Red and white Waterloo brand bicycle with disc brakes and wide tires, displayed indoors at a marketplace or exhibition with booths and people in the background.
Close-up of a red and white Waterforrd bicycle frame with white drop handlebars wrapped in white tape, black gear shifters, and black brake levers. The front tire is visible, and the background is blurred.

Waterford Tig Welded Reynolds 853 Steel 33-Series

Lightweight, strong, and comfortable. Our 33-series fully Tig-welded model provides that classic steel ride at a much lower overall frame weight. Hand-selected, geometry-specific Reynolds 853 butted top tube and triple butted down tubes provide a highly refined, comfortable, and responsive ride.

Reynolds 853 is widely referenced as the strongest (tensile strength) air-hardening steel available for bicycle frame fabrication. Introduced in 1995, Reynolds 853 was the first commercially available air-hardening steel. These key factors, among many others, are why it was selected for our 33-Series Artisan models.

Highly practiced, well-tuned, and optimized welding techniques allow for the air-hardening steel to work its magic. Heat-affected zones around welded junctions are typically a weak spot for metal bikes, specifically ferrous metal bikes. As the weld joints cool, specific blends of metals within the Reynolds 853 tubing harden as they cool, often leading to joints that are stronger than the metal before welding. This means many years of predictable, strong, and responsive riding to come.

Unlike our 22-Series bicycles, our 33-Series bike frames need to be protected from moisture and oxygen. All of our 33-Series frames are coated internally with a thin yet durable and lightweight Lanolin-based rust inhibitor. Your choice of powder-coat, Cerakote, or automotive paint, combined with personalized detailing, will result in a piece of art that is functional and will last many years to come.

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Close-up of a welded steel pipe joint showing colorful heat-affected zones and a smooth, polished surface.

Frame Details:

  • Tubing: Hand-selected, size and geometry specific Reynolds 853

  • Bottle Mounts: Down tube and seat tube locations (additional mounts upon request)

  • Finish: Automotive-grade wet paint, Cerakote, or powder coat

  • Production: Custom design and made one-by-one in Durango, Colorado

  • Custom Sizing. No additional charge

  • Lead time From Time of Order: 10 to 12 weeks

  • Frame Weight: 3.5lbs to 4.5lbs geometry and size dependent

Close-up view of a red and black bicycle crankset, chainring, and chain on a bike with a black rear wheel and a red frame.

Technical Details:

Our 33-Series bicycles have no model names. Each frame we craft is an involved and intimate conversation about what your new bike needs to do for you. Our tig welded frames fall into a few major categories: traditional road, all-road, touring, travel and gravel.

  • Recommended Use: Pavement, Off-Pavement

  • Custom Sizing: No additional upcharge

  • Tire Width: 700 x 28c to 38c, 700 x 50c (gravel)

  • Headtube: 44mm, EC37, or Tapered

  • Bottom Bracket: BSA or T47 - 68mm

  • Rear Hub Spacing: 142 x 12mm (Disc), 9x130 (QR)

  • Cable Routing: External or Internal

  • Front Derailleur: 28.6 Clamp-on

  • Brake: Flat Mount Disc, Canti, or Rim

  • Seatpost Diameter: 27.2

  • Manufacturer Warranty: Lifetime for original owner

Hand Crafted One At A Time

  • You Dream it.

    Want a lightweight frame with the ubiquitous steel ride characteristics? Are you looking for a modern performance machine with classic aesthetics? Need to replace the old reliable? We are here to help you figure out your next dream ride.

  • We'll Design It

    A team with 40+ years of custom bike design and tens of thousands of bikes under their belt will make it happen. From personal bike fits, phone calls, and in-person visits, we can help you figure out exactly what that next bike needs to be for you.

  • We'll Build It

    Modern machines, state-of-the-art precision, and a team of fabricators will build your next frame to the highest standards of quality, cleanliness, and strength. Located in the alpine mountains of the San Juans, our builders are multi-disciplinary riders themselves. We understand that what is crafted in our shop will often outlive us.

Custom Design Fit Sheet .PDF