Weighing the Matter of Frame Weight - Vintage Utility Bikes

 Road and performance bike enthusiasts love to obsess over weight. But what about vintage steel bikes from the 1970s and earlier? What about the overall weight of a utility bike, such as an old three speed? The point of this short article is to remind utility and three enthusiasts not to take frame weight too seriously.

Let's take a quick look at two, common 1970s-era steel bike frames: a Raleigh Grand Prix ("2030" steel) and a Raleigh Super Course (Reynolds "531" steel for the main tubes). The frame geometries are essentially the same on these frames. The Grand Prix weighs in at 2648 grams or 93.4 ounces. The Super Course is 2538 grams or 89.5 ounces. That is a difference of about four ounces - not a whole lot. The tube walls on the 531 frame are a bit thinner than the 2030 frame, hence the weight difference. (More discussion for those interested - HERE)

Now let's broaden the picture and look at the whole bike. Looking at the Raleigh catalogue comparison chart (see HERE ), we find about a 16 ounce (453.6 grams) difference for the whole bike Grand Prix versus Super Course. Most of that 16 ounce difference (12 of the 16 ounces or so) comes from the lighter components (alloy versus steel) on the Super Course.

Taking those results into account, we find the following:

• The whole bike weight difference is somewhat substantial.
• However most of the whole bike difference is not attributable to frame weight.
• The frame weight difference is actually fairly small. 
• As each bike gets heavier, the frame weight difference becomes less and less significant because it remains just about four ounces versus the much greater weight of the whole bike.

As three speed enthusiasts, our bikes are (usually) even heavier than these 1970s-era road bikes. Three speeds often have more steel components and accessories. Looking again at the last bullet point above, we find that as each bike gets heavier, that difference of a few ounces in the frame tubes becomes less and less significant from the perspective of how the bike handles and feels (e.g., a four ounce difference between two very light weight objects will feel substantial, but a four ounce difference in two heavy objects feels less substantial even if the objective number is still four ounces).

The bottom line is that frame tube "hype" plays much more of a role in lightweight performance bikes than it does for classic three speed utility bikes. Other factors are more important:

• Durability
• Frame geometry
• Accessories added
• Alloy versus steel parts, such as rims, handlebars, etc.

Don't write-off that old 2030 steel Raleigh Sports, and don't immediately jump for a Reynolds 531 frame, because you have to keep in mind the overall picture of bike weight. Perhaps some alloy component upgrades on your 2030 frame will more than make up the difference.

 Certainly, if you like the feel of Reynolds 531, by all means build up and ride that frame. But if you like 2030 steel, and if you can't feel any difference between that and the 531 frame as you ride down the road, don't obsess over "why" you can't feel it. On a thirty-five pound bike, a few ounces isn't a whole lot. Ride what you enjoy and what works for your circumstances.