You wanna be in the biz and be a framebuilder?

[dave thompson]

Bruce Gordon can help;

From BRAIN:
Bruce Gordon Looks for Someone to Take Over Company

AUGUST 30, 2006 -- PETALUMA, CA (BRAIN)—With so many Constructeur-Lite startups in business, Bruce Gordon is wondering if anyone is looking for the real thing. If so, Gordon has a proposition.

“I’m getting to the place that I’m thinking about retiring in four or five years. And what do I do? Just turn off the lights one day and walk away?” Gordon asked. “I think I’ve built up something of value in what I have done.”

Gordon has spent the last 30 years building frames and putting Bruce Gordon Cycles on the map. But he also builds a lot more: racks, front and tail lights, stems, brakes and a slick looking Silca-like frame pump made out of titanium. Gordon builds bikes very much in the tradition of French constructeur builders, who built more than just frames—they built bikes.

“There is an aesthetic approach I’m able to achieve because I build these parts. And I’d like to offer what I’ve done to someone else who would like to build on what I’ve done,” he said.

In Bruce Gordon Cycles’ current space there are all the tools and space needed to make 1,000 frames a year. To contact Gordon, call (707) 762-5601 or email bgcycles@svn.net.

[catulle]

I'm afraid the most valuable asset in that company resides between Bruce's ears.

[atmo]

the print version is much longer and puts pal bruce in
a much nicer light. the web piece is uber-concise atmo.

[dave thompson]

the print version is much longer and puts pal bruce in
a much nicer light. the web piece is uber-concise atmo.
Can you provide a link?

I posted the BRAIN piece because I thought it was interesting that an influential builder 'publicly' aired his thoughts about retirement and the sale of his company.

I know he's somewhat controversial (at least from what I've read) but his bikes certainly aren't.

[Louis]

“I’m getting to the place that I’m thinking about retiring in four or five years. And what do I do? Just turn off the lights one day and walk away?”

Two comments:

1) Grubby Clark, founder of Clark Foam, easily the #1 manufacturer of surfboard blanks, did exactly that just a few weeks ago. Fascinating story about it in a recent New Yorker.

2) I called Bruce Gorden about a year ago to chat about him possibly making a quill stem for me. During our 20 minute conversation I got the impression (perhaps mistaken) that he is a deeply unhappy person.

Louis

[atmo]

Can you provide a link?

I posted the BRAIN piece because I thought it was interesting that an influential builder 'publicly' aired his thoughts about retirement and the sale of his company.

I know he's somewhat controversial (at least from what I've read) but his bikes certainly aren't.
no - the webpiece is online at brain, but the actual
article is a much longer and comprehensive piece
in the printed 'zine atmo.

[Archibald]

During our 20 minute conversation I got the impression (perhaps mistaken) that he is a deeply unhappy person.
He's always delightful when I talk to him, but I have that affect on people!

:banana:

Bruce Gordon is one of the greatest framebuilders in the history of the trade. Not just for his mastery of the craft, but because of his vision. Like many artist types, he can be tempermental, but for the right person, to have the opportunity to learn from him, to know what he knows, would be a gift of immeasurable value.

[Grant McLean]

Bruce Gordon is one of the greatest framebuilders in the history of the trade. Not just for his mastery of the craft, but because of his vision. Like many artist types, he can be tempermental, but for the right person, to have the opportunity to learn from him, to know what he knows, would be a gift of immeasurable value.

Ok, sure, but he should have had the sense to hire someone to pick up the
phone about 20 years ago, so he could do what he did best. He's sold how
many frames in the last 15 years? 3 including the samples from shows,
if i'm not mistaken, I heard that somewhere.

This industry has enough bitter, grumpy, opinionated, and argumentative
people it in, and doesn't need more people like me :)

g

[Serpico]

You wanna be in the biz and be a framebuilder?

So you wanna be a rock superstar?
And live
large
A big house. Five cars, the rent charged.
Comin' up in the world.
Don't trust nobody got
to look over your shoulder constantly

I remember the
days when I was a young kid growing up
Looking in the
mirror, dreaming about blowin' up
The rock crowds.
Make money. Chill with the honeys.
Sign autographs and
whatever the people want from me.
**** Its funny how
impossible dreams manifest
And the games that be
comin' with it
Nevertheless, you got to go for the
gusto
But you don't know about the blood, sweat, and
tears and
Losin' some of your peers.

And
losin' some of yourself to the years past, gone by
Hopefully it don't manifest for the wrong guy
Egomaniac and the brainiac don't know how to act
**** deep
48 track studio gangsta mack sign the deal
Think he's gonna make a mil but never will
'Til
he crosses over, still
Fillin' your head with
fantasies
Come with me
Show the sacrifice it takes to
make the G's

You wanna be a rock superstar in
the biz
And take **** from people who don't know what
it is
I wish it was all fun and games
But the price of
fame is high
And some can't pay the way
Feel
trapped in
What you rappin' about?
Tell me what
happened when you lost clout?
The route you took started
collapsing
No fans. No fame. No respect. No change. No
women and
Everybody ****s on your name.
So you wanna
be a rock superstar?
And live large
A big house. Five
cars, the rent charged.
Comin' up in the world.
Don't trust nobody got to look over your shoulder
constantly

So you wanna be a rock superstar?
And
live large
A big house. Five cars, the rent charged.
Comin' up in the world.
Don't trust nobody got
to look over your shoulder constantly

Talking:
"People see rock stars, you know what I'm sayin'?
But you still try to get out and work like everybody else,
you know, its a fun job, but its still a job.
Save your
money man, save your money too.
Its single don’t last very
long, you know what im saying?
I mean, your lucky in this
game too.
There's gonna be another cat comin'
out,
looking like me, sounding like me next year.
I
know this. It'll be a flipside tell what you did
somebody else trying to spin off like some series."

