heavily snipped for clarity: On Fri, 05 Jul 2002 14:25:32 -0400 GalliGruppo@aol.com writes: 1) Some production frames ride fabulous, some don't. Same for master built. Interestingly, this is same in guitar world. A guitar made by a master luthier doesn't guarantee that it will sound or play better than a factory production equivalent. 2) What a master built frame (or guitar or whatever) usually guarantees is quality of craftsmanship. So, to me, having a steel, lugged frame made by a master builder is not so much for getting ultimate ride quality
as much as it is for having an example of the highest form of
craftsmanship,
and... dare I say it?... a piece of art.
3) Which brings me to my next topic - does a market exist for reissues
of classic frames? Cinelli still makes the Super Corsa, but what if
they made it in limited numbers, using old graphics/artwork, with
choice of 120, 126 or 130mm rear dropout width and constructed by
only select group of "master" builders at the factory. Same goes
for other famous frames like the Peugeot PX-10, Gios Super Record,
etc. Is the market too small for such a venture? If the factories
are not interested, would a private master builder accept a custom
order for a frame that was an exact DNA-matched clone to a 1972
Colnago Super?
Greg "I double dare you to pronounce it correctly" Gagliano
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1) the ride will primarily be dictated by the layout of the frame, its
geometry,
and how it all suits the rider using it. the construction details as well
as the
workmanship are of secondary consideration when the issue of 'ride'
is discussed.
2) craftsmanship must be defined here...are you referring to the external
details, the ones you SEE, or the intangibles, the ones you EXPECT when
you have someting made bespoke? many people excel at the metalworking
aspects, some are fine technicians and fully understand the metallurgical
and engineering nuances of fabrication, and some know about bicycles and
what should go where. the choice is yours as to where to shop. would you
buy a guitar made by someone who didn't play guitar? for fine frames of
ANY
material, some approach art, and some approach commercial art. but it is
a
consumer driven commodity, so it's not defineable.
3) there is no market for reissues. in your example, the cinelli sc is a
supercorsa
in name only, not that that's bad. if you took all the framebuilders that
spanned
the generations back to the CR timeline and added up the frames built 'in
the image of...' it would not be considered a market. as such, i cannot
imagine
a bicycle company going 'retro'. furthermore, the derosa heritage series
frames of
the 90s were current frames with 3 differing older decal sets. the
pegoretti
luigino is a modern os steel frame with some older braze-ons. these are
two
examples of classis 'STYLE' frames that are/were made, but i suspect in
numbers so small it would constitute a hobby rather than a market.
e-RICHIE
chester, ct