Re: [CR]Constructeurs? NOW Wave of the future

(Example: Framebuilders:Rene Herse)

From: "cmontgomery" <cmontgomery15@cox.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>, "Olof Stroh" <olof@stroh.nu>
References: <111320051611.22280.437765CF0007FA00000057082200761064020E000A9C9D0A08@comcast.net> <00ed01c5e874$84208020$0300a8c0@olof>
Subject: Re: [CR]Constructeurs? NOW Wave of the future
Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2005 15:35:20 -0700
cc: Bohm <davebohm@cox.net>

> Olof Stroh: > The constructeur approach comes with a price both in money and in lack
> of versatility. It is sometimes good to be able to change wheels, racks,
> lights after different needs and uses and over time! > I would like to fight a small battle for the well-thought-out,
> versatile, well-prepared bike that may take different shapes with
> standard equipement and develope with its master. > That doesn´t at all hinder a touring/audax/commuter approach! > It also means that a good bicycle designer should not only put his
> abilities to the frame but to the other (_all_ the other) parts as well.
> And their interaction.

I'm financially and spiritually in sync with Olof on this one. His description reminds me of what Mick, Norris and others of the UK branch have described as the typical English bike of the 30's thru 60's; one capable (because it had to) of commuting, touring, and time trialing with the buddies, depending on its particular incarnation. The constructeur's bike is the Shangri La of the builder's art, but to most it dwells in the realm of Yuppie Dreams. I've found this thread interesting because I just put myself on Dave Bohm's 2 Year Waiting List. He's going to build me a touring frame that will very much fit into Brian's definition: tourer, fast rider, utility machine. Though Dave and I discussed a couple points from the "constructeur's point of view" my machine is going to be more in the vein of an "English" model: I'm buying a frame on which I can bolt it on and take it off, depending upon needs and fancy. In fact, I took him my '65 HR Morris and said, "Let's replicate and modernize." It won't have the harmonious finesse of a constructeur but it'll be beautifully pragmatic much like our Rivs and Herons are today and my '52 Viking Road Path was fifty years ago.

Craig Montgomery in Tucson-where I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to pay for this thing :^$