Reynolds Cycle Technology

Reynolds Cycle Technology is a manufacturer of tubing for bicycle frames and other bicycle components based in Birmingham, England established in 1898.

The Reynolds 531SL fork blade decal showing on a set of 531SL fork blades.
A Reynolds 531 special lightweight race frame.

History

The Reynolds Tube Company was founded in 1889 by John Reynolds in Birmingham, England,[1] but traces its origins back to 1841 when John Reynolds set up a company manufacturing nails. In 1897, the company patented the process for making butted tubes,[2] 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.[1]

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.

Cycle tubing development

Reynolds has over the years developed a number of steel alloys, most notably Reynolds 531, 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.[3] Reynolds worked closely with Carpenter Speciality Alloys to develop 953. It started reaching frame builders in 2005.[4] 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.[5]

Composites

A U.S. division called Reynolds Composites was created to manufacture composite components.

Tubing types

Steel

Aluminium

Titanium

Magnesium

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Herlihy, David V (2004). Bicycle: the History. Yale University Press. p. 391. ISBN 0-300-10418-9.
  2. ↑ "provisional patent specification" (jpg). 1897-10-27. Retrieved 2009-09-11.
  3. ↑ "Bob Jackson Cycles". Bobjacksoncycles.co.uk. 2002-04-10. Retrieved 2015-04-24.
  4. ↑ "Bike builders embrace Reynolds 953 | Bicycle Business". BikeBiz.com. 2005-10-07. Retrieved 2015-04-24.
  5. ↑ Archived August 29, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ↑ http://www.velo-pages.com/main.php?g2_itemId=69438
  7. 1 2 "Reynolds 501: the entry-level workhorse of vintage mountain bike frames | Vintage Steel Rider". Retrosteelrider.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2015-04-24.
  8. ↑ "Cycle touring's favourite tubing - Reynols 531". Bretonbikes.com. Retrieved 2015-04-24.
  9. ↑ "Reynolds 731?". Velocipedesalon.com. Retrieved 2015-04-24.
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