Re: [CR] framebuilding in 5 days!!!

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Date: Sat, 5 Jun 2010 15:35:27 -0700
From: "Jim Merz" <jameshmerz@gmail.com>
To: Robert Clair <r.clair@cox.net>
Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR] framebuilding in 5 days!!!


UBI has a new frame building and bike mechanic training facility in Portland Oregon. I saw it a month ago, pretty fancy place.

I wonder why anyone would take a framebuilding class as a job path. When I was building steel lugged frames I tried to teach quite a few people the craft. I found that some people just never get the hang of brazing, even though it's not really that difficult. It was something I did for another industry for many years, and I also had a gift for it. Also filing is something most people just don't get. One could do it for years and still not have it. In a way if you have to go to a frame building class maybe that means you should not build frames, one should be able to figure it out on your own.

The question is, even it you have all the skills required and a the money to put into a shop, then what? If you just make one-off "Work of Art" frames it takes quite a long time to get the word out that you are good. There are plenty of more than just good builder with many years of frames behind them out there. It is highly unlikely that even the best of these builders makes a living worthy of the skill and work involved. My theory is that most frame building students just want to save money on a frame. If the students idea is to really build frames for paying customers, then the attempt tends to dilute the viability of established frame builders. The question one needs to ask is: who is going to buy my frames? The market for these steel bikes is very, very small.

Jim Merz Big Sur CA

On Sat, Jun 5, 2010 at 2:31 PM, Robert Clair <r.clair@cox.net> wrote:
> .... sounds like the united bicycle institute out in ashland oregon. one
> of the local lads at the lbs went there several years ago. never done that
> before ... came back with a rideable frame ... and learned a few bits about
> the "next time". said it was definetly worth the exsperience.
>
> ... put some decals on it that were "blodwyn pig" ... a decent 70's rock
> unti, and also maybe some place in wales :)
>
> ... by the way ... ashland has a neat shakespeare fest for a week every
> year.
>
> robert clair
> alexandria, va