Reynolds Cycle Technology
Encyclopedia
Reynolds Cycle Technology is a manufacturer of tubing for bicycle frame
s and other bicycle components based in Birmingham
, England
established in 1898.
. In 1897, the company patent
ed the process for making butted tubes, which are thicker at the ends than in the middle, this allowed frame builders to create frames that were both strong and lightweight. Reynolds introduced the double-butted tube-set 531 in 1934.
The Patent Butted Tube Co., Ltd., the predecessor of the present company, was spun off from John Reynold's original company in 1898. In 1923 the Patent Butted Tube Co., Ltd changed its name to Reynolds Tube Co., Ltd. and retained this name up until 1928 when it was acquired by Tube Investments, Ltd and became TI Reynolds 531 Ltd.
In 1996 Coyote Sports Inc., a privately held company based in Boulder, Colorado
acquired TI Reynolds 531 Ltd. resulting in a name change to Reynolds Cycle Technology Ltd. In 2006 the company underwent another name change to Reynolds Technology Ltd., reflecting the increasing revenues from diversification into "new" sectors for tubing outside the cycle industry.
When Coyote Sports entered Chapter 11
reorganization, a management buy-out resulted in the company returning to its base in the UK.
, which has a high strength and can be made into strong, but lightweight tubes for bicycle frames. Before the introduction of more exotic materials such as aluminium
, titanium
or composites
, Reynolds was considered the dominant maker of high end materials for bicycle frames. According to the company, 27 winners of the Tour de France
have won riding on Reynolds tubing. The Raleigh Bicycle Company
of Nottingham
, England was a big customer for Reynolds 531
tubing used in their racing cycle range.
Reynolds 531 has now been largely replaced in new frames by still-better steels. The latest, for race or sports frames, is Reynolds 953. Reynolds worked closely with Carpenter Speciality Alloys
to develop 953. It started reaching frame builders in 2005. 953 is based on a specially developed maraging steel
stainless steel alloy that can achieve a tensile strength in excess of 2000 MPa (853 is around 1400 MPa), giving a good strength-to-weight ratio. Because of the high strength of the steel, extremely thin tube walls (down to 0.3 mm) can be used, thus reducing the weight.
division called Reynolds Composites was created to manufacture composite components.
Bicycle frame
A bicycle frame is the main component of a bicycle, on to which wheels and other components are fitted. The modern and most common frame design for an upright bicycle is based on the safety bicycle, and consists of two triangles, a main triangle and a paired rear triangle...
s and other bicycle components based in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
established in 1898.
History
The Reynolds Tube Company was founded in 1889 by John Reynolds in Birmingham, England, but traces its origins back to 1841 when John Reynolds set up a company manufacturing nailsNail (engineering)
In woodworking and construction, a nail is a pin-shaped, sharp object of hard metal or alloy used as a fastener. Formerly wrought iron, today's nails are typically made of steel, often dipped or coated to prevent corrosion in harsh conditions or improve adhesion...
. In 1897, the company patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
ed the process for making butted tubes, which are thicker at the ends than in the middle, this allowed frame builders to create frames that were both strong and lightweight. Reynolds introduced the double-butted tube-set 531 in 1934.
The Patent Butted Tube Co., Ltd., the predecessor of the present company, was spun off from John Reynold's original company in 1898. In 1923 the Patent Butted Tube Co., Ltd changed its name to Reynolds Tube Co., Ltd. and retained this name up until 1928 when it was acquired by Tube Investments, Ltd and became TI Reynolds 531 Ltd.
In 1996 Coyote Sports Inc., a privately held company based in Boulder, Colorado
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County and the 11th most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of...
acquired TI Reynolds 531 Ltd. resulting in a name change to Reynolds Cycle Technology Ltd. In 2006 the company underwent another name change to Reynolds Technology Ltd., reflecting the increasing revenues from diversification into "new" sectors for tubing outside the cycle industry.
When Coyote Sports entered Chapter 11
Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code
Chapter 11 is a chapter of the United States Bankruptcy Code, which permits reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. Chapter 11 bankruptcy is available to every business, whether organized as a corporation or sole proprietorship, and to individuals, although it is most...
reorganization, a management buy-out resulted in the company returning to its base in the UK.
