Phil,
To a degree I find this true for myself as well, although my customer bas has become only those that want what I specialize in. I never build anything I don't want to build, like extended head tubes (have turned dwon lots of those requests) and so on. Good example of a frame not likely to be ordered is the frame in progress shown at the Cirque, much of the details of which weren't shown in the photo on Dales' site. By the same token, I've built some rather elaborate frames for paying customers since the Wizard days.
Brian Baylis La Mesa, CA
P.S. Got Bruce looking into a Flying Scot for me. Not really sure what
they are, but whatever it is, I'll take one.
>
> In a message dated 5/23/01 8:10:01 AM, CYCLESTORE@aol.com writes:
>
> << The best work from custom work shops is commissioned by the buyer, not the
> builder. I would guess David Bohm and Richard Sachs best work came from their
> best customer (if you can define that) that was willing and able to pay for
> it. >>
>
> Oh, boy! I get to start one!
> My best work-not highest quality but most elaborate and thought out-is for
> myself. My customers (with one exception) are not normally willing to spend
> the time and/or money for this sort of stuff. And I don't mean just work time
> but time spent defining just what you want. I've made nice bikes for
> customers but not as nice as my own because I really know just what I want.
> And it's very hard to draw that sort of thing out of a person because they
> may not know the range of choices available to him and the education process
> takes as long as building the bike. I like to do it but it's tough to get a
> customer to go along.
> Phil Brown