This is a perfect discussion to fill the aching void left by the recent completion of the midterm elections now that there are no more political ads on TV and radio. It has us questioning/complaining/commenting/criticizing other's values and at the same time provides no useful information. As a bonus, nobody is going to change their minds after reading other posts and it must drive Dale crazy wondering when, how or if he needs to step in to referee. I love it, I'm in! Dale's mental health be damned.
Well really, I'm just taking advantage of the opportunity to say what a bargain custom bicycle frames are compared to any other craft/art I can think of. I was just admiring pictures on Kirk Pacenti's website of a new frame Brian Baylis made. What a gorgeous frame. He calculated the hours it took him to make it but that isn't the whole story since he runs his own business - you know, keeping books, repairing equipment, answering the phone, whatever. I'm under the impression that to a lot of people, $10,000 sounded really extravagant. However if Brian was able to charge divorce lawyer or plumber or name your American occupation here fees, I bet that one of a kind frame made by one of the best in American would have been a lot more expensive than whatever he charged.
I was watching American Roadshow on PBS the other night and a couple of hand thrown vases were shown that had a value of more than that $10,000. Oops, I'm beginning to sound like Bruce Gordon but I just couldn't resist making sure the value of a beautiful hand made custom bicycle was thought of in comparison to any other handcrafted work that required years of training and lots of equipment to make and not just what we hope or want it to cost.
Doug Fattic
Niles, Michigan