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frame + fork weight / material advice?

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Old 12-08-20, 11:42 PM
  #1  
cloudsofviolet
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frame + fork weight / material advice?

So I am looking to move beyond the world of hi-ten and get something lighter for light daily use. Just in advance, i am interested in something classic and vintage and step through (upright) for the purposes of this thread as I already have my eye on a modern bike as well, haha. I'm just curious about these bikes as there is not a lot of info about them

any who, frame and fork in question is 52 cm seat tube length and total weighs 8.26 pounds or 3.75 kilo according to seller. It is a vintage 50s peugeot frame, likely one of the tourisme leger ones pc 45 or pc 55. Actual tubing material I could not find much solid information, just "tubes extra leger", some advertised as tubes extra leger helium.

It appears some of the earlier models were rubis tubing but that had phased out by the time of the one i am looking at so possibly vitus tubing? Is that hi-ten? or likely not with the weight? any advice or info appreciated. no pics as the frame and fork has been entirely badly painted over.
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Old 12-09-20, 12:49 PM
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You will get better answers in the Classic & Vintage forum. Step through bikes are usually not premium but there are exceptions. Vitus is a brand, not a material, but extra leger helium sounds promising! French bikes usually need French-specific parts, and pre-1970s bikes are even more interesting.
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Old 12-10-20, 11:41 AM
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The bike builder takes into consideration the properties of the materials and uses thicknesses, diameters, etc as appropriate to achieve the goal. Most any kind of bike can be build with most any kind of material so your question is mostly misguided. Steel is intrinsically stiffer than aluminum but many aluminum frames are made with large diameter tubing making those frames stiffer than many steel frames, just as an example.

But with all of that said, steel is a pretty practical material for a frame since it can be bent, adjusted, and modified after purchase. It's also pretty durable. But generally it's heavy compared with the alternatives.
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Old 12-15-20, 12:42 PM
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I also suggest C&V forum for broader response. Also if you put your location (or close to it) many people will come up with local suggestions. A WTB (want to buy) in classic and vintage may come up with results (need a paid membership)

I agree with noglider steel is good material, but would argue that is is not always heavy.....and remember frame and fork are only part of the total bike weight
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Old 12-15-20, 02:46 PM
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Steel bikes can be light but that is one heavy frameset.
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Old 12-15-20, 03:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Darth Lefty
You will get better answers in the Classic & Vintage forum. Step through bikes are usually not premium but there are exceptions. Vitus is a brand, not a material, but extra leger helium sounds promising! French bikes usually need French-specific parts, and pre-1970s bikes are even more interesting.
Virus made frame tubes also
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