Columbus Brain tubing...

[bikenut2010]

I came across a nice NOS unbranded F&F in Columbus Brain to replace the Fondriest Molven alloy one I find too hard...
Weighs 2 kg plus 650 kg fork, 26.8 seatpost, vertical rear dropouts, nice lugs etc... any info or comments?
Wonder which maker or label it was made for?
Will build with Centaur 10 speed alloy.
Happy crimble!

 

[hamster]

Brain was one of the cheaper tube sets - it could have been used by any number of builders in the early / mid 1990s.

 

[bikenut2010]

Brain was one of the cheaper tube sets - it could have been used by any number of builders in the early / mid 1990s.

Cheers...weight is a little more than SL but considerably less than Thron, Gara or Aelle so I guess not the cheapest. Frames are odd; I have a Bertin that is Aelle tretubi but a joy to ride, even more than The Olagnero with DA stuff, and actually lighter than the Colnago in SL with C record. I guess I'll see how it feels when built up.

 

[pigman]

Brain was one of the cheaper tube sets - it could have been used by any number of builders in the early / mid 1990s.

on the contrary, it was never one of the cheaper ones like aelle/zeta. The frame I had made in Brain was triple butted and was comparable to 531C. by then SL had gone and SLX was on its way out. Neuron and possibly GL o/s (?name) was top, then Brain. My mate bought an eddy merckx in gan colours made from brain which cost £500.
Interestingly, mine was a 27.2 seatpin size, not the 26.8 ??

 

[bikenut2010]

Brain was one of the cheaper tube sets - it could have been used by any number of builders in the early / mid 1990s.

on the contrary, it was never one of the cheaper ones like aelle/zeta. The frame I had made in Brain was triple butted and was comparable to 531C. by then SL had gone and SLX was on its way out. Neuron and possibly GL o/s (?name) was top, then Brain. My mate bought an eddy merckx in gan colours made from brain which cost £500.
Interestingly, mine was a 27.2 seatpin size, not the 26.8 ??

There was also Brain OS, not sure about seatpost size difference, but FYI I've had Aelle in 26.8 26.4 and 27.0!

The frameset is nicely detailed with 'ring' cable gide braze ons too...I'll post a pic in a week or so.

 

[hamster]

Sorry I wasn't meaning to damn it with faint praise, it is a nice tube set, just not exactly exotic.
In general people over value the materials and under value design.

 

[bikenut2010]

it is a nice tube set, just not exactly exotic.
In general people over value the materials and under value design.

care to expand??

 

[hamster]

A really nice handling frame has the right steering geometry. Overly stiff frames are tiring to ride longer distances. What really matters is fitness for purpose - an audax bike needs slower steering so it is easy to ride even when you feel shattered for example.
Over light tube sets tick all the boxes on paper but may be too flexy in larger sizes.

 

[bikenut2010]

A really nice handling frame has the right steering geometry. Overly stiff frames are tiring to ride longer distances. What really matters is fitness for purpose - an audax bike needs slower steering so it is easy to ride even when you feel shattered for example.
Over light tube sets tick all the boxes on paper but may be too flexy in larger sizes.

Ah maybe that's why the Bertin in AELLE is so comfy, 54 square but clearance for mudguards; the Colnago in SL is very springy and tight geometry, just about get my little finger between the rear tyre and seat tube, climbs like a bird but you know you've been riding it over 4 hrs.
I had another Colnago years back, a 70s frame, very pretty but felt sluggish, no idea why.
The NOS Brain frameset is offered to me at 180 so thought I'd give it a go...

 

[klasse]

my main rider Mondonico is Brain tubing, love it. Eventually I will build one up with Neuron tubes then I will have a basis for comparison.