How rust resistant is reynolds 853?

[mountaincarrot]

Hi, Andy.

Thanks for the last post. one other question as I ponder the merits of your bikes. I need a frame which will withstand a semi-permanent coating of mud, and put up with inevitable stone chips without rust affecting it. I commute to work every day off road whatever the weather, and I find time to clean only the running gear.

My experience is mostly with alloy, which doesn't really care about this sort of neglect. I have memories of 1970's steel cars falling apart. So just how good is the 853 tubing for rust? Would I expect to be needing to lay the bike up, and re-paint the frame in 5 years down the line to prevent damage, - or is this steel good enough such that the paint is largely cosmetic?

[PH]

There are enough thirty year old steel frames about to indicate it isn't that big a problem.  I put a dab of nail polish over any paint damage that's down to bare metal, though surface rust is more likely to be cosmetic than structural.
Where I have heard of rust damaging frames it's been from the inside.  There are ways to protect this, either coat the inside with Framesaver or Waxoil and periodically take the seat post out and air the frame.  Thorn used to make a big deal about the tubes on their frames being sealed, I don't know why but they don't seem to be doing this on the Ravens.
 

quote:re-paint the frame in 5 years down the line to prevent damage

I don't know many people with 5+ year old aluminium frames, not amongst people who get a lot of use out of them anyway.  They've either broken them or changed to the latest thing.  A decent steel frame should last a lifetime, as should the Rohloff hub, occasionally getting a respray and maybe upgrading some parts should stave off those urges to replace it for the sake of it.