[CR]Open letter from Carlos Maldoror

(Example: Framebuilding:Technology)

From: <"brianbaylis@juno.com">
Date: Sun, 13 May 2007 22:24:34 GMT
To: Framebuilders@phred.org, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Open letter from Carlos Maldoror

Let's try this way:

Open Letter to the Frame Building Community:

Brothers and Sisters, Newbie and Experienced,

Why a Framebuilding and Painting Co-Op?

Certainly technology has made this community come closer, not created

it, but connected it, and some might even say shaping it. The

shrinking of the space-time continuum by the Internet, it's ability to

show the almost instant connectedness of Peoples that are interested

in a very particular cultural practice is what we are experiencing

now, even as you read this: we share an interest in framebuilding and

bicycle related production. This production, be it in a business mass

produced atmosphere, low volume, or not, is a craft that has been

practiced in the United States practically since its European

popularity in the late 19th century; say a little bit after the

explosion of the velocipede to the modern carbon fiber frame, we have

been producing bicycles. I'm sure the Wright Brothers would attest to

this fact, and many other builders who participate actively in this

and other forums.

Certainly these same 30+ year members of this community, and the older

members (I'm thinking of Art Stump and Albert Eisentraut, for example,

and many others, the list is, believe me, very long), are not part of

the discussions in the Frame Building Forums, it is a very small group

that actively paticipates if you think about; some have even described

it as an "incestuous" community. These builders, yourself included,

I'm sure will also attest to the uniqueness and diversity in styles

and production of bicycles made in the different regions of the

states. Say for example what the Builders in the Portland-Oregon area

are, and have been doing, for quite some time. Or the Builders in the

Midwest that again have their very rich history and tradition of

bicycle construction. The same of course goes for the builders in the

East Coast, Connecticut, NYC area, Long Island, etc. The regions are

well defined and represented: Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Montana, etc.

I write to you as a member of this national community of builders.

Myself based in a not too shabby region with a very rich history of

cycling, and more importantly, bicycle construction and painting:

sunny San Diego California!

The San Diego Handmade Bicycle Co-Operative is a reality! As one of 5

Co-Op members, myself being part of this non-hierarchical group (I am

a speaker for now), this small confederation will not only prove to

have its own voice, but will also show that the indepentent and

individual voices of its members are heard. There is no thought

control here, but mutual aid and support, among many other things. Our

mission statement is forth coming, please accept this letter as a

brief welcome and open invitation to come into dialogue with us in

these Forums. Our purpose is for local mutual aid, and more

importantly to support and teach what we believe is OUR REGIONAL San

Diego based knowledge, history, style, diversity, and superb

craftsmanship, both in building, and in painting. And for those that

think that I might be sounding cocky, look within yourselves first.

The quality of our bicycles, I repeat, both in Construction and in

Painting, in some cases carried out by the same Craftsperson, is not

only up to industry standards, but (just like other builders in the

Net), we are not only going beyond it, but searching and experimenting

with styles and techniques not produced in any other part of the

World, be it in Australia, Japan, or Europe. Our curriculum, our vita,

and our portfolio will be our work. A work that is nurtured,

inspirited, grounded in this very rich regional culture of bicycles:

from Balloon Tires to Lowriders, from Ti to Lugged. The bad tongues

might say that we are too grounded in this local history, but listen

with your heart ("Tomorrow people, how long will you last, don't know

your past, don't know your future"), some might say, that this

groundedness in tradition prohibits us from growing, but we have

collectively more than one hundred years of growth (Baylis, Roberson,

Holland, JB) to name a few. We are not retro, or nostalgic, any

sensible and enlightend being will understand, we are reinventing

ourselves, without loosing this tradition, that some might have

already lost, and that WE care for, so that others will also carry it

with them, in their hearts, hands, and minds.

With this in mind I invite you to communicate and participate with us

at a peer to peer level. At Nahbs, I personally invited some cool cats

to join us, for a workshop of some sort, the invitation is still open.

We now have the space. Again, we Respect the Craft's regional

diversity, but we are Proud of Ours, however, we are open to sharing

our local tradition, knowledge and experience collectively with

others. As due time permits. If interested in sharing and doing

collaborative work please stay tuned for our website. It will be up

and running shortly, with lots of pictures, cool artwork, and

intelligent essays.

Warm Greetings from lovely a place,

Sir Maldoror SD Califas!

The pen is mightier than the sword.