Saturday, Feeling my OATS! after my long rest, I took my 1952 built, 53 model Claud A/C for a 55 mile ride.Up hill and down dale so to speak. I was impressed as I have always have been with Clauds bikes, NOT so impressed with the cantankeros Simplex gears, a real pain to get the chain tension adjusted, The front rod changer, perfection. Reading the posts about Raleighs Dawes Hercules etc, I have to agree that they all could if needed build frames to match and maybe surpass the boutique type makes. Marketing, like to day, was the name of the games, Get a gimick to sell your wares, Even Claud with his Bi-laminated frames, Any angle you want,brazed, then a lug wrapped around, made sense, Bates Cantiflex tube, diadrant forks, still the best riding and handling bike I ever owned, Curly stays,Not so sure about that one.Taper tubes, the list goes on and on, Anything to attract the racing and clubman, the same to day with the off topic bikes. I would think any frame builder with knowledge of what he is doing could build a frame that could compete with any other. give the same products to work with. One upmanship, dont you want something that is a little diffrent from the other chap? Are you a leader OR a follower? Want to win or be second? Do you dismmount by throwing your leg over the bars OR the saddle? Cheers John Crump Parker. Co USA