i'm giving david an attaboy here. the french builders (sorry for lumping them all together...) were notoriously indifferent with respect to the "finish work" on their frames. it's wrong to assume that if your investment exceeds a certain amount that fine hand-craftsmanship should be part of the equation. these are/were purpose built bicycles and are without equal in their execution. pretty? maybe. pretty cool? without question. e-RICHIE aka Richard M Sachs Chester, CT
On Wed, 19 May 2004 09:08:31 -0500 David Cooper <dbcooper@rcn.com> writes: Hi John, Thanks for the detailed account. I feel as if I had been there with you.
I think it is interesting, and not generally well known, that typically the more custom something is the more work required by the buyer to finish it. We in the United States often expect that things that are "high end" are finished to the "nth" degree. This is not necessarily the case. What is the case is that when they are finished they provide the highest level of performance and satisfaction, something that the more perfectly produced and finished but less custom item cannot. I remember buying a Porsche 911SC some years ago and being amazed that on a new car the suspension needed to be set up properly to work to its full potential.
I trust that, after the teething problems are over, the Alex Singer will give you years of pleasure.
Best regards,
David Cooper
Chicago, IL