I'm not really interested in a single speed but it is heartening to see Grant really engaged with the community and to lay out from a business perspective what is necessary to build xyz frame as a production frame.
-JimB On Mon, Nov 25, 2013 at 10:17 AM, Cyclofiend Jim <cyclofi...@earthlink.net>wrote: > In a separate thread, I seem to have been volunteered to collect names of > those seriously interested in a next generation SimpleOne / Quickbeam. > > The thread can be found here: > https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rbw-owners-bunch/QhzO4CFyz1U > > Please take a moment to read it all the way through. Thanks! > > Ok... Welcome back! > > here's what Grant posted: > > On Sunday, November 24, 2013 9:53:57 PM UTC-8, grant wrote: >> >> Nothing's ever for sure gone for good, but here's the thing with the >> SimpleBeams (forgive the gross generalizations used to make the point >> without accounting for exceptions. I will use "everybody" not in the >> literal sense): >> >> Everybody moans the loss of a bike they didn't buy when it was availabe. >> The SB was always the slowest seller of all time, which in itself isn't the >> end of the world, but what it means for us is---it was a cash flow killer. >> We pay fully for 100 of them about two months before they arrive. Then it >> takes a year and a half or two years to sell them. >> One thing that seems to happen is--when something's readily available, >> it's meh...and when it's gone, the heart grows fonder genuinely--and maybe >> people who would have been buyers when the bike was around have just >> learned about it and think hey I'd like that. But there is a small tendency >> to overenthuse about what can't be had. I do it myself with other things in >> my life. >> *Dang, they quit making that ______ I've hemmed and hawed about and >> admired for years, but never wanted enough to buy, but now that I can't buy >> it, shoot!*I don't mean that's rampant here, and I DO like that the >> bikes are so well-liked. Me too. I sold my QB when I needed money, figured >> I could always get a SO, and now they're gone and I want one more than >> ever. So---I'm not just an observer of this phenomenon, but a participant! >> If we could pre-sell 30 of them. Paid two-months before they arrive >> (that's when our payment is due), I'd stick my neck out and order 100. This >> time they'd be slightly different, and the danger of this hypothetical >> scenario is that it would open a debate about what's the difference between >> the new and old, which is preferable, then a vote, and it all gets weird >> and half the people who expressed willingness to get a new one now feel >> dis-listened to and bummed because it didn't go that way. >> So...i'd be innnnnnerested only if I had free secret rein to tweak it >> this way and that, still resulting in a killer one-speed, but not a clone >> of the SO, which was a clone of the QB. It might be any color, any name, >> any kind of break, any anything. I totally get that ordering semi-blind >> isn't easy to do. The unblind part of the semi is: Track or horizontal >> dropouts angled to allow pad contact over a wide range of chainlengths, >> like QB/SO. Two bottle mounts, rackable. good clearance. Basically Sam-like >> with diff dropouts. Probably sidepulls but could be cantis. A perfectly >> good color, a good name, a nice badge, a really great singler. >> >> Serious agreers will PM cyclofiend (Jim! So sorry,,,,please forgive >> me...but these months I have so many kaleidiscopes in my head that I can't >> have another one), and if the list reaches 30 (meaning you'll have $1200 >> by Dec 2014 for the frame/fork/headset, and the money won't evaporate in a >> divorce or unforseeable crisis), then we'll get some good frames. >> >> I have a full plate and I know it seems so bad to say I can't answer >> questions about this, but for the next few months I probably can't. You can >> try, and I'll try, but I'm at my physicalemotional limit, and ... can't >> promise. If you send a postcard, I'll respond with a postcard. >> >> Is this all too much? Probably. Sorry again. >> >> If nothing happens now, I think the bike will happen again later, but it >> may be an extra year or two. >> >> I know there are lots of options out there. I'm not trying to make this a >> difficult mystery bike. My crazy proposal......is the only way that makes >> sense for us right now. >> >> Thanks.. >> >> Grant >> > > > So - what happens next? > > I'll compile a list of takers/wanters/those-who-will-in-fact-pony-up. > > IF YOU ARE INTERESTED AND CAN COMMIT IN THE MANNER GRANT PROPOSED - > > Please do this: > > Email: cyclofi...@gmail.com > > Use a Subject Line: SimpleBeam Order > > Include your name, email and a simple statement of desire to be in the > queue. State frame size, quantity. > > DO NOT GIVE any payment information - I cannot be responsible for your > payment security (and you should never, ever put that in an email anyway...) > > Please note - I do not work for Rivendell Bicycle Works. I am wrangling > this just to keep one iron in a separate fire for GP. I'll keep you up to > date, and will advise Grant on a regular basis as to the quantity of solid > SimpleBeam confirmations. Once we close in on ~30, I'll end up handing the > reigns off to the fine folks in Walnut Creek. I won't know delivery dates > or any specifics, obviously. > > I'll try to answer any questions on this, but I think I know as much as > you folks, at this point. > > - Jim / cyclofiend.com / cyclofi...@gmail.com > > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > -- Keep the metal side up and the rubber side down! -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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