Re: [CR]Bruce's post, "We are to blame," etc.

(Example: History:Ted Ernst)

Date: Thu, 09 Mar 2006 08:58:33 -0800
From: "Steve Maas" <stevem@mail.nonlintec.com>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR]Bruce's post, "We are to blame," etc.
References: <MONKEYFOODEYtN3Isam000032c8@monkeyfood.nt.phred.org> <D737B222-6B75-43B7-9E67-8F02AF163B06@woodworkingboy.com> <440FAFD2.2030805@mail.nonlintec.com>
In-Reply-To: <440FAFD2.2030805@mail.nonlintec.com>


One last rant on this subject.

Yesterday I took my chrome Rossi out for a spin, ended up at a bagel place in Manhattan Beach, an affluent seaside area, for lunch. A couple people saw my bike, asked me about it, and admired it. This happens almost every time I go out on one of the classic bikes--literally, almost every time! People in cars stop beside me at traffic lights and ask about whatever bike I'm riding. I get toots of the horn from drivers and a thumbs-up sign. And so on.

There is obviously a lot of appreciation for elegant, classic design and construction that shows a high level of aesthetics and craftsmanship. Here in LA, for sure, there are plenty of people with the money to buy high-end frames, and there is no lack of willingness to spend it. There is no need to expect people to support KOF efforts because of a sense of charity and good will, which, we all know, is just not going to happen, and certainly is not a valid basis for a business. The problem is to tap into that market. I'm not sure how to do that, but it seems obvious to me that this is the key to making a business out of high-end frame work.

Steve Maas
Long Beach, California