on 12/11/09 7:14 AM, eflayer at [email protected] wrote: > I am both impressed and dismayed with the degree of commitment to a > single point of view. Whatever works works. Thinking there was a > time when Grant thought he'd never leave Japan for Taiwan...and that > time came. Granted, he is still making gorgeous lugged frames, now > with cheaper labor. If Riv does make most of the profits on parts, > then why not sell another Riv branded entry price gorgeous tigged > frameset so more customers buy more parts? I see mostly upside for > everyone and no downside. Except if it divides attention and leads to > a loss of direction.
I think the inherent flaw is the idea of a "gorgeous" tig-welded bicycle frame. Personally, I don't see anything wrong with that method of frame building, but they've never struck me as particularly good looking. The other downside (as another noted) certainly would be stress on working capital. Inventory costs money and needs to turn. Bike frames are relatively slow movers and expensive. Also, where do you stick 100 bike frames? Maybe you have to rent more space, hire an extra employee to manage and pack that part of the business. More expense, and probably more expense than than the sale of those bikes would cover. All of which sidesteps my basic question of why a TIG-welded frame is so important. The idea of using lugs to join frame tubes is a valid craft that Rivendell has chosen to maintain. - Jim -- Jim Edgar [email protected] Cyclofiend Bicycle Photo Galleries - http://www.cyclofiend.com Current Classics - Cross Bikes Singlespeed - Working Bikes Send In Your Photos! - Here's how: http://www.cyclofiend.com/guidelines "There were messengers who named their bikes, but Chevette never would have done that, and somehow because she did think about it like it was something alive." William Gibson - "Virtual Light" -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
