RE: [CR]BB Shells and Dave Bohm from David Bohm

(Example: Production Builders:Peugeot)

From: "dave bohm" <davebohm@cox.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: RE: [CR]BB Shells and Dave Bohm from David Bohm
Date: Wed, 7 Jun 2006 09:44:01 -0700
In-Reply-To: <004b01c68a47$5d707500$9a87e744@D687QV01>


"I'm sure when the time is right Dave will explain where he's coming from."

Hi everybody. This discussion was forwarded to me. I don't actively read lists anymore, just too busy but I can respond.

To me, this is a discussion that I don't really think about. Bikes can and must be made to be completely functional apparatus. Anything beyond that is just a celebration of what can be done. Pushing that envelope if you will and that is what I enjoy doing.

This exploration is what keeps framebuilding alive for me. Otherwise and no insult intended to anyone, but I am destined to be a facsimile of what came before me and why would I be doing this if all I became was a welding monkey.

So from a functional point of view this bike that I am crafting for Wayne is absolutely functional and will be a reliable steed for as long as Mr. Bingham wishes to use it. On the bottom bracket, I have removed no material whatsoever from the points, only added decorative material. On the lugs, I added two points and subtracted from the main body but the overall surface area is decreased by maybe a third.

The head tube rings were removed because when I first started I was going to go with large windows but change directions on that. I do agree that the smooth fillet there is a nice piece but removing the ring has absolutely no structural concerns when silver brazing and using modern headsets. The headtube on this bike almost needed no reaming whatsoever and a king headset or similar is an amazingly reliable piece.

So certainly one might have an opinion on the aesthetics of the pieces and that is perfectly O.K. My view on it is that if everyone is OK with a piece but not really Wowed with it then it is absolute garbage. If something is loathed by some and loved by others then it is good. At least it should elicit a response. If it does that, I have done my job.

So, as Wayne said before. I have been classified, not by myself as an "Art Bike" maker along with Columbine, Erickson and a handful of others but I don't see myself as that. Most of the bikes I have made have been very functional, well done and simple. I would rather be known as somebody who builds great bikes who had the chutzpah to explore the unusual from time to time.
>From a business point of view. I am here. I took a much needed hiatus but if you're in the market for a new frame and want to explore the fringe of a micro niche we call lugged bikes, then drop me a note.

All the best.

Dave Bohm
Bohemian Bicycles