Can anyone explain to me RM's reason for changing the tubing for the Blizzard from Reynolds 853 to Columbus Zona? From my limited understanding the Zona is a of a lower specification than the 853. Is this right? Correct me if I'm wrong.
Tayancycles
More explanation here... http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=554158
0.7 pounds lighter frame is a good reason.
0.7 pounds lighter frame is a good reason.
Personally I think air-hardening tubing was a stupid gimmick as far as bike frames go. The stuff was barely ever exploited in terms of drawing thinner butted tubing (compared to the state that 4130 has been manipulated to) and few bikers actually needed the higher strengths of the alloy at the joints because good frames so rarely failed there to begin with. And usually if it was going to fail at a joint, even 853 wasn't going to prevent it from happening (a true north I have which is 853 has to be repaired/reinforced by Hugh after the seattube failed at the BB shell joint zone). Rocky's steel frames, especially the ones using the air-hardened Reynolds tubesets went up in weight significantly compared to earlier non-hardening tubesets (especially compared to the nice Tange Prestige tubesets they used to use). Going to Columbus Zona is a smart move in my book.
I agree that 853 was never properly exploited by Rocky in terms of building a really sophisticated tube-set (ie. one that was as light as it could/should have been); however, Zona is inherently an inferior tubing, based on strength, stiffness, expected life, etc (going by pure metallurgical data) . But, the chances of actually breaking either the Zona frame or the 853 is relatively small, since very few people will be riding this bike around Fromme or the Whistler bike park, dropping 6' airs.
What pleased me about the 853 frames was the simple fact that, while not as evolved as far as they should have been, they were very high quality and as close to indestructible as a conventional hard-tail could be. What bothers me about the switch to Zona is that Rocky has done it to save money (this is from the guys at Rocky in Delta when I was there a few weeks ago) and not to improve the bike, per se. The Zona frame is lighter, which is nice, but the price has not dropped with the cheaper tubing, which quite annoys me, since Rocky is still asking $900 for the Blizzard frame-set.
Choose one: cheaper materials with a cheaper MSRP; or quality materials with a higher price tag. Their choice this time fails on both counts.
Just my 2 cents.
What pleased me about the 853 frames was the simple fact that, while not as evolved as far as they should have been, they were very high quality and as close to indestructible as a conventional hard-tail could be. What bothers me about the switch to Zona is that Rocky has done it to save money (this is from the guys at Rocky in Delta when I was there a few weeks ago) and not to improve the bike, per se. The Zona frame is lighter, which is nice, but the price has not dropped with the cheaper tubing, which quite annoys me, since Rocky is still asking $900 for the Blizzard frame-set.
Choose one: cheaper materials with a cheaper MSRP; or quality materials with a higher price tag. Their choice this time fails on both counts.
Just my 2 cents.
"Choose one: cheaper materials with a cheaper MSRP; or quality materials with a higher price tag. Their choice this time fails on both counts."
This fails to take into account the all important factors of inflation, raising fuel costs and currency exchange increases. All of these factors increase our costs but we found a way to make a lighter frame and keep the retail price the same. Not bad.
This fails to take into account the all important factors of inflation, raising fuel costs and currency exchange increases. All of these factors increase our costs but we found a way to make a lighter frame and keep the retail price the same. Not bad.
I just built up an '05 frame, but was dismayed at the weight, whew!
My 94' (I think it was 94, but I don't know, as it was a metallic green, and I can't find it in any catalogues...anybody heard of a green Blizzard?) was noticeably lighter, and was ridden around Fromme, and had LOTS of urban drops with no damage to the frame...until it was stolen.
The move to Zona is fine w/ me, as is same price, as material costs are minimal when factored in. What excites me is a seat post diameter that is actually going to be available to buy aftermarket, oh, and that weight loss...
My 94' (I think it was 94, but I don't know, as it was a metallic green, and I can't find it in any catalogues...anybody heard of a green Blizzard?) was noticeably lighter, and was ridden around Fromme, and had LOTS of urban drops with no damage to the frame...until it was stolen.
The move to Zona is fine w/ me, as is same price, as material costs are minimal when factored in. What excites me is a seat post diameter that is actually going to be available to buy aftermarket, oh, and that weight loss...
??? Weird. I know there was a screw up at some point with the decals, but wasn't aware any got out the door that way. But I can assure you, the 2010 is Zona...
That'd be a decal screwup. Also its unusual to have the tubeset decal placed anywhere other than the seattube.
this from Tet cycles:
$975 - True Temper S-3, Columbus Spirit
$875 - Columbus Life, True Temper OX Platinum, Reynolds 853
$825 - True Temper VerusHT, Columbus Zona,Reynolds 725
$775 - True Temper Verus, Nova CrMo
$975 - True Temper S-3, Columbus Spirit
$875 - Columbus Life, True Temper OX Platinum, Reynolds 853
$825 - True Temper VerusHT, Columbus Zona,Reynolds 725
$775 - True Temper Verus, Nova CrMo
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