It wasn’t so long ago that the majority of bicycles were made by hand, from raw materials, in places that aren’t China or Taiwan. While some of these artisans are still around, their wares are increasingly harder to come by, and to procure an example of their work means an outlay of time and money which is more than most are willing to commit. This is a problem with not just bikes; mass consumption is big business, not only in everyday necessities but for ‘luxury’ items as well. A bicycle can be considered a luxury item for some, so to bring them to the masses, they must be produced in ways that lower the cost of materials and labour to a point where the average consumer can feel like they are getting a quality product at a reasonable price. And they usually are.
They just aren’t getting anything unique.
Now that three of the four bikes in my possession are made by hand, I have made a commitment to only own machines produced not by robots, not from composites and not from ‘factory farming’ methods. While there are many excellent bicycles produced en masse, the little bit of personality that is instilled in each of my rides sets them apart and I know I’ll see not many, if any, similar steeds on my roads or trails. How many dudes you know roll like this?
Riding the cobbles of KT12 on my Merckx Team SC and KT13 on the Pavé steel Cyfacs re-opened my eyes to the subtleties of a well-made frame and the characteristics which can be incorporated into the bike by the maker; each one can be tweaked to offer a ride quality specific to each frame, each rider, even the environment in which they are created and which they are intended to be ridden. The Merckx was fairly hard to come by, and I stumbled upon it by chance rather than through any concerted effort to find it. I sometimes think it found me. It’s a bike I love to ride, but also to just appreciate its lines, its pedigree, its Made In Belgium heritage, no doubt welded by a grizzled Flandrian who cut his teeth in the very factory he still works at 40 years later. I’d like to think so, and there’s some small likelihood of it, at least. Maybe I will return it to Belgium once more, in Spring, from where its journey started and where it made its mark in history more than a decade ago.
[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/brettok@velominati.com/merckx sc/”/]
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My bike is carbon and probably mass produced in the Far East. It's a Kuota and even though they sponsor a Pro tour team, I rarely see another one like it. The point I want to make is that I adore it. I don't find myself shaking my hands 25. 50 or 75 k into the ride because I've taken the time to set it up, followed Frank and others advice on position, saddle height and orientation, stem length and height. I chose my wheels carefully, making the most out of my modest budget. I would not swap it for the world, because it is part of me and me it. At the risk of invoking a negative response, I just think its too easy to slag carbon/ mass production. It's great if money is no object and a bespoke steel or titanium frame is an option, knock yourself out and enjoy it. But for most of us, its not the case. Just don't tell me my bike has no soul.
Am I the only one who wants a sweet decal like that?
@ChrisO
There is a guy in Pittsburgh that will do a TIG steel frame for $1350.
@Bianchi Denti - all is good, Richard. Having a great time spending my days wrenching and learning to build bikes. The welding is OK, but coming along. Luckily when I build the titanium frame I'll have Mike DeSalvo standing over my shoulder. He's our local builder and his shop is just a 5-minute walk from the house.
I don't know if I have a preference for materials. I love my carbon bikes, my steel bike, and I loved the ride on Ti. Maybe I am more influenced by environment. Gravel, autumn foliage, 28mm tires, rain...Ti.
@frank
I'll get my hands on one of these...hoping some of the builder's rockstar past comes in the tubing
Great photos Bretto, I hope you have the sense to bring her to Belgium again this year. She could really use a little less tilt on the bars, and a 5mm spacer above the stem to replace that 1cm one you've got there now.
@american psycho
That orange lion V sticker is bitchin' on that bike. That and the Pavé ones were earned from KT12. It's sort of like the WWII pilots with little emblems for each plane shot down. It shows that bike is a veteran of Northern France and Belgium in the Spring.
Brett, your bike looks excellent. It gives black bar tape a good name.
Ive had steels, left them hanging in the shed, for a Mass produced Trek, left that hanging in the shed, now on a mass produced Fuji SST, which I love and the lines and shapes of the frame really excite me.
However, given time and disposable income, I would dearly love to dabble in one one these !
http://www.baumcycles.com/bikes/corretto
Any one got one ?
@Barracuda
They are dangerously sexy. And they have the properly length top cap.