Re: [CR] Is Quality Evolutionary ?

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Cinelli)

From: <"brianbaylis@juno.com">
Date: Tue, 6 Jun 2006 17:08:27 GMT
To: loudeeter@aol.com
Subject: Re: [CR] Is Quality Evolutionary ?
cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

Lou,

I have more than a few words to say on this subject. I think about this sort of thing all the time. I believe I have some interesting points and observations. Alas, I haven't even a spare second right now, as you can ('t possibly) imagine. There are LOTS of issues within that topic, thing s my apprentice and I talk about at length every time we are working tog ether. I am in the process of passing on my years of experience to a you nger generation. During this process one is exposed to what one believes , and is able to study that while teaching the student.

Anyway, I will make a concerted effort to join this conversation this ev ening, and also deliver some "news" that may be of interest to many of y ou (out there in vintage and handmade bicycle land).

Toodles, gotta run.

Brian Baylis La Mesa, CA Off to see the Wizard; I'm going to need some courage for this trip.


-- loudeeter@aol.com wrote:


I would add that material is another factor to consider. Changes in the past 30 years, such as the diameter of the tubesets, quality of the ste el, & precision of lug castings, have a lot to do with the perceived qua lity, whether it be quality of ride or quality of the build. Richard Sa chs tells me every year that he hasn't yet "peaked", so I believe that m eans he is still improving and striving for perfection. Regarding your question, I want both--quality of design and build; which is why if and when I decide to order another custom bike, it will be from someone who won't compromise on either. Lou Deeter, Orlando FL

"Accuracy and attention to detail take a certain amount of time."

-----Original Message----- From: lennys_email@juno.com <lennys_email@juno.com> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Sent: Tue, 6 Jun 2006 13:27:30 GMT Subject: [CR] Is Quality Evolutionary ?

To add to Jan's insightful analysis: The qualtiy of bikes, like all other manufactured things, depends fundam

entally on two factors: design and execution. If the designer has quali

ty, however that may be defined, as his or her objective, then one can a

ssume that quality will improve with experience, and in that case later

built bikes should be better than earlier ones, barring any errors in ju

dgement on the part of the designer. Execution is another story, and de

pends on factors such as those discussed by Jan, especially the pressure

to produce in numbers to meet demand. So one question that can be aske

d is: would you rather have a bike of excellent design and average exec

ution (construction), or average design and excellent execution ? Perso

nnaly speaking, I'll take the former if I can't have excellence in both.

Len Grossman, S. Orange NJ

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