Cycle tubing development
Reynolds has over the years developed a number of steel alloys, most notably Reynolds 531Reynolds 531
Reynolds 531 is a brand name, registered to Reynolds Cycle Technology of Birmingham in the United Kingdom, for a manganese-molybdenum, medium carbon steel bicycle tubing....
, which has a high strength and can be made into strong, but lightweight tubes for bicycle frames. Before the introduction of more exotic materials such as aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
, titanium
Titanium
Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. It has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant transition metal with a silver color....
or composites
Composite material
Composite materials, often shortened to composites or called composition materials, are engineered or naturally occurring materials made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties which remain separate and distinct at the macroscopic or...
, Reynolds was considered the dominant maker of high end materials for bicycle frames. According to the company, 27 winners of the Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
have won riding on Reynolds tubing. The Raleigh Bicycle Company
Raleigh Bicycle Company
The Raleigh Bicycle Company is a bicycle manufacturer originally based in Nottingham, UK. It is one of the oldest bicycle companies in the world. From 1921 to 1935 Raleigh also produced motorcycles and three-wheel cars, leading to the formation of the Reliant Company.-Early years:Raleigh's history...
of Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, England was a big customer for Reynolds 531
Reynolds 531
Reynolds 531 is a brand name, registered to Reynolds Cycle Technology of Birmingham in the United Kingdom, for a manganese-molybdenum, medium carbon steel bicycle tubing....
tubing used in their racing cycle range.
Reynolds 531 has now been largely replaced in new frames by still-better steels. The latest, for race or sports frames, is Reynolds 953. Reynolds worked closely with Carpenter Speciality Alloys
Carpenter Technology Corporation
Carpenter Technology Corporation is a globally recognized developer, manufacturer and distributor of cast wrought and powder metallurgy specialty alloys/metals including superalloys, ultra-high strength steels, and stainless steel, as well as titanium alloys in a range of product forms...
to develop 953. It started reaching frame builders in 2005. 953 is based on a specially developed maraging steel
Maraging steel
Maraging steels are steels which are known for possessing superior strength and toughness without losing malleability, although they cannot hold a good cutting edge. Aging refers to the extended heat-treatment process...
stainless steel alloy that can achieve a tensile strength in excess of 2000 MPa (853 is around 1400 MPa), giving a good strength-to-weight ratio. Because of the high strength of the steel, extremely thin tube walls (down to 0.3 mm) can be used, thus reducing the weight.
Composites
A U.S.United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
division called Reynolds Composites was created to manufacture composite components.
Steel
- 453 - ManganeseManganeseManganese is a chemical element, designated by the symbol Mn. It has the atomic number 25. It is found as a free element in nature , and in many minerals...
/TitaniumTitaniumTitanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. It has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant transition metal with a silver color....
alloy. Reynolds produced only the 3 main tubes in this alloy and they were single butted. - 500 - A chromium-molybdenum41xx steel41xx steel is a family of SAE steel grades, as specified by the Society of Automotive Engineers . Alloying elements include chromium and molybdenum, and as a result these materials are often referred to as chromoly steel or CRMO...
(CrMo) steel, seamed, plain gauge tubeset of 3 main triangle tubes- 500ATB - Mountain, All terrain, Off road
- 500 Magnum - Same use as ATB
- 501 - Reynolds 501 was a chromium-molybdenum41xx steel41xx steel is a family of SAE steel grades, as specified by the Society of Automotive Engineers . Alloying elements include chromium and molybdenum, and as a result these materials are often referred to as chromoly steel or CRMO...
(CrMo) steel, seamed, butted 3-tubes tubeset that made its debut about 1983 and was available in two different thicknesses.- 501ATB - Mountain, All terrain, Off road
- 501 Magnum - Same use as ATB
- 501SB - Single Butted
- 501SL - Special lightweight (SL) tubeset
- 520 - Cold worked Chromoly. UTSTensile strengthUltimate tensile strength , often shortened to tensile strength or ultimate strength, is the maximum stress that a material can withstand while being stretched or pulled before necking, which is when the specimen's cross-section starts to significantly contract...
: 700-900 MPa, densityDensityThe mass density or density of a material is defined as its mass per unit volume. The symbol most often used for density is ρ . In some cases , density is also defined as its weight per unit volume; although, this quantity is more properly called specific weight...
