The gift that keeps on giving
Mon, April 25, 2022 When I was building frames in Southern California in the 1980s, I could not foresee there would be a future with the Internet and social media.
Therefore, as I built frames and stamped a serial number on them, sent them off to the bicycle dealer, unless those frames came back for repair or a repaint, I never expected to see them, or hear about them again.
There was never a second thought that I might be corresponding people about these very same frames thirty or even forty years down the road. Who could even imagine what the future will hold that many years ahead?
When I stop and think about what has happened, I am both amazed and at the same time humbled that I find myself spending much of my time corresponding with people, either directly, or though this blog and social media.
My online presence started in 2003, ten years after I left the bike business. I had written a novel, Prodigal Child, and created a website to promote the book. People started to write to me asking, “Are you the Dave Moulton who used to build bikes?”
People started sending pictures of their bikes, and I opened a bicycle section on the book website to post these pictures. This bike section grew, and I found myself somewhat “Dragged” back into the bike thing.
Two years later in 2005 I began this “Bike Blog.” Three years on in 2008 I quit writing for reasons I outlined in this post, “The Party’s Over.” The post received 88 comments, probably my highest score ever. It was mostly an outpouring of kindness, and thanks for what I had written.
Quitting was a huge mistake. I lost a huge following, one that I will probably never see again. Six months later I was back when a group of bike enthusiasts, (Some of which I had never met.) got together and presented me with a “Tribute Bike.”
I was so touched that I had to at least write about it. Once more I was “Dragged” back, but this time with a new resolve never to quit again.
It is still difficult to come up with fresh and interesting stuff each week, but I look on it as exercise for my brain, which as I age, is just as important as physical exercise.
When I started out building bike frames, I was trying to build a better bike for myself. I achieved that goal, then set about building frames across the entire range of sizes, even though I could never test ride most of the larger sizes myself.
However, feedback from people who rode my bikes told me I was on the right track. I often went against what was fashionable and stuck with what I believed was right.
I remember turning down an order for 10 track frames in 1975. The order was from the Canadian Olympic Team. It was lucrative and would have carried a lot of prestige.
The problem was the team coach, sent drawings for each frame and insisted I build to the exact specs. I could have built the frames and took the money, but I would have hated it knowing that I could have built something better.
The same happened when I resumed building custom frames in California in 1982, some thought “Custom” meant building to their specs. I always said “No.” Had I built the frame, and they later sold it, it had my name on it, and it was my reputation at stake.
I went for consistency, every frame I built will ride, handle, go around corners, and feel stable on fast descents. People constantly tell me, “This is my favorite bike, my go to ride.”
And that for me is the gift that keeps on giving.
Reader Comments (5)
Do you consider your frames stage racing type frames? Not sure I know the exact definition of that but I assume it is a frame with slacker seat and head angles and longer wheelbase than a criterium frame. More comfortable on longer distances but still a racing frame.
Thanks
R. Douglas,
No definitely not Slack angles. If you go to the "Owner's Registry" in the top Navigation Bar of this Blog you will find much information and pictures.
You can also go to "Archive by Subject" and under the heading "Bicycle Design" for articles on my design philosophy..
Dave
Dave,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I enjoy reading your blog. It also brings back happy memories of the 80’s racing scene.
Dave, thanks for your blog. It brings back memories of being raised in London after WW2. I desperately wanted a 10 speed bike and my Dad said he would pay half but I had to join a club. Joined the Streatham CRC and started TTs when I was 15 then road racing. I worked Saturdays in Pete Russell's Velo Sport store, rode a Velo Sport bike with a frame built by Doc Greene. Russell taught me how to butcher a B17 saddle and repair tubs which was good because I made more money repairing the tires than working in the store!
Right now I am in NC on Cedar Mountain staying with a friend who I was to ride with but unfortunately he fell on our first ride yesterday and won't be back on a bike for a few weeks. So I am reading parts of your blog and I'd like to thank you for "making me think".
I've sent to you twice, about me, as you already know who I am from pasttime/collection. But I never heard from you. is this to be a sign that I have lost you?~