Lightest Steel Frame?

[grantoury]

What I find interesting, it's like the mudguard is supporting the weight of the (little) load. It almost feels like a distribution of load and weight where those skinny stays could only support a rider weight properly and no more.

BTW: On the above example, they are rare Mavic mudguards. I understand that Mavic weren't that bad at early AL stuff.

I think Velo Orange have or used to have a little carrier that fixes unto the metal mudguards. Very elegant solution. Hebie make something comparable, which I always think I should buy, just because I like the look.

 

[Canuk]

The 853 lemond frame has been purloined by my wife, she knows a good thing when she sees it... I've given it a whirl around the lanes even though it's too small, you can tell it's stiff and very responsive. With the right stuff on it you could easily get it down to fifteen pounds plus. It's fillet brazed which I suppose saves a bit of weight, but when you pick up the bare frame everything in your head is going ' I can't believe it's not carbon" I once had an Ellis Briggs which was silver soldered 653 and that was incredibly light.

Always had a soft spot for 653, a very much overlooked tube set.

 

[legrandefromage]

Meanwhile, from the MTB world:

 

[D N Stone]

I have an ishiwata 015 frame which is noticeably lighter than any of my other frames (and it’s a 22.5” build)

 

[non-fixie]

Experience tells me not to trust a manufacturer for bike weight.

Or most other features...

I suspect they've taken the tyres off

Actually, you may well be correct. During the first years after WWII decent bicycle tyres were very hard to get in France, and the rule makers at the Concours de Machines, where weight was an important consideration, decided it would be fairer to compare the entrants without tyres.

So yes, a bike weight published in 1949 is probably without tyres.

 

[doctor-bond]

I have an ishiwata 015 frame which is noticeably lighter than any of my other frames (and it’s a 22.5” build)

Oooo …. Any pics?

 

[D N Stone]

MKM build for Ron Kitching. I’ll weigh it tomorrow with a photo in its built up state.

 

[ChromeChainstay]

iip

The 853 lemond frame has been purloined by my wife, she knows a good thing when she sees it... I've given it a whirl around the lanes even though it's too small, you can tell it's stiff and very responsive. With the right stuff on it you could easily get it down to fifteen pounds plus. It's fillet brazed which I suppose saves a bit of weight, but when you pick up the bare frame everything in your head is going ' I can't believe it's not carbon" I once had an Ellis Briggs which was silver soldered 653 and that was incredibly light.

Always had a soft spot for 653, a very much overlooked tube set.

i have moved in with my parents to take care of them. my 853 lemond was what i brought from my house. enjoyable indeed

not the lightest i ride but very close

 

[zerogravitas]

This is beautiful, have you got a build thread link?

Sure; see here - Mystery Atala

 

[Canuk]

Lightest Steel bike in the world: 5.42kg, Tange Ultimate tubing, .35 thinnest part, not too bad compared to 753. Frame weight 1250gr. All the lightweight stuff is mostly Taiwanese from a new manufacturer BKing, the gears are SRAM Red eTap. I like it! The guy reviewing it (a hill sprinter) reckons with the right lightweight kit easily under 4.5kg (9.9lbs!)