7.78 g/cm3 8 tube set - 525 - Cold worked Chromoly. UTSTensile strengthUltimate tensile strength , often shortened to tensile strength or ultimate strength, is the maximum stress that a material can withstand while being stretched or pulled before necking, which is when the specimen's cross-section starts to significantly contract...
: 700-900 MPa, densityDensityThe mass density or density of a material is defined as its mass per unit volume. The symbol most often used for density is ρ . In some cases , density is also defined as its weight per unit volume; although, this quantity is more properly called specific weight...
7.78 g/cm3 8 tube set- 525Triathlon - Designed for Triathlon framesets
- 531Reynolds 531Reynolds 531 is a brand name, registered to Reynolds Cycle Technology of Birmingham in the United Kingdom, for a manganese-molybdenum, medium carbon steel bicycle tubing....
- Manganese/Molybdenum. UTS: 700-900 MPa (48-58 Tsi, 100-130 ksi)- 531ATB - Designed for Mountain, All terrain, Off road
- 531C - Competition Racing tubeset. Road racing, track, time trial and cyclo-cross.
- 531CS - Club Sport Double butted main tubes
- 531Magnum - Same use as ATB
- 531OS - Oversize tubeset
- 531 Professional - Superseded 531SL, for road racing and time trials.
- 531SL - Special lightweight (SL) tubeset
- 531 Speed Stream - 531SL Oval shaped aerodynamic tube
- 531ST - Special Touring tubeset
- 531 Super Tourist - Superseded ST.
- 531DS Designer select tubing, typically an oversize down tube and seat tube for larger frames, tubing from the mtb tubeset.
- 631 - Seamless air-hardenedHardening (metallurgy)Hardening is a metallurgical and metalworking process used to increase the hardness of a metal. The hardness of a metal is directly proportional to the uniaxial yield stress at the location of the imposed strain...
. UTS: 800-900 MPa, density 7.78 g/cm3- 631OS - Oversize tubeset
- 653 - Was a mixed tubeset which combined tubings of different steels; made up of 753 stays with 653 main tubes and 531 forks.
- 708 - 708 was a tube set in Reynolds' range in the 1980s. It has main tubes with special section. These were not butted, but had 8 flats running along the length of the tube. The rear stays would be 753.
- 725 - Heat-Treated Chromoly the same basic alloy as Reynolds 520. UTS: 1080-1280 MPa, density 7.78 g/cm3
- 725OS - Oversize tubeset
- 731 - Needs information
- 731OS - Oversize tubeset
- 753 - Heat-Treated Manganese-Molybdenum. The most exclusive tube set from Reynolds. Essentially 531 made with reduced wall thickness and heat treated to increase tensile strength. UTS: 1080-1280 MPa (70-83 Tsi, 157-186 ksi) Complete tube set of 11 tubes (Frame 8, Fork 3). 753 can only be lugged and fillet-brazed with an alloy of 56% silver below 700 degrees Celsius and sale is restricted only to approved builders certified by Reynolds
- 753ATB - Mountain, All terrain, Off road
- 753R - Road tubeset
- 753T - Track tubeset, thinner tubes for track use
- 753OS - Oversize tubeset
- 853 - Seamless air-hardening heat-treated. UTS: 1250-1400 MPa, density 7.78 g/cm3
- 853OS - Oversize tubeset
- 953 - Maraging stainless steelMaraging steelMaraging steels are steels which are known for possessing superior strength and toughness without losing malleability, although they cannot hold a good cutting edge. Aging refers to the extended heat-treatment process...
. UTS: 1750-2050 MPa, density 7.8 g/cm3
Aluminium
- 7005 - Al-Zn alloy. UTS: 400 MPa, density 2.78 g/cm3
- 6061 - Al-Si-Mg alloy. UTS: 325 MPa , density 2.70 g/cm3
- X-100 - Al-Li Alloy. UTS: 550-600 MPa, density 2.65 g/cm3
Titanium
- 6Al-4V - Seamless ELI Grade. UTS: 900-1150 MPa, density 4.42 g/cm3
- 3Al-2.5V - Seamless. UTS: 810-960 MPa, density 4.48 g/cm3
Magnesium
- MZM Electron - Magnesium Alloy. UTS: ~300 MPa, density ~1.80 g/cm3