Scooper

Reviving this old thread, I finally got my 953 Waterford this week. I ordered it in November, so it took a while. My riding experience with it so far has been several miles around Golden Gate Park. So far, I'm really impressed. Even with a heavy Brooks saddle, 36 spoke Open Pros, and pedals, it weighs 20.5 pounds (61 cm frame).

Adagio Corse

That's a very sweet bike. The natural shine of polished steel blows away Ti any day of the week. I love it. Mmmmmm... I was originally dreaming of a custom Ti cyclocross bike, but now you got me thinking of a custom 953 single-speed superlight runabout.

Lectron

Very nice frame-set. That will have to be next.....

cs1

After I told myself no more toys, why did you have to go and post pics. I've always wanted a chrome plated Paramount, until now. The lugs look great. Would it be tacky to inquire about price? I would sell all my bikes for that. Good luck

Tim

brianallan

I'm really curious what it weighs without a 4lb saddle and 2000+gram wheels. What kind of hubs and spokes?

patentcad

Can rhetorical questions ever find an answer?

daytonian

I loves me some Waterford's.

Scooper

I thought I had asked the LBS to weigh the frameset before building it up, but they didn't.
The fork is chromed Reynolds 531, so the frameset could be made considerably lighter by using a carbon fiber fork; I was more interested in having a classic look than in making it as light as possible.

The hubs are Campy Record and the spokes are stainless double-butted 2.0/1.8 DT Swiss "Competition". I built up the wheels myself while waiting for the frame.

terry b

I'm closing in on 700 miles on my 953 - had it since last October.

Yours is gorgeous, I think you'll find it can be built into a bike that gives a great ride. I'm very satisfied with mine.

Scooper

Thanks, Terry. I've read your posts with interest and your enthusiasm inspired me.

terry b

The biggest let down on 953 is weight. Despite all the yammering that IF did at the 2005 Interbike, it turns out that it's not a flyweight material. My frame, TIG-welded in a standard 57cm weighs about 3.75 pounds. Almost .5 pounds more than an equivalent True Temper S3. Builds a nice, reasonably light steel bike but it's never going to challenge CF or aluminum.

Scooper

Yes, I agree. Although my frame wasn't weighed before it was built up, Waterford built a similar 953 frame that was weighed, and it came in at 1700 grams. That was a 62 cm frame and mine is slightly smaller at 61 cm, but the weight is a little disappointing.

On the other hand, my 61 cm chrome 531 P15-9 Paramount weighs 25 pounds, so I'm pretty happy with the Waterford which is five pounds lighter than I'm accustomed to..

Nessism

My understanding is that Reynolds is working to improve their tube forming process to get the 953 tubes closer to spec - they are thicker than advertised right now. Considering the small tube diameters necessary for use with lugs, I don't think thinner equals better though unless you favor weight reduction over bottom bracket stiffness.

Beautiful frame by the way. That's the kind of ride that you can keep with you for years to come - unlike some of the more modern stuff that comes/goes out of fashion at the whim of the collective.

Enjoy.

red house

Why couldn't they make a bike with thicker 953 tubing that would weigh the same as an 853 frame, but be twice a strong? The idea of a bike costing thousands of dollars that is constructed with .3mm thin tubing is not that appealing to me.