In a message dated 5/31/2005 1:43:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time, jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net writes:
<< After all, much the same was said about Bruce Gordon, but as everyone at Cirque seems to have discovered, nothing could be further from the truth. >>
Here here! (Or is it hear hear?) Oh heck, attaboy.
The bottom line is we must to TRY to support these master builders whenever we can. I know the members of this list have done so disproportionately but spread the word, educate the masses whenever possible about what it is that is so excellent in these craftspersons' work. It is no accident that one of the important continuing themes of the Cirque du Cyclisme is to showcase and promote the fine builders who are currently practicing their craft.
It's interesting to see that each of these builders react differently to the "challenges" of what they do. It's easy to become "bummed out" at the inability to make a decent living. Finding buyers is always tough for a craft which has a very narrow appeal. New potential customers can only be found through the CR web site, the Cirque, Velo Rendezvous, Vintage Bicycle Quarterly, North American Handbuilt BIcycle Show and precious little coverage by the consumer magazines. The smart guys like Richie Sachs, Brian Baylis, Ed Litton, Chris Kvale, Peter Johnson, Bruce Gordon, and others are attending the various gatherings by CR type folks, establishing relationships and turning on new people.
But frame building today IS a tough business proposition. It takes tenacity and resourcefulness to stay with it. I am encouraged by signs that new younger folk are learning to appreciate hand crafted bicycles. The young "messenger style" steel-is-real crowd are stylistically different from we baby boomers but I am so happy that they are rediscovering my kind of bikes!
Dale Brown
Greensboro, NC USA