Sarah,
There is a common phrase that we all know about bicycles; it's all been done before and there is rarely anything that is truely new. Regarding c onstructor bikes, as you say, they are all about practical functioning a nd design. I don't think there will be anything "earthshakeingly new" co me from the current trend towards constructor bikes; but by the same tok en as with the American framebuilders of the early 70's; I expect we wil l raise the bar far above what the previous masters of the constructor e ra designed and built. At least that is my intention. I am discovering t hat there is still PLENTY of room for creativity and innovation within t he design perameters of such machines. As a matter of fact, the paramete rs are nearly infinite. There still isn't much that was made in the past that couldn't be improved upon and stylized for our modern standards an d tastes. I know for sure that there is enough to do to keep myself busy for the rest of my life.
Good luck with your constructor activities. If you're having half as muc h fun as I am and are anywhere near as excited about the possibilities, then you are already having a total blast building bikes. I feel like a kid again and bicycles are brand new again. What fun!
Brian Baylis
La Mesa, CA
tho were certainly "new" to many of u folks this is one of my primary focuses as well my biz partner and sister builder takes the more down n dirty approach doing whats gotta be done the constructors(changed the spelling as im not french...) bicycle is indeed what many of r customers want n need now to take it to the next level were all watching this is the 21st century and yet no one has really found anything much beyond what was offered at the beginning of the last century its that ole thing dont fix what aint broken ifn ya race ya race yr in a league of yr own but that aint the typical rider but if u can make it art and functional bless u peace sarahgibsonkansascity
"Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot uneducate the person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who fee ls pride. And you cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore." - César Chávez
From: "brianbaylis@juno.com" <brianbaylis@juno.com> To: dvancleve@cox.net CC: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: Re: [CR]Current constructeurs? Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2005 16:32:12 GMT
Doug,
You forgot one. I know, no one has seen one YET; but I have already anno
unced a few times I'm focusing on real constructuer bikes from now on. T
hat is not to say that the traditional road and track/fixed gear bikes a
re not available; just that my interest and attention have turned to ran
donnuer type bikes. Yes, others have had a head start, but nothing is be
ing made like I'm working on as we speak. Attend the NAHBS and you will see what is in the offering. The NEW constructuer age is beginning.
Brian Baylis La Mesa, CA I know it will take some time to take hold; but pay attention. Construct
uer bikes are the wave of the future!
Howdy folks.
I know that Ernest Csuka is still building Singers in France as is Gille
s Berthoud, and I know that Bruce Gordon, Mariposa and Peter Weigel are do
ing them. Is there anybody else? Please provide links if you know of any.
Thanks :^)
Doug Van Cleve
Chandler, AZ