M-Power
Old School Grand Master
Re:
^^^ Good intel. Nothing nicer than riding a light well made steel frame with that characteristic lively ride. As has been said, many of these classic retro steel bikes eg Yo Eddys will typically have seat tube rust issues IF they were not protected internally with Frame Saver, dried out after every wet ride etc. Even atmospheric moisture will eat the wafer thin steel over 20+ yrs. The 10th Anniversary model had a recommended weight limit of 190lbs iirc and quite a few are dented due to thin tubing. Some of the early super light steel race bikes were considered 'one season' bikes.
Im a big fan of Tange Prestige. Its more trad diameter gauge, not the lightest but the ride is lovely and comfy. A decent spec build comes out at around 24lbs. Considered light for the late 80s but its pretty much bomb proof after all these years. Thinner walls, larger diameter tubes give you the stiffness, energy efficiency and light weight but the trade off is fragility.
Nobody was too obsessed about bike weight back then until the Klein Attitude arrived on the scene in 1990. That set all the hares coursing and started the weight weenie obsession
^^^ Good intel. Nothing nicer than riding a light well made steel frame with that characteristic lively ride. As has been said, many of these classic retro steel bikes eg Yo Eddys will typically have seat tube rust issues IF they were not protected internally with Frame Saver, dried out after every wet ride etc. Even atmospheric moisture will eat the wafer thin steel over 20+ yrs. The 10th Anniversary model had a recommended weight limit of 190lbs iirc and quite a few are dented due to thin tubing. Some of the early super light steel race bikes were considered 'one season' bikes.
Im a big fan of Tange Prestige. Its more trad diameter gauge, not the lightest but the ride is lovely and comfy. A decent spec build comes out at around 24lbs. Considered light for the late 80s but its pretty much bomb proof after all these years. Thinner walls, larger diameter tubes give you the stiffness, energy efficiency and light weight but the trade off is fragility.
Nobody was too obsessed about bike weight back then until the Klein Attitude arrived on the scene in 1990. That set all the hares coursing and started the weight weenie obsession
