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.