Todd Kielman wrote <snip> Still trying to raise funds for a new KOF frame. Anybody care to offer their opinions on who their choice of KOF builder would be, especially based on the possibility of getting a frame built by this person sometime in the next year or so?I'm leaning heavily towards a couple of our esteemed listmember/ builders,just curious to know what some of you guys think.Off list or on is ok with me,just don't want to see anyone getting the wrong signals or having toes stepped on or starting a flame war.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Todd, With all respect, I don't think that's answerable. Too general. To me, it's like, "What is the best car?"
If you'd specify some preferences about what you are looking for, you might get a lot more helpful feedback from this esteemed "krew."
Let me give just a couple of examples of KOF distinctions:
Traditionalist (Richard Sachs?) vs. Experimenter (Brian Baylis?) Road v. Randonneur, by reputation (Richard Sachs vs. Peter Weigle) "form over function" v. Ornate (Sachs, Weigle, v. Mooney, Columbine, Bohemian, Bruce Gordon,..) Really rare v. fairly common (Baylis v. Eisentraut?) Long-established v. newbie (Eisentraut, Sachs v. Zanconato). Paint their own work v. outsource the painting (Weigle v. Sachs) Close enough to maybe visit for sizing, v. far away (Fattic, Assenmacher v. Bayliss or Peter Johnson).
I've mentioned names that came to mind, bikes I'm familiar with, but I'm confident you could do other lists with completely different names of builders who are just as good in work on the paths they have chosen.
There are lots more differences we could catalogue, too. I don't think any of us knows your dreams and wants neearly as well as you do.
FWIW, I'm extremely fond of my only KOF bike, a Peter Weigle. It's one of my very favorite bikes for the joy of riding, its super-clean appearance, and great finish. But, truth be told, it wasn't custom built for me, and it's over 20 years old. I suspect the new ones are even better, but I haven't ridden one of them.
regards (and hoping this will head off some cabin fever flame wars),
harvey sachs mcLean va (I've set aside a late Sachs road gruppo, and one of these days I'll get one of e-Richie's bikes, too. Imagine: Sachs on Sachs on Sachs... But mostly because he does such elegant work.)