Mercian Cycles to close

[Jameshow]

https://forum.cyclinguk.org/viewtopic.php?t=8305&sid=b316ee7147860931fc708518e928d584&start=15

631 is basically Tig weldable 531.

It's good stuff but not the best!

853 / 953 will make a lighter bike with thinner walls but more susceptible to denting.

The tubes are only the start you then have lugs / brazing filling, priming painting etc.
It's not as simple as you make out. Even though you can make a frame in 2 weeks the knowledge needed from the frame builder is what counts!

It's like buying a t shirt from Primark or next the material is still cotton but the design makes the difference on top of the name!!

 

[IanSmithCSE]

Good evening,

It's not as simple as you make out. Even though you can make a frame in 2 weeks the knowledge needed from the frame builder is what counts!........

This is where we disagree, it's a bike frame and it really is a trivial issue solved ages ago.

https://despair.com/products/consul...XYlsOiybQFt8LHWTd8senwWO5Ca4_GGUK1F2EIcnT4nHP

Bye

Ian

 

[Fredo76]

A week's wages for a hand-made bicycle frame is a square deal, IMO.

 

[IanSmithCSE]

Good evening,

A week's wages for a hand-made bicycle frame is a square deal, IMO.

Not many of us are on £124k a year according to the ONS, £2,400 would be a month's wages.

Bye

Ian

 

[Jameshow]

Good evening,


Not many of us are on £124k a year according to the ONS, £2,400 would be a month's wages.

View attachment 773676

Bye

Ian

Thats the total cost of the frame the wages might account for a 1/3?

This £40k isn't a really great pay for a business owner and skilled craftsman.

 

[IanSmithCSE]

Good morning,

Don’t forget that VAT at £400 is probably a greater proportion of the final cost than the tube set.🤣

When Bob Jackson closed down, their frame prices were around the £600-£700 including VAT for a 631 frame.

Although this wasn't enough to be profitable it is indicative of the ball park. There were also numerous web posts about paint quality.

Spa Cyles offer a 725 frame with generic CroMo forks at sub £600.

The point that I was trying to get across is that I get why the price is what it is but at the end of the day a 631 frame is still a cheapish steel frame which is a mass produceable item.

If you can get past the marketing, generic 4130 CroMo is very similar to 531/631.

When Reynolds introduced 501 they marketed it as a manganese CroMo, 4130 is also a manganese/chrome/molybdenum alloy.

A few years back I was looking at suppliers of manganese molybdenum tubing in around 531 ratios, one was quoting 0-1.5% and another 0-2% chromium.

Once you get past the material I get the idea that it is hand built by a specialist, but the all the Raleigh 531 Royals and Team Replicas were hand built.

Ah but think of the knowledge of the builder, yup they’re getting the same manual off the shelf that Raleigh did, it’s a racer so we want ….., it’s a tourer so …. would be better.

I am now off to wind up my Tudor Black Shield and go for a ride on my 753 40th Anniversary Raleigh frame.

I know that the Tudor has a Valjoux 7753 movement and a Planet X branded CrMo frame weighs the same as the Raleigh 753 frame!

Bye

Ian