Don,
You like the bike and it speaks to you...cool. Best bike ever?? I don't think so. There is no best bike ever. That is a ridiculous claim. It is what it is and if you like it that's all that matters.
Next subject please.
Jay Sexton Sebastopol, CA
Don Wilson wrote:
> > Dale,
> > There has to be a first time I respectfully disagree
> > with you and this is it. Masterpieces are not measured
> > in linear, discretely quantifiable terms of how much
> > work went into them. If they were, then every
> > mastercraftsman would just do more work than the last
> > guy and grab the honor of masterpiece. Masterpieces
> > are, for lack of a better word, binary phenomena. They
> > happen, or they don't. The Mona Lisa is not the best
> > crafted or composed painting of the Florentine
> > renaissance by far. Leonardo did at least one that I
> > think was far better in every estimable way but one:
> > the Mona Lisa is a masterpiece and Leonardo's other
> > paintings are masterful paintings. Frankly, the arts
> > and crafts are full of masterpieces that weren't the
> > best crafted of their time. They just work magically
> > well in a way that is absolutely frustrating to other
> > craftsmen and artists (often subsequentely even to the
> > one who made the masterpiece) out there spilling their
> > guts out in execution wondering why their piece does
> > not make the final lyrical leap into greatness.
> >
> > Don Wilson
> > Los Olivos, CA USA
> > --- oroboyz@aol.com wrote:
> >
>
>> >> To answer your question of "Best bike ever?"
>> >>
>> >> No, a very nice bike, but far from that in my
>> >> humble opinion...
>> >>
>> >> Don, have you watched that Discovery channel show
>> >> about that family who make choppers? Their business
>> >> is Orange County Choppers? It is stupid in many ways
>> >> but a good illustration of this bike versus other
>> >> fine bikes.
>> >>
>> >> This family take parts (frame,tank, engine, lights,
>> >> etc) assemble them very nicely, then tack on a few
>> >> parts they make and add a (intentionally) compelling
>> >> "theme". Paint & gee gaws get tacked on that reflect
>> >> the theme, (a mini ladder gizmo for Fire Station
>> >> theme, etc.)
>> >>
>> >> Contrast these guys to the other MC builders who
>> >> make their own frame, tank (Ala Jesse James) and
>> >> components... I forget the names of the other guys
>> >> (don't watch this stuff much) but there is a guy
>> >> over in Winston Salem who makes bikes from the
>> >> ground up that are frankly amazing... I am no
>> >> chopper fan but it doesn't take too much of a
>> >> stretch to admire some of these guys craftsmanship
>> >> and effort to make unique and personal "statements"
>> >> in their motorcycles...
>> >>
>> >> When you look back at the first family, despite all
>> >> their press and celebrity, you realize they build
>> >> motorcycles that are well received but are rather
>> >> superficial when compared to the "real" ground up
>> >> motorbike builders...
>> >>
>> >> This is sort of the case for this Chris Chance
>> >> bike...
>> >> Yes, very tasty and cool in paint color, nice
>> >> add-on emblems and competently assembled, but when
>> >> compared to a Sachs or Baylis or Bruce Gordon or
>> >> Weigle or Peter Johnson or Chris Kvale and others,
>> >> well, it is just a nice assembly using minimally
>> >> modified Henry James lugs, in a relatively boring
>> >> and stock looking format. The tacked on bits are
>> >> most of what make it unique. The other builders I
>> >> listed make frames that are so original, involve so
>> >> much hand work and achieve their own unique look &
>> >> style.... you just can't add on a water jet cut
>> >> emblem and get to where they are.
>> >>
>> >> Actually I have seen Chris Chance frames that are
>> >> more artfully made and closer to the halcyon
>> >> heights, just no brazed on trinkets save his nice
>> >> head badge...
>> >>
>> >> Dale Brown
>> >> Greensboro, North Carolina USA
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> -----Original Message-----
>> >> From: dcwilson3@yahoo.com
>> >> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>> >> Sent: Sat, 13 Jan 2007 3:09 AM
>> >> Subject: [CR]Ebay Chris Chance...best bike ever?
>> >>
>> >> This Chris Chance would have to be in the running
>> >> were
>> >> a competition held. It IS the most beautifully
>> >> elegant
>> >> bike I have ever seen. This man took minimalist
>> >> elegance to another level with this bike. The paint
>> >> scheme is brilliant and so is the construction. I
>> >> even
>> >> like the stars and I'm not normally a fan of such
>> >> details.
>> >> 120074566094
>> >>
>> >> Below I have copied the seller's summary. It needs
>> >> to
>> >> be in the archives. I hope someone on CR gets this
>> >> piece of rolling art. It makes me proud to be an
>> >> American just looking at the pictures.
>> >>
>> >> Don Wilson
>> >> Los Olivos, CA USA
>> >>
>> >> "The Bicycle Exchange was New England's leading
>> >> seller
>> >> of high-end cycles, components, and sundries for
>> >> over
>> >> 50 years, and launched many careers of competitive
>> >> amateur and professional cyclists. Ben Olken, the
>> >> founder, was considered the Godfather of the
>> >> regional
>> >> trade.
>> >>
>> >> This track cycle was hand built by framebuilder
>> >> Chris
>> >> Chance as a special gift to Ben Olken, to
>> >> commemorate
>> >> 50 years in the business (1934-1984). It is built of
>> >> Columbus SL tubing, custom detailed HJ lugset and
>> >> crown. 55 cm center to center seat tube and top
>> >> tube.
>> >> Finished in metallic amethyst with black enamel rear
>> >> triangle, fork blades, and headtube. It is a rare
>> >> and
>> >> stunning example of Chris Chance's work. As many
>> >> know,
>> >> Chris Chance was a graduate of the Witcomb school of
>> >> framebuilding, and launched his business in the mid
>> >> 70's, initially concentrating on high-end racing
>> >> cycles, before launching the FatChance line of
>> >> mountain bikes, SlimChance production racing cycles,
>> >> and finally selling out his business to retire in
>> >> Vermont.
>> >>
>> >> Complete cycle is NOS, and has never seen a road or
>> >> track surface. Best track bike at Lars Anderson.
>> >> Details includes stainless steel badge
>> >> embellishments,
>> >> such as the headbadge, BiEx 1934-1984 commemorative
>> >> badge on the seat tube, "Ben" badge on left side of
>> >> top tube, "star" fork crown badges - all
>> >> jewelry-like
>> >> in detail. The bike is absolutely stunning, with
>> >> many
>> >> custom tuned component touches. Show, concours
>> >> condition, completely original, unadulterated.
>> >> Component group includes:
>> >>
>> >> * Campagnolo Record HS/BB
>> >> * Campagnlo Record crankset, 170mm, with milled
>> >> crankarms, milled spiders, Star chainring cutouts
>> >> * Campagnolo SR seatpost
>> >> * Campagnolo SF 28/28 Pista hubs, DT spokes,
>> >> Vittoria Pista CX tubulars
>> >> * Campagnolo SL Pista pedals with ICS clips,
>> >> Cinelli straps
>> >> * Cinelli Unicanitor black suede pista saddle
>> >> * Nisi Pista Speciale "For Professional Use
>> >> Only"
>> >> rims, black anodized
>> >> * Cinelli Pista handlebars (old logo) with
>> >> milled
>> >> old logo 1A stem, Benotto Tape/plugs
>> >>
>> >> D.C. Wilson dcwilson3@yahoo.com