FrejusFlyer

Just saw this expired eBay listing for a mid 60's top of the line Frejus with Columbus tubing (SL?!).
https://www.ebay.com/itm/FREJUS-PROF...oAAOSw0Ztf1fnY

I've seen brochures from this time period that talk about how their top level bikes are made in their special racing division but they always mentioned Reynolds tubing. I've never seen a Frejus from this time period with Columbus. And I believe the SL tubing wasn't introduced until the 70's, correct? Anybody know what the pecking order between the two was at this time? Was Columbus tubing considered better or lighter?

Pcampeau

I’m no expert at all, but as far as I know Columbus SL tubing is from the late 70s onward. Frejus is also a brand that is difficult to pin an exact frame production year on so who knows if 1965 is correct. Beautiful repaint on this lovely frame!

iab

The 1970 Frejus catalog only lists Reynolds 531, no Columbus. Frejus was made by Bozzi in Milano, same place where they made Legnano, in 1965. Legnano used Falck tubing in 1965 and did not offer Columbus and Reynolds tubing until 1967.

So does the Frejus in question actually have Columbus tubing and not just a sticker the restorer put on the frame? I plain just don't know. Sorry.

bikingshearer 

Columbus tubing of the 1960s is SL or. depending on the thickness, SP. They didn't differentiate between SL (thinner walls) and SP (thicker walls) on the stickers until later, but the tubes were the made from the same steel and in the same thicknesses. For that matter, SLX and SPX were also made from the same steel and in the same thicknesses - Columbus added the spiral splines to SL and SP for rigidity at the cost of a little extra weight.

Wildwood 

That headset on the 'sold listing' just looks wrong. Surely, that will be righted.

Sorry no help on tubing, my Frejus is a low level frameset. But paint + decals in decent shape for its' vintage humbleness.

orcas island 

I owned a 1965-ish Frejus Super Corsa that came with a Columbus tubing decal on the original paint frame. The groups thought was that some of their higher end frames were offered in a choice of either 531 or Columbus tubing at that time.
Sorry I don’t have a close up photo of that decal, but you can see it low on the seat tube (just above the front derailleur) if you enlarge this a bit...




Fixed it

FrejusFlyer

Thanks for the photos! So they were using Columbus tubing in the 60’s.

Markeologist

My general understanding (and go by when hunting bikes) was that the all red bird with tubing "GARANTITI" was how you could quickly ID Columbus tubing from 60s.

T-Mar

As noted, Columbus didn't make the distinction between SL and SP on their decals until 1978. Prior to that, the decals and bicycle spec sheets didn't distinguish between these two tubests (and the two track tubesets). On a production frame, you simply got Columbus road tubing, with lighter gauge SL being used on the smaller road frames. Most manufacturers transitioned to heavier gauge SP around 58cm on the assumption that these taller riders would benefit from SP's heavier gauge due to their extra weight and strength.

Frejus was acquired by Bozzi (Legano) circa 1946. According to our resident Legnano expert, Condorino, in 1966 Bozzi offered the Legnano Roma in a Columbus or Reynolds option. Chronologically, this is very close to the subject bicycle and if Bozzi was offering Columbus on high end Legnano, it's not unreasonable to do the same with Frejus.

As for the popularity of Reynolds versus Columbus, I know that the boom era, English language, cycling magazines favoured Reynolds and the cycling public bought into their view. Post boom there was a high end shift away from from the full range bicycle brands, which generally used Reynolds tubing, to smaller brands, often Italian. with Columbus tubing.

FrejusFlyer

Interesting! Thanks very much for the information!

Duke7777

I used to have a 1962 Frejus track bike, in very original condition, that had French Reynolds decals on the frame and fork. I had my doubts about this. One day I was going over the frame and noticed a Columbus stamp on the down tube.

More photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/577760...h/19009625359/

FrejusFlyer

Wow, so at some point at least, they were marking Columbus tubes with Reynolds stickers!

Wildwood 

Assumes all the stickers are original.

Also, a quick story -
Was at a vintage bike show a few years back. Talking with 1st owner who was displaying a "100% original" 70s track bike he had raced for 2 years. Even had a board with racing pics and detailed description.. I said, "You must have raced carefully to not even have a scratch". He laughed and replied, "No, even a stay was replaced when I retired it and had the frameset restored." So (in this case) 35+ years from the repaint/tube replace, "original" had a different meaning to the original owner. Every good story likely has a better back story. That's the sleuth oft solved here.

juvela

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tubing side note for prodotti Bozzi -

Emilio & Co also built with Libellula (dragonfly) tube sets

owned a Frejus pista frameset from ~1971 in the familiar Frejus colour scheme of silver with dark red panels

it was eleven tube Libellula

one could see the dragonfly markings on its all chrome blades and on other tubes as well

do not know what years or applications it was employed by the manufacturer

have a sample size of one






no doubt, member Condorino would be able to enlighten on the subject of tube sets employed by cicli Bozzi...

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Duke7777

I would assume the Reynolds decals are not original. Other than that the bike seems very original.