Re: [CR]re: NAHBS 2008 pictures

(Example: Racing:Roger de Vlaeminck)

Date: Sun, 10 Feb 2008 21:51:41 -0600
To: Classic Rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
From: "Mark Stonich" <mark@bikesmithdesign.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]re: NAHBS 2008 pictures
In-Reply-To: <47AFA3E1.5050000@verizon.net>
References: <47AFA3E1.5050000@verizon.net>


At 2/10/2008 08:24 PM -0500, Harvey Sachs wrote:
> It's really strange, and maybe just suggests that I'm getting too
> old to have right good sense, but I wasn't overwhelmed.
>
>There were some very nice ideas, such as innovative ways to mount
>wheels in frames, and there was some extraordinary workmanship and
>detailing. But somehow, and maybe it was the selection of pictures,
>an awful lot seemed to be a triumph of pure decoration. No
>improvement, but differences for the fun of doing it differently.
>Maybe Novelty is the nice word. A rococo alternative to the
>minimalism of e-Richie (Sachs), Peter Weigle, Masi, et al. The
>pendulum swinging back toward Hetchins, Ephgrave, Carpenter, and the
>British school of the 50s?*

I agree completely. The object seems to showcase the builder's skills. And as an occasional framebuilder I'm very impressed with the level of workmanship, imagination and skill on display. But my engineering background sees too much inefficient use of metal, in pursuit of style. Racks with curved supports where straight would be lighter and stronger. Labor intensive rear dropouts that look heavy without looking strong.

But this is understandable. At this event you want to be noticed, have everyone posting photos of your bikes. The best bicycles, have just the right amount of stiffness for the job and no more weight than necessary. Yet I believe that at such an event a Chris Kvale, with paper thin edges on lugs little heavier than a TIG weld would only be noticed by the true aficionados. The careful tube selection that an experienced builder uses to tailor a frame to the rider means nothing in such a venue.

That said, I spent hours poring over the photos, and there is also very much to admire.

Mark Stonich;
     BikeSmith Design & Fabrication
       5349 Elliot Ave S. - Minneapolis. MN 55417
            Ph. (612) 824-2372 http://bikesmithdesign.com
                        http://mnhpva.org