You ever have big dreams? Of makin' big green?
Big
shot, heavy hitter on the mainstream
You wanna look trendy
in the Bentley
Be a star and never act friendly.
You
wanna have big fame
Let me explain what happens to these
stars and their big brains
First they get played like all
damn day
Long as you sell everything will be ok
Then
you get dissed by the media and fans
Things never stay the
same way they began
I heard that some never get fooled to
the fullest
That's why fools end up dining on a
bullet
Think everything's fine in the big time
See me in my Lex with the chrome ray shine
So you wanna
roll far and live large
It ain't all that goes with
being a rock star
So you wanna be a rock superstar?
And live large
A big house. Five cars, the rent
charged.
Comin' up in the world.
Don't trust
nobody got to look over your shoulder constantly

So
you wanna be a rock superstar?
And live large
A big
house. Five cars, the rent charged.
Comin' up in the
world.
Don't trust nobody got to look over your
shoulder constantly

My own son don't know me
I'm chillin' in a hotel room, lonely
But I
thank God I'm with my homies
But sometimes I wish I
was back home
But only no radio or video's gonna show
me no love
They're phony
Got to hit the road
solely so the record gets pushed by Sony
I'm in the
middle like Monie
And the press say that my own people
disown me
And The best way back to keep your head
straight
Never inflate the cranium
They're too
worried about them honeys at the Palladium
Who just wanna
cling on, swing on, and so on
Go on fall off - the
ho's fall off
To the next rock superstar with no
shame
Give him a year and they'll be right out the
game
The same as the last one who came before him
Gained fame started getting' ignored
I warned him
Asured him this ain't easy
Take it from the weazy
Sleazy people want to be so cheesy
They're ****ing
evil
So you wanna be a rock superstar?
And live
large
A big house. Five cars, the rent charged.
Comin' up in the world.
Don't trust nobody got
to look over your shoulder constantly

So you wanna be
a rock superstar?
And live large
A big house. Five
cars, the rent charged,
Comin' up in the world.
Don't trust nobody got to look over your shoulder
constantlyl

[Archibald]

Ok, sure, but he should have had the sense to hire someone to pick up the phone about 20 years ago, so he could do what he did best. He's sold how many frames in the last 15 years? 3 including the samples from shows, if i'm not mistaken, I heard that somewhere.
My advice: don't believe everything you hear.

He may have only sold 3 of those show type bikes in the last 15 years, but they're not the basis for his income, his other bikes are. Bruce has had someone working with him since I can remember. I know of at least one other very worthy and successful builder who started out working for Bruce in the last decade. Bruce quite literally founded the 29" MTB craze that is currently taking hold in the industry. He never gets credit for that either.

You're getting hung up on some idiosyncrasy of his and seem to be forgetting that he's been successful in the bike business for 30-odd years.

[catulle]

Ok, sure, but he should have had the sense to hire someone to pick up the
phone about 20 years ago, so he could do what he did best. He's sold how
many frames in the last 15 years? 3 including the samples from shows,
if i'm not mistaken, I heard that somewhere.

This industry has enough bitter, grumpy, opinionated, and argumentative
people it in, and doesn't need more people like me :)

g


But you're sweet, dude....

[wasfast]

I don't know Bruce Gordon other than seeing his frames at the races in the mid 70's when he was still in Eugene.

While I truly hope he's able to find someone to take over the biz, my experience in a similar situation show that getting any value out of the business has to be more than a one man show. I also hope that he has a more thought out retirement plan than selling his company at the end.

[Big Dan]

BG last year.......

My annual trip to my tax accountant is part of what prompted me to write
this. My sales have taken quite a hit in the past 3 years. I think this is
due to some of the more visible marketers of foreign made bikes. Companies
that make nothing but words, and market their products made overseas, be it
Japan, Taiwan or China. I wish I could afford someone friendly to talk on
the phone and do sophisticated literature. However, since I only made about
$6.00 per hour last year, an employee is out of the question.

Sounds to me like a happy successful individual........ :D

[Bill Bove]

This industry has enough bitter, grumpy, opinionated, and argumentative
people it in, and doesn't need more people like me :)
g
So should we vote e-richie off the board then :confused: :D ;)

just yakkin ya e-man, this board has shown you to one of the most gracious and humorous gentleman around but that description does appy to all of us in the biz at one time or another :crap:

[NAHBS]

The first time I called Bruce to chat with him about NAHBS, he was very vocal about his feelings of the last 30 years of building frames. He was a difficult one to get on board for the show, that much I can tell you.

I think BG's main problem is his joke rings all too true for some, including himself. Bruce actually told me this joke while on the phone.

BG "whats the difference between a framebuilder and a large Pizza?"
Me "I dont know"
BG "a large Pizza feeds a family of four."

I know from talking with him several time afterwards that he knows this business, regardless of how jaded he is. He knows what it costs per HOUR just to turn the lights on when he shows up. Most builders I know have no clue.

All in all, you have to hand it to BG. He knows every aspect of the biz, and I think every new framebuilder should go apprentice with him for a month, so they can learn the "business" side of framebuilding. Maybe we wouldnt have the large new builder population that has recently come into the culture...?

For me, it will be a sad day when Bruce hangs up his torch.

DW

[catulle]

He seems to have kept a sense of humor...