Dale, Thanks for your thoughts. Totally agree with your take on Waterford vs custom particularly the 22 series frames. The 11s are a bit better value - given lower price of 531 frames the compromise in fit and finish is a bit more acceptable. The original question was Waterford - whichever model you care vs 25 year old + Masi - whichever model. Hoping to stimulate some list conversation about value of old and new and what part the actual physical characteristics of ride, fit, finish and materials play vis a vis the more esoteric "soft" attributes of history, reputation, "cant get anymore"stuff.
Tom Rawson
Oakland, CA
> I have thought about all this quite a bit as a retailer, builder
> (occasionally) and a appreciator of vintage bikes. Serotta and Waterford
> make very very nice bicycles. CoMotion, Davidson, and maybe some others can
> be added to this category, in that they are semi-production handmades. I
> sell Waterford now in cycles de ORO and have sold most of the others. They
> are more custom than an Italian bike but certainly not true custom. A true
> custom would be made one at a time, specifically for one person with all the
> possible variables .
>
> I think the problem (not much though) I have with these semi customs is that
> you can buy a truly custom frame from a number of sources for the same bucks.
> And have all the benefits therein. AND have a frame in which, for instance,
> all the seams and casting ridges are filed, the top tube length, frame
> angles, tubing gauges and diameters are all unique to your needs... And you
> can often meet and talk to the actual guy who does all the work..
>
> I guess it is a lot more work to find a builder.. figure out what you want
> and then wait for it to be made.. But the return benefit is that you have a
> bike that not only fits you and rides the way you want to ride, but you have
> a piece of craftwork that is above the ordinary...
>
>
> Dale Brown
> cycles de ORO, Inc.
> 1410 Mill Street
> Greensboro, North Carolina
> USA 27408
> 336-274-5959
> Fax 336-274-6360
> <A HREF="http://www.cyclesdeoro.com">cyclesdeORO.com</A>
> <A HREF="http://www.classicrendezvous.com/main.htm">Classic Rendezvous</A>