Re: [CR]hetchins lugs--pet peeve

(Example: History:Ted Ernst)

Date: Wed, 19 May 2004 21:20:09 -0700
Subject: Re: [CR]hetchins lugs--pet peeve
From: "Shannon Menkveld" <shannon.menkveld@cox.net>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
In-Reply-To: <20040519.184927.3748.74.richardsachs@juno.com>


On Wednesday, May 19, 2004, at 03:49 PM, Richard M Sachs wrote:
> i agree with you, chas.
> i think they were okay conceptually. but the
> execution rarely was up to the level you'd expect
> if you were a discering frame aficionado. funny,
> though - these "warts" are part and parcel of this
> type of frame's heritage. few folks would talk about
> this stuff back in the day - only in hindsight do we
> disect all the details in an analytical way.
> e-RICHIE
> chester, ct

Reminds me of a quote I read in the 1986 "Italian" issue of Bicycle Guide...

"Complaining about file marks on a Cinelli is like complaining about brush strokes on the Mona Lisa."

Marginally Informed Opinion: Very few builders in the world approach the level of finish work that American framebuilders achieve. In that same issue of BG, they talk about the difficulty of getting Sannino to bring up the level of finishing of his frames. He didn't see the point. It seems like Americans place much more emphasis on this stuff, at least the ones buying lugged bikes. Any opinions as to the accuracy of this assumption, and maybe some reasons why?

--Shannon, still wanting a Hetchins, in
San Diego, CA