Hey all,
I am just starting to catch up on the list after a few month hiatus after I got laid off and took a two month solo bike tour:) And trying to read in digest form is hard to chew.
Who is the non-participant keeper of the flame? I personally love the framebuilding talk as it relates to the aesthetic and percieved artistic properties because that is one of the reasons why I collect and enjoy bikes and that makes the topic relevant and worthy of discussion in my opinion.
Why can't a craftsman be an artist, or visa-versa? Is that the rub? I think some frambuilders fit this mold by delivering funtional art that we have the unique opportunity to experience not only by riding these gems but by hearing first hand from the active framebuilders on this list why they do the mojo they do! Maybe that's the rub? Seems to me nothing starts an online riot in our little universe faster than attaching some metaphysical property to a bike, except for maybe another Masi discussion.
As I chew on my digests what I see are threads that start innocently enough, but egos and personality conflicts take over usually becauase of some silly misinterpration. Usually...
That being said maybe annointing a few as "Keepers of the Flame" is devisive to some? To me a "Keeper of the Flame" is someone who creates in the spirit of a lost form, which may or may not result in a final product that exhibits the same qualities;) Since our list is based on bikes of a certain period a keeper to me here is someone who builds frames that have a root in that time period based on joining method, style and function.
Ughh, this is already too long winded so I'll blow out my own flame:) I Just wanted to know who checked out. It truely saddens me that we loose resources when civility get laid off for awhile. Maybe we all need to go on a bike tour? Anybody up for a Greensboro or bust ride next year for the CR???
Mike on a Bike
Castle Rock, CO