Re: [CR]heron bicycles

(Example: Framebuilding:Paint)

Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 12:18:18 -0500
From: Jerry Moos <moos@penn.com>
To: Sarah Gibson <sadiejane9@hotmail.com>
CC: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR]heron bicycles
References: <F1372T5UqLqmBWFnoU800017afc@hotmail.com>


Sarah, I never quite understood the Heron setup, perhaps because I'm not a shop owner. Is Heron some sort of joint venture involving Rivendell and Waterford and headed by Ted? Is it possible Grant will continue selling Herons at Rivendell and perhaps take over distribution to dealers? Frankly, I think Ted is correct about Heron pricing - what looks like a bargain at $700 is too high at $1000. One can get some pretty nice handmade frames from UK, including Mercian, for not much more. I have a similar concern about the Rivendell frames. For the new Rivendell prices, I think I'd rather pay a bit more and get a Sachs or Baylis or Bohemian. Even though Richard may have advised Rivendell and even designed some of the Rivendell lugs, I'd rather have Richard's name on the downtube than Rivendell. I think both the Heron and Rivendell are wonderful frames and laudable efforts, but at some point price does become a consideration.

Regards,

Jerry Moos

Sarah Gibson wrote:
> got this sad note from ted durant of heron bicycles this morning
>
> I'm afraid this is not happy New Years News. It is with a great deal of
> personal anguish that I announce that I will not have any more Heron
> frames made for the foreseeable future. Waterford's price-hike means a
> retail price over $1000, which seems too high for this kind of bike. As
> it is, we sold only 100 frames last year. I'm afraid the price hike is
> going to bring that number down. Even 100 frames a year isn't enough to
> pay the bills, so I'm going to have to pull the plug.
>
> There are around 26 frames in stock, after accounting for current open
> orders. The only size/model that is absolutely out is 55cm touring
> frames. There's at least one of everything else, and there's usually a
> color choice because many of them are unpainted.
>
> For now, prices stay where they've been. If we get to the end and have a
> surplus of a particular size/color, I might have a closeout.
>
> Willow Chainrings are still plentiful and ought to be available for a
> good long time.
>
> If you have any ideas of how to keep Herons flying, by all means let me

> know.

>

> td