Thick wall tubes?

[JGabriel]

Howdy, y'all.

I've built a few practice frames, and now I'm ready to try my first "real" frame. I want to build a loaded touring frame. I want this frame to be stiff and stout. I'm 6'2" and 190 lbs and I want to occasionally carry a full load over dirt roads and bad pavement.

From what I've read, I think most older touring frames were made from traditional diameter 1/.7/1 tubesets. Modern touring frames are mostly oversized tubing, but again the walls are likely 1/.7/1 or maybe even thicker.

Where can I buy tubes this thick? The suppliers I know about only sell .9/.6/.9 and thinner.

And why bother with such thick walls, wouldn't it be easier to bump up to double oversized instead? I don't see many double oversized touring frames out there, so what am I missing?

[Amaro Bikes]

Hello, JGabriel (please read the posting guidelines and add your name/surname at your signature, so we can all talk face to face)

About your question:
-Reynolds do have some 853 and 631 tubes with your requested thickness (1.2/0.9/1.2 - 1.0/0.7/1.0 and some other variations)
-Surely Peter (ceeway.com) woulud have some spare tubes with quite thick walls, even tandem specific ones.

My own suggestions:
-Thickness will give you strengh and reliabity against impacts and usual use/abuse of hardlife bicycles
-Tube diameter will give you more stiffness and ability to carry higher loads without adding too much weight (if compared with equivalent smaller diameter tubes), but this might be "delicate" against impacts if walls are thin (coca-cola can effect)
-Have a thought for yourself about what do you actually want to build, what are the requests and needs for this your frame, and from there you can decide wether you need a boomproof solid tubing frame, or a fast randonneuring thinner walled tubing one. The rider being tall or heavy does not mean you need thicker walled tubes just because, as it would depend on the use of the bicycle, and also consider your welding/brazing experience when thickness is thin.
-If your frame intention is to be a normally loaded touring frame (not a mobile home) with mainly road or rough tarmac rides, I would consider a thought for Columbus Thron tubeset, as it has good balance of strength/reliability/weight/availability/price, and of course the previously mentioned Reynolds thick walled 853/631 ones.

Cheers

[Amaro Bikes]

....I would consider a thought for Columbus Thron tubeset....

Sorry, the actual Thron is Cromor, I'm getting old...

[JGabriel]

Ah, so the extra thick tubes are probably more for durability than stiffness. That makes sense.

I will consider thron/chromor. Looks like standard 4130 in .9/.6/.9 thickness, and appears to be quite common for touring frames.

Thanks for the help!