Handbuilt Bicycle News

[fiamme red]

I wasn't aware of this website before I saw a link on the CR list today: http://www.handbuiltbicyclenews.com/.

[Pastashop]

Thanks – very nice site.

Couple of articles that caught my eye:

Richard Sachs on building a frame vs. being a frame builder:
http://www.handbuiltbicyclenews.com/c48-opinion/64-richard-sachs-learning-to-build-a-frame-is-not-the-same-as-becoming-a-frame-builder

Tom Ritchey builds a bike for Eroica:
http://www.handbuiltbicyclenews.com/c23-bicycles/85-tom-ritchey-invokes-the-classic-for-eroica-california

[GParkes]

Thanks – very nice site.

Couple of articles that caught my eye:

Richard Sachs on building a frame vs. being a frame builder:
http://www.handbuiltbicyclenews.com/c48-opinion/64-richard-sachs-learning-to-build-a-frame-is-not-the-same-as-becoming-a-frame-builder

Tom Ritchey builds a bike for Eroica:
http://www.handbuiltbicyclenews.com/c23-bicycles/85-tom-ritchey-invokes-the-classic-for-eroica-california

So, if I understand the article referring to building a frame vs being a framebuilder, does this mean that someone such as Eric Estlund isn't a framebuilder because he didn't spend a three year apprenticeship finish filing/sanding lugs for another builder, then three more years brazing dropouts? Same for Chris Bishop? Seems a little narrow minded. By the looks of it, both of them (as well as many other builders) are gifted and can craft amazingly functional and beautiful frames. No?

[Pastashop]

There will always be exceptions to the "rules". ATMO. ;-)

[e-RICHIE]

So, if I understand the article referring to building a frame vs being a framebuilder, does this mean that someone such as Eric Estlund isn't a framebuilder because he didn't spend a three year apprenticeship finish filing/sanding lugs for another builder, then three more years brazing dropouts? Same for Chris Bishop? Seems a little narrow minded. By the looks of it, both of them (as well as many other builders) are gifted and can craft amazingly functional and beautiful frames. No?

I wrote the piece, and it was edited. I didn't title it. Once it went live on HBG and we watched as folks interpreted it, I added this text (http://www.richardsachs.com/site/2016/03/13/putting-the-me-in-meme/) on my own website. In short, the message is that the market, opportunities, and landscape have changed over the generations, and new windows into the trade have been pried open. There's no right or wrong way to do this.

[miguel]

Pretty sure Eric worked for bikefriday for a couple years