I see a constructeur as engineering a bicycle for a specific purpose and with a set of usage concepts in mind. This includes designing and building the frame. The frame is usually designed to accommodate a specific set of components chosen and perhaps built by the constructeur to best-suit the expected usage and the expected user. This method of generating a deliverable bicycle enables the component selection and frame design to include trade-offs that might not be possible with off-the-shelf components. This allows higher performance metrics to be achieved, such as fully-fendered and lighted bikes weighing around 20 pounds that show exceptional efficiency, comfort, suitability for distance rides, and durability. I'm referring here to the (here some terminology escapes me!!) exceptional French machines famed in Heine's book, and perhaps the work of Tony Oliver.
A framebuilder is focused on the frame, and uses off the shelf components.
Ken Freeman Ann Arbor, MI USA
-----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of Peter Tutty Sent: Thursday, January 18, 2007 7:38 AM To: Ray Green; classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: Re: [CR]Constructeur
My interpretation of Jan's definitions is thus:
A framebuilder builds and perhaps if not outsourced, enamells the frameset. A framebuilder may sometimes build up a frameset into a bicycle with a selected "off the peg" array of components.
A constructeur builds a bicycle. This means he/she builds a frame and perhaps some custom components such as stems, racks etc and integrates these with a variety of 'off the peg' components to complete a bicycle.
Peter Tutty Londonderry NSW, Australia
(Riding a c1986 Guerciotti SL Track Bike today - KOF but not Constructeur)
Ray Green <greenjersey@talktalk.net> wrote: >From Jan Heine's website " Constructeur: Different from a framebuilder, a constructeur actually builds the entire bike,< I'm not sure what this means. Is Jan saying that they made the bars, stem, spokes, seat pin, bottom bracket, headset, saddle, rims, gears etc etc. If so I am, to put it mildly, amazed if not how do they differ from a frame builder? Ray Green, Harrow, Middlesex
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