Paul Brown wrote:
"Bernie has refined framebuilding to an art as far as speed in a one man shop
goes. I've faxed him dimensions at 8 am and picked up a finished frame built
to spec at 6 pm the same day. (snippage.....)...... Bernie and Tom Ritchey are the only builders I personally know that could make a credible and ridable frame before lunch."
For me this raises a significant issue and distinction.... framebuilding for the sake of the bicycle, versus framebuilding for the sake of art. In my life, I've gone out of my way to see some pretty serious art, and none of it has been bicycles. In my life, I've gone out of my way to see some pretty serious bicycles, and I didn't particularly think of them as art (beautiful, yes, but "art", well, far secondary). I thought of them as purpose-designed machines. Function well before elegance.
That's not to say that I didn't enjoy the recent ahh-LECHSS sohn-ZJAYY posts and photos -- I did. However, what really makes my heart beat fast is what I've always called a "peloton bike" -- a bike that any pro, star or watercarrier, could get on, and feel that it was competent.
If Mikkelson can crank out said custom in a matter of hours, I doubt that he was building art. I suspect that he was simply getting on with the task of building a competent bicycle, one which combined the physique and wishes of the buyer, with his own knowledge of what works.
I'll admire Columbines sitting at my computer at night, but give me a straightforward Pinarello or Basso to ride the following morning. I know they'll get the job done right. Kind'a like dating blondes, but marrying brunettes.
Cheers,
Peter Bridge
Sort'a South of Longmont, CO