Harvey wrote:
What do we want from a framebuilder before we offer our patronage, before we commit our funds to him for some uncertain time before the transaction is completed? PARTNERSHIP. I don't want to feel that I am just bringing money to the table. I need to feel that the builder listens to what I need for my kind of riding, to what I want (ride, appearance), and will build a bike
that helps me feel better about riding. I trust that he (or she) won't give me something stupid, even if I ask for it, but will explain why my "wants" were not good. I'm curious enough to want to know what tubing and angles & such he's chosen, but darned sure not gonna tell him which to use (I don't think I have the right to select both materials/specifications and outcome, since the former may affect the latter). My hope is that those who are thinking seriously about getting a KOF
would be willing to share how they will select a builder.
My selection was easy Harvey. He lives about 4 miles from me, he's
meticulous to a fault, and he listens to me. I worry a bit because he's
pretty young, late 30's, and doesn't have the experience riding under
the conditions in which I ride, but he listens to my riding experiences
and tolerates looking at my innumerable photos. I trust him, but I am
darned sure telling him what geometry I want or he doesn't get my cash.
I know what I like now. On the other hand, tubes, lugs, etc., they're
his. Braze-ons, ours. Paint, I may even give that to him. The end result
should be a very English bike that anyone can tell is one of his.
I'm not all ga-ga. Not waiting in breathless anticipation. No
reverential awe. I know how I want the bike to handle under what
conditions. Build it for me. I really wish the "art" part was not such a
big part, but what I want is not available commerically, so I put up
with it. Deep down inside though, I wish Titch Morris was still
building. Hey Titch, I need this, this, and this. Fine, see you next
week.
This is my last bike. I'm 53.
Craig Montgomery, Tucson