In a message dated 7/24/2002 11:18:02 PM Eastern Daylight Time, Steve@sburl.com writes:
<< I seem to remember 10 Speed Drive claiming that they mounted each frame to an alignment table before painting so that the customer could be sure that the frame hadn't been knocked out in shipping (read manufactured that way). I know that cold setting is common practice with most builders, but I cringe to think of the warehouse guys doing it. >>
Actually I would defend Ten Speed Drive on this point.. As with the paint issue, the reason for them investing in really good frame alignment machinery was that there was the presumption, false or not, that many imported frames were not all that straight! Ten Speed Drive guys were pretty sharp and Tom Eason, despite being considered arrogant and condescending by many, was actually pretty good at the things he attempted. Cold setting, within certain parameters of course, is a perfectly normal thing and something that makes steel a preferred substance for bikes as it can survive that process.
<< Ahh, I so fondly remember the days when we had to buy Campy from US distribution at a higher wholesale price than the mail order joints were selling the stuff they brought over direct from Italy. >>
It hasn't changed that much! My wholesale price is about the same as many of the the web merchants retail..
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