[CR]Re: [Frame] Major Announcement from San Diego, CA

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From: <"brianbaylis@juno.com">
Date: Sun, 13 May 2007 16:50:58 GMT
To: flatjam@gmail.com
cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
cc: Framebuilders@phred.org
cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Re: [Frame] Major Announcement from San Diego, CA

James,

I agree the photos are helpful to newbies much of the time. But how

many times does one have to see the same thing over again. What

actually is disturbing to me is the atmoshper that surrounds the whole

scene. Differing opinions are not tolerated. It's actually a closed

forum in it's current form. Controled by a certain philosophy. There

are other pholosophies that exist. The focus is different.

My contributions to the new builders is not only representing a

different view of the same craft for balance; but I also am working

directly with these new guys, which is quite different than putting on

photo essays. Ask any busy established framebuilder if you can come

and hang around and learn some really esoteric stuff first hand in

their shop. Chances are the door will slam and you'll get nothing.

Working with an apprentice in the shop for a period of years is a much

greater task. We're now going to extend that situation for the benefit

of all interested. It won't necessarily come from me, but through the

camera and words of the apprentices. See if you can learn something

that way. Seeing how each builder does it is all well and good. But

how about hearing from the apprentices what it's like to work around

one of us old coots.

I really seems that only a few have a problem with what we have

planned and how we are going about it. We have a different approach.

No one is being invalidated. There is more than one way to do this.

You'll get your photos an such. But the bias toeards various products

or methods will not be part of the deal. We seek to inspire

uniqueness (the former hallmark of handmade framebuilding) and

encourage creative thinking and creative building. My opinion is the

current trend is directed too much towards framebuilding as a

profession and not as much as passion for the craft. Neither approach

is right or wrong; each is diffenent. Let's not mix them up. That's

all.

Brian Baylis La Mesa, CA

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