REYNOLDS 531.
531 is an alloy of manganese molybdenum added to steel which makes it stronger so less material is required to give the material its strength.
531 was first developed in the 1930's for the aircraft industry but soon found its way to other uses like racing cars and of course, bicycles.
531 used to be available in standard 531, competition 531C, touring 531ST and mountain biking 531MTB forms. 531C was later rebadged to be 653 and is basically a thinned out and lightened version of 531, and was used for racing bikes and time trialling bikes. It had a rider weight limit of 16 stone. It was recommended that heavier riders bought standard 531 rather then 531C.
531 is still made today but only available in one tube width and in standard form, so todays frames only have 531 for the mainframe (Main triangle) part of the frame, while some older 531 bikes could be full 531 throughout including the forks.
Reynolds also made or make various other forms of frame tubes. Here are a few from the past that I can recall.
453 Standard carbon steel.
500 Cromolly steel. (Alloy of steel and chromium and molybdenum).
501 As above but with extra heat treatment to further improve it.
531 Alloy of steel, manganese and molybdenum.
631 A modern reworked 531 so that it can be welded. 531 has to be brazed or silver soldered. 631 is meant to be similar to 531, but many cyclists have been less impressed.
653 Rebadged 531C.
753 I can't remember its specifics, but one to avoid as the steel has a shelf life of about a year or two. The steel should be ok to use afterwards, but its riding qualities will have no advantage over ordinary steel. Before its shelf life had expired, it was meant to be very lively to ride and was therefore used on racing bikes for tjose few who were racing (Usually sponsored). After the frame had aged, the bike felt "Dead". It is said to be not far off 531C. Bearing in mind 531C lasts just about as long as the rider if looked after, some bicycle manufacturers avoided selling 753 altogether as they had to warranty their frames.
What is 531 like to ride?
Well, to explain its special abilities I will give reference to a touring bike I own. 531 has a "Spring" effect to it. The best 531 frames are made in such a way as to exploit this spring effect. Ormally with bicycle frames one is trying to eliminate flex as flex works against efficiency. 531 flexes so it seems undesireable. (It is comfortable due to this flex, hence 531 became the number 1 choice for touring and sports touring bikes). Now something interesting happens in the way 531 flexes (If the frame buklder knows what he's doing). The bottom bracket area will flex to the left when one pedals with a downward effort on the right pedal and vice versa when one pushes down on the left pedal. When ordanary steel bicycles flex here, the flexing is inefficient in that it is energy absorbed by the frame rather then it going to drive the wheels. The frame then returns to its non flexed position. Now with 531 having a "Spring" effect, in that it returns quickly to its non flexed position, the return actually adds to the drive effect at the very end of the pedal stroke just where the dead spot is and therefore assists the riders efficiency... One loses some efficiency but then gets it back right at the dead point of the pedalling stroke. It is the only say I can describe the effect.
Now in a demonstration of this with one of my touring bikes, I had not long purchased the bike secondhand, and I had worked my way through giving it a thourough service. It is an Orbit Gold Medal (For those of you who want to know the make and model). Orbit was clever in that they made this bike with offset seat and chainstays so an undished rear wheel is used which further adds to the riding efficiency of the machine and adds strength to the wheel.
Now when I took this bike for a spin on a flat country road, I had forgotton about the sudden steep rize over the dissused railway crossing. I turned the corner and it was there, and I was not in anywhere near the right gear. As it had caught me by surprize, I had to put more pressure on the pedals in the hope that I could grind up the rize which is probably a 1 in 4 to gain about 6 to 8 ft in height. I was in one of the top gears and had slowed right down to take the 90 degree corner on a road which was only wide enough to take a single car.
The sudden pressure I exerted on the pedals was instantly rewarded with a noticable return of the sprining effect and I was up and over almost as if it was effortless. I was very impressed. I had almost forgotton what 531 was like after spending a while riding my Merida framed Carrera Crossfire 3000 (A hybrid) which has a light but stiff aluminium frame. Don't get me wrong, the Crossfire is qiute lively but it is stiff. It has to be stiff. Give aluminium the chance to flex and it won't last long!.
So I hope I was able to describe what 531 bicycles are like to ride.
Pashley bicycles are not cheap here in Britain either. But they're good.
We can get those Indian bikes here, but when we had a customer order one, I had to refuse to sign the PDI form, as it only had one brake (A coaster rear brake with no front brake) and neither did it have reflectors on the front, tje wheels or the pedals. Only a red rear reflector on the mudguard. The UK law says we have to have these and two working rakes before we are allowed to sell them. (After sold the reflectors can be taken off (Only the red rear one is needed if cycling at night but lights have to be fitted) to be legal even on a cycle path, two working brakes are needed The bike came from an order taken on our companys website and came direct from India. I did explain to the sales staff who explained to the customer. Was only a front caliper brake and a brake lever and cables, along with eeflectors needed, but the customer disn't buy it. It sat there for a couple of years in the shop after I left. I think they did sell it eventually... Probably by a new sales staff who was unaware of the law? Who knows!
05 Aug 2019, 11:11 am
