I can think of many UK framebuilders that have also 'gone beyond where Mario left off'...........dare I say myself.......but that's for others to judge!
This 'Italian thing' is something non Italian framebulders have had to put up with over the years, and I'm sure I speak for many when I say it gets a bit boring, for some reason cyclists seem drawn to the Italian mystique, maybe it's the Italian sounding names, be funny if 'Colnago' was the equevelant of Smith [no offense to anyone called Smith!]........don't get me wrong, I too love Italy and its many delights, [Iv'e just had a bowl of pasta after my mid morninng ride] but in my trade it seems we are always playing second fiddle to what the Italians do, even if we actually produce a better product.
I can relate to a sittuation many years ago whilst working for Woodrup's, we had a customer, a nice chap actually, but he was totally obsessed with the Italian thing and ordered a 62cm Bianchi lugged steel frame, which came in the gorgeous celeste, anyway we had to build it into a bike and in doing do I had cause to check over the frame..........the first thing I noticed was how untidy the brazing was around the lugs, really untidy......I wouldn't have let one of mine go out like that, and when I came to check the alignment!!!
I said to Steve Woodrup, we ought to build Trevor a frame and have it sprayed up as a Bianchi, but we never did.
Anyway the point I'm trying to make is, I agree with whoever mentioned that nowadays the quality and standards of framebuilding, whether in the US or elswhere is far better than it's ever been, even better than the original classics that we all strive to obtain.....however, I guess there is still something unique about owning a true period classic though by virtue of its age and heritage. It makes me wish I could return in a 100 years on to see how 'todays classics' are comparing............... sorry if this sounds like a bit of a rant, but it's a subject close to my heart.
Cheers
Kevin Sayles [now topped up with Pasta]
Bridgwater Somerset UK
> CRers,
>
> It must be a SoCal thing because I can think of many current American
> build
> ers that I believe have gone way beyond where Mario left off. Nothing
> again
> st him but the craft has progressed. This is pure nostalga, which of
> course
> is a large part of our hobby in the first place. But if you're looking for
> something to actually ride and I don't mean the parking lot at Cirque.....
> well I'll be looking elsewhere.
>
> Bill Talbot
> New Hartford, CT US of A
>
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