Re: [CR]Gilding the lilly/now KOF Rivendell Bleriot

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Ideale)

Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2007 11:19:37 -0700 (PDT)
From: "larry chang" <aam4w@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]Gilding the lilly/now KOF Rivendell Bleriot
To: Tom Dalton <tom_s_dalton@yahoo.com>
In-Reply-To: <153965.61623.qm@web55902.mail.re3.yahoo.com>
cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

Tom,

Without going too far OT, I appreciate your fairness re: Chinese-made bikes. No doubt, recent news about Chinese-made products hasn't helped public perception, and if some people are put off my European/American brands being made by hands other than those, so be it. No doubt, some will feel that the end has come if Campagnolo goes to China (if they haven't already).

The question of authenticity is an old one. Is Chinese food made by non-Chinese any less Chinese? Princeton and Yale (my alma maters) modeled their architecture and social structures after Oxford and Cambridge. Do people perceive these American schools as British wannabees or worthy schools in their own right?

Back on-topic: Rivendells don't get discussed much here, and there is another group for that. However, I recently saw some of the prototypes for sale (called Protovelos) for the Bleriot, their only frame made in Taiwan. Though I'm not a frame builder, the brazing seemed so clean to me (these only have a clear powdercoat) that it looked like lug outlining (OK, I admit that I copped out and bought a regular Bleriot because I liked its color). Overall, I am impressed at the level of design and quality of this modestly-priced frameset and look forward to building it up. The only possible problem? Now that Grant has shown his Taiwan manufacturer how to make a decent frame, they might someday beat him at his own game??!!

Larry Chang Oakland, CA USA

Tom Dalton <tom_s_dalton@yahoo.com> wrote: Yea, Colnago learned their lesson; now they get their frames made in China!

James Valiensi, Northridge California

Really? I assume you're not talking about anything that's on topic, right? As for the newer stuff, this is the first I've heard of Chinese Colnagos, but then again, I'm hardly an industry insider. It's just odd that you see all those "Made in Italy" stickers, and none (that I've seen) with the "Made in China" stickers. Unlike Masi, the Colnago name is still associated with the man, and his factory in Italy. I'd be a little surprised if he was farming out frames to China, but if he is, there's no real reason to think that's a bad thing. Consumers might not like that their bike was made outside of Italy, but that doesn't mean that it is by definition a lesser bike. My suspicion is that if, or when, Colnagos are being made in China it will be to lower the price on some of the less expensive bikes. Extreme C's from China seem unlikely, at this time, but you never know.

So, I'm in a pickle, because on the one hand I want to say, "so what if they're made in China? That means nothing," and on other hand I'm inclinded to say, "I hope you have your facts right before you defame the brand," which suggests, in contradiction to the first comment, that Chinese manufacture is problematic. I guess it is because many people will perceive it as problematic that I don't wish to see this inforamtiuon put forth, unless you know it to be accurate.

Tom Dalton Bethlehem, PA USA

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