Thanks for the info. I checked with several tube sippliers that I know. I guess after talking to them and doing a little research, I still cant see a stainless steel frame.

Have you seen any or better yet, ridden any?

I can see some limitatons already regarding, that I dont think are currently an issue with either Carbon Steel, Carbon, or Ti.

Reynolds also has a tube set, but I don’t think it’s available for mtb’s either, at least not 29″ers.

Thanks,
Andy

As for carbon fiber, I think that the naiveties that you accuse Dirt McGirt of regards to tubing manufacture and titanium could also be aimed back at you in regards to carbon fiber. At least you are showing your disdain for the material, which is fine, but trolling for an argument with Dirt, or anybody, here is not cool.

Besides, everybody knows that in Jeapordy the contestant gets the answer and has to come up with the question. Duh!

Think of it this way.. Would you rather be swimming in a gunite pool or a liner pool?

For all who answered gunite, go out and by a welded alloy frame of your choice that was most likelt assembled by a true craftsman.

For all the wheel suckers that chose the later, go out and buy a carbon frame, and keep your fingers crossed on the rough downhills.

What’s up there dude?

Please tell us all what a stree riser is!

Why do you think the majority of alloy tubes are stress relieved and generally radiographed to look for defects.

Here is the $64,000.00 questin there Big Dirt… What would you rather be riding (if you do indeed ride).. A caron fiber frame or a conventional alloy frame?

(In the background hear the theme from Jeporady.)

I have been to the Haynes factory and have seen tubing made for Litespeed. It starts with a flat plate that is pulled thru rollers that eventualy form it into a tube. An autogenous weld (i.e. no filler metal) is then made to make the weld. The tube is then heat treated if specified, then further made into additional shapes using of all things high pressure water.

Additionally, years back the majority of Ti tubing that Haynes used came from scappped Russian MIG fighter jets. It was melted several times under an inert atmosphere to remove impurities and tramp elements.

Finally the tubes are assebled into a frame of specified geometry. This is where the true craftsmanship comes into play (i.e. not assembled with resin and C fiber in a foreign country by poorly paid workers).

Plenty of examples out there. Too numerous to mention.