Brian, just to add my two pence (tupence?) not all the amazing British frames are out of production like Flying Scot. I just received a custom built Arthur Caygill Artisan frame by Richard Kent, the Caygill custom builder. It is a full-on Audex frame with all sorts of fittings for lights, racks, fenders, even brazeon Mafac brake pivots like Herse. Chromed, handcut fancy lugs (the customer even gets to pick the lug pattern). Half chromed forks and stays. Everything clean, tidy and beautiful. Amazingly, the price was only £634, or less than $1000 US. The Japanese and the American designed/Taiwan built aluminum frames may have squeezed a lot of high-volume British buiders out of the market, but there are still some amazing craftsmen in UK building works of art at bargain prices. Maybe Cycling Plus (I just renewed my subscription for another two years) should review the UK custom frames (Caygill, Mercian, Cooper, and probably many more unknown in the US). I know the mothly tests usually focus on higher production complete bikes, while current production doesn't qualify for Hilary's Design Classics column, but surely the creative minds at C+ can come up with a good custom frame review.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
> bruce,
>
> This is one of the many great things about this list. Certainly I had
> heard of such a frame over the years, but had never seen one in the
> flesh. Having recieved my first Flying Scot from Bob Reid in a primer
> condition, I will also have the pleasure of seeing the raw metal as soon
> as I get into it. I am looking forward to my second one from you, as
> soon as my bank account (currently at $79) recovers to the point that I
> can send you some money. Again I will have an opportunity to appreciate
> the design and craftsmanship of these fine bikes as I effect a repair on
> the frame prior to refinishing. Can't afford a complete original one
> like Dales', but I'm perfectly happy being a part of the resurrection of
> these two frames for my collection.
>
> The more we interact, the more I like you guys. My personal goal is to
> visit the UK and meet you guys in person. Within a short period of time
> you two along with Ray and Martin have warmed me up to many things from
> your part of the world in a way I was not expecting. I think is is on
> account of having you guys as real people pitching for wider exposure
> and appreciation of frames made by your countrymen. How can I thank you
> enough?
>
> I'm looking forward to seeing and hearing more about the many lesser
> known frames of high quality that we over here know too little about. It
> is quite clear to me as a framebuilder that the quality of at least the
> Flying Scot is equal to a Masi for sure. Personally, I have to classify
> the Rene Herse as a bit more labor intensive than the others on account
> of the extreme amount of filing and self made parts and other features
> they incorperate. Aside from that, the quality of the craftmanship has
> to be considered equal. Were it not for you guys over there, I'm sure
> most of us would have missed these gems. And for such reasonable prices!
>
> So without getting too mushy and emotional, I'd like to say to all of
> you Brits and Scots (and anything else I might miss) how much I
> personally enjoy having you guys on the list. Your contributions are
> valuable to us beyond your imagination. If I could afford it I would
> book an extended vacation to the UK just to hang with you guys, search
> out bikes and Premier drumkits (of which I have the largest personal
> collection of in the world at 20), and soak in the culture. Perhaps
> someday. In the meantime, I will be happy just knowing you guys. You
> blokes are GEAR!
>
> Brian Baylis
> La Mesa, CA
> Proud of my English and Scot heritage more now than ever.
> >
> > On behalf of Bob Reid and myself, I'd like to say how much we appreciated
> > the comments by Dale and earlier ones made by Brian Baylis about the Scot
> > frames they now have.
> >
> > It's been a goal of ours to have the Scot marque more widely known and
> > appreciated. Bob's achieved a lot through his great website and having
> > influential figures like Dale and Brian commenting favourably on their
> > frames can only build on that.
> >
> > It was interesting to hear Dale speak of Flying Scots, and Masi and Herse
> > bikes in the same sentence and that, for me, puts it into perspective. I
> > mean, Faliero Masi and Rene Herse could surely never have dreamt that one
> > day their products would be mentioned in the same breath as the Scot! ;)
> >
> > The Flying Scot, however, wasn't the only fine Scottish frame. During the
> > hey-days of the 1940s-1960s, there were probably 15-20 Scottish companies
> > producing lightweight racing cycles. Not all were up to the standard of the
> > Scot but some were.
> >
> > Over the coming months, I'm intending, work and family commitments
> > permitting, to build a website devoted to these Scottish bikes. It's
> > something I've been thinking about for some time and, hopefully, posting
> > this message to the list will force me to get a move on. I've not yet
> > decided whether to just concentrate on Scottish marques or include English
> > builders but I think I might have enough of a job with those produced in my
> > own country. I have a particular interest in Hobbs of Barbican bikes, too,
> > and would love to do an in-depth, one-marque site in the manner of Bob's.
> > Any help by way of brochure scans or photographs would be greatly
> > appreciated!
> >
> > Regards,
> > Bruce