Yes, please have a look at our inventory clearance list. Some good
deals there:
http://hiawathacyclery.blogspot.com/2008/05/bikes-that-need-to-go.html
As for the Bleriot's demise, I can only hazard a guess. Internet
sources sell them for under $500, which is roughly a break-even point.
Rivendell and Rivendell dealers sell them for $750 which represents a
reasonable margin. It's hard to compete with sellers that use the
Bleriot as a loss-leader. I will be sorry to see the Bleriot go, but
I'm happy that it was largely responsible for the mass market getting
a look at 650B.
1. The Bleriot is going to continue as long as QBP finds it profitable for
them.
2. Some RBW models will be made in Taiwan by next year if the US dollar
continues to weaken against the yen. And Grant will be able to rationalize
this that this is still good.
Rene
valb...@ix.netcom.com
EarthLink Revolves Around You.
> [Original Message]
> From: Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery <thil...@gmail.com>
> To: RBW Owners Bunch <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com>
> Date: 5/9/2008 8:08:06 AM
> Subject: [RBW] Re: Is the Bleriot going?
>
>
I don't think that this is necessarily a bad thing if there is another
Riv bike from Taiwan. They are completely up-front on where their
bikes are built, there's no deception about it, as many other bike
companies practice. There's a directly comparable choice between the
Bleriot and the Saluki, and their catalog is pretty honest about it.
Rivendell still has Toyo build plenty of bikes, and from US builders
like Waterford and Mark Nobilette. It's not like they're dumping all
of their old suppliers, if anything they are more diversified now
(even Taiwan aside) on the frame suppliers than they've been in years.
I don't see the problem.
--
Bill Connell
St. Paul, MN
> Here are my own speculations:
>
> 1. The Bleriot is going to continue as long as QBP finds it
> profitable for
> them.
Logical enough.
> 2. Some RBW models will be made in Taiwan by next year if the US
> dollar
> continues to weaken against the yen. And Grant will be able to
> rationalize
> this that this is still good.
It *would* be good. Japanese craftsmanship and all is nice, but fine
bikes can be made in Taiwan too, and why should lugged steel frames
be priced astronomically? $1300 for a frame is actually pretty
astronomical. $750 for a frame is pretty astronomical, for that matter.
Stan
----- Original Message -----
From: <valb...@ix.netcom.com>
To: "RBW Owners Bunch" <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 3:21 PM
Subject: [RBW] Re: Is the Bleriot going?
> 2. Some RBW models will be made in Taiwan by next year if the US dollar
> continues to weaken against the yen. And Grant will be able to rationalize
> this that this is still good.
I'm not quite sure why this would be a _bad_ thing.
The only complaint that I recall seeing about the quality of Bleriots had to
do with masking of the paint - some folks on the Bleriot group mentioned
that it wasn't up to RBW's usual standards, but that it wasn't noticeable
from a couple steps back. (And masking lugs for two paint colors is not
exactly a common technique these days... )
There are also consistent threads and comments on the iBob list (and others)
that folks would love to see less expensive Rivendells. Folks have regularly
posted that they would love to see a Bleriot-type-Rambouillet or AHH.
Assuming that a percentage of those folks follow through, it could mean a
good chunk of additional business for the good folks in Walnut Creek.
Assuming that they could maintain the quality to their standards, it would
seem to be a reasonably good option for Rivendell.
- Jim
--
Jim Edgar
Cyclo...@earthlink.net
Cyclofiend Bicycle Photo Galleries - http://www.cyclofiend.com
Current Classics - Cross Bikes
Singlespeed - Working Bikes
Get your photos posted: http://www.cyclofiend.com/guidelines
"Then I sat up, wiped the water out of my eyes, and looked at my bike, and
just like that I knew it was dead"
-- Robert McCammon, "Boy's Life"
I'm guessing here, but suspect that the '09 AHH may have 650B/584 in the
smaller sizes and 700C/622 in the larger.
- Jim
--
Jim Edgar
Cyclo...@earthlink.net
Cyclofiend Bicycle Photo Galleries - http://www.cyclofiend.com
Current Classics - Cross Bikes
Singlespeed - Working Bikes
"Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do
it."
Mahatma Gandhi
The Jack Brown's will fit the bike fine - plenty of clearance below the fork
crown and between the legs. The problem is going to be the brakes. I have
105's on my Bleriot and the Jack Brown's I run on my commuter won't fit
beneath them. I'm going to investigate alternative brakes myself as I'm
sold on the wider tires. Especially on the coarse aggregate roads around
here.
Stan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Big Paulie" <pauld...@yahoo.com>
To: "RBW Owners Bunch" <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2008 12:42 PM
Subject: [RBW] Re: Is the Bleriot going?
Stan,
Thanks!
Paul
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