 tubing is 7-8% stiffer than 3/2.5
Density: The 6/4 tubing is 1.5% less dense
Here are the benefits.
Strength: The greater strength means we can build a frame lighter than a 3/2.5 frame that will have the same fatigue life. This follows our design philosophy perfectly. Moots products are built to last.
Stiffness: The increased stiffness means we have been able to build a frame that is lighter and that has the same ride characteristics as a heavier 3/2.5 frame. With the butted 6/4 tubes we can build a frame that may weigh the same as a 3/2.5 butted frame yet it will be stiffer by up to 8%. Again our goal was to build a frame that rides very much like our existing line of bikes; solid, comfortable and built to last.
Density: Although the number is really insignificant, the fact that the 6/4 tubing is less dense at all yet has the above positive attributes is really remarkable.
These tubes are available to us in 3 diameters and 4 gauges for use in the main frames. Because of Reynolds long history of making some of the finest butted tubes in the world, the proportions of butt sections, diameters and gauges are perfect for dialing the ride of a frame for most every rider. We use 3/2.5 tubing for the rear triangle because we use tubing in 3 gauges for the chainstays and 3 gauges for the seatstays. With the above selection of tubing we are able to tune each frame just the way you want it. There are enough of these frames out there under enough different people that we know we have a winner. The ride is what you expect, stiff, light and comfortable. The Vamoots has always been all of these things. With the 6/4 butted tubes we have taken it one step further.
... seufz ... !
