J
Joao De Souza
Guest
This was just posted to the BROL discussion board
(http://pub152.ezboard.com/fbentrideronlinefrm1.showMessage?topicID=3367.topic):
<quote Freddy's message>
STILETTO:Sharp pointy object or bicycle best used for stabbing people in the back.
NEWS FLASH!!! Freddy Markham survives a career assasination attempt by Craig Calfee...Markham was
stunned and disappointed but vows to fully recover and move forward.
And now this by Fast Freddy: "Does anybody really believe that Craig designed the Stiletto? Oh yea,
he made some suggestions, but thats it." "Does anybody really believe Craig designed the carbon
fiber fairings? I don't think so. The man didn't know squat about recumbents and fairing before I
showed up".
So let me start by telling you that my deal with Calfee was I would work for less wages and no
benefits what so ever at producing a prototype bike and getting it to production. Once we went to
production I was to be paid approx $$$ per bike. That deal never changed until the day Craig decided
it was to much money for me to make. In our early talks, we had hoped to bring a DA equipped
Stiletto to the market at about $4000 . I told him at that price I would sell more than he could
make....at that point Craig could have said $$$ was to much, but he never did. At some point it was
clear that we would have to raise the price of the bike....and we did...up$1800! Partly so I could
still recieve my commission. It was clear to me that at that price I was not going to sell near as
many...my solution was to bring in a SWB bike and between the two I was certain I could do alright.
So now Craig has my two SWB bike designs and I'm sure that by now he's told everybody that it was
his ideas. Our last meeting had him present me with what was far less than promised or
anticipated....I could have understood if my profit was not in the bike, but it was. So starting to
smell a rat in the name of Craig Calfee I decided he could keep his profit sharing because I was
losing faith in him... all I wanted was my original deal and I would be satisfied. But no...Craig
would have me sell his bike with no guarentee, no safety net, no benefits, at a price I was no
longer satisfied with, but put a cap on me in case I do real well. That's not who I want to work for
and that's not what I call incentive....at this point in my life I won't let somebody screw me this
bad. Craig is dishonest and deceitful and I don't want anything to do with him or his company. I
have to address the fact that I took the Stiletto mold out of Calfee....a case can be made that it's
really my mold, but my point was not so I could make Stiletto's but to keep Calfee from completing
the total rip off and making them after I left. Not only does Craig want to rip me on the
Stiletto's, but he's still in possesion of my fairing molds and he intends to make those also.
If honesty and intergety are something you respect you don't want a Stiletto anyway....there are a
number of issues that are suspect on the bike. I always felt that it was something I could sort out
within time, but if I'm not with that company, don't count on it being addressed.
I respect deeply most of the people on these newsgroups and I have faith that most of you can see
through the **** that Craig Calfee laid down. I mean if you've read his response he basically says
he ripped me off. Most of you know who I am. My record speaks for it's self. I have been the one
defending recumbent rider 's rights since 1978. I've been in this sport a long time on all kinds of
bikes...I'm not greedy, believe me, if Craigs offer was good I'd have taken it. He's a rip off and
the Stilettos are not the bike I fully intended to make when I left Easy Racers to build my dream
bike....I made enough design compromises that I'm less than thilled. So, for those of you who are on
my side.... I'm building your bikes soon...you'll love them Freddy
ps I'm actually quite touched by the support I've already recieved from a lot of you....I
won't forget!
<end quote
(http://pub152.ezboard.com/fbentrideronlinefrm1.showMessage?topicID=3367.topic):
<quote Freddy's message>
STILETTO:Sharp pointy object or bicycle best used for stabbing people in the back.
NEWS FLASH!!! Freddy Markham survives a career assasination attempt by Craig Calfee...Markham was
stunned and disappointed but vows to fully recover and move forward.
And now this by Fast Freddy: "Does anybody really believe that Craig designed the Stiletto? Oh yea,
he made some suggestions, but thats it." "Does anybody really believe Craig designed the carbon
fiber fairings? I don't think so. The man didn't know squat about recumbents and fairing before I
showed up".
So let me start by telling you that my deal with Calfee was I would work for less wages and no
benefits what so ever at producing a prototype bike and getting it to production. Once we went to
production I was to be paid approx $$$ per bike. That deal never changed until the day Craig decided
it was to much money for me to make. In our early talks, we had hoped to bring a DA equipped
Stiletto to the market at about $4000 . I told him at that price I would sell more than he could
make....at that point Craig could have said $$$ was to much, but he never did. At some point it was
clear that we would have to raise the price of the bike....and we did...up$1800! Partly so I could
still recieve my commission. It was clear to me that at that price I was not going to sell near as
many...my solution was to bring in a SWB bike and between the two I was certain I could do alright.
So now Craig has my two SWB bike designs and I'm sure that by now he's told everybody that it was
his ideas. Our last meeting had him present me with what was far less than promised or
anticipated....I could have understood if my profit was not in the bike, but it was. So starting to
smell a rat in the name of Craig Calfee I decided he could keep his profit sharing because I was
losing faith in him... all I wanted was my original deal and I would be satisfied. But no...Craig
would have me sell his bike with no guarentee, no safety net, no benefits, at a price I was no
longer satisfied with, but put a cap on me in case I do real well. That's not who I want to work for
and that's not what I call incentive....at this point in my life I won't let somebody screw me this
bad. Craig is dishonest and deceitful and I don't want anything to do with him or his company. I
have to address the fact that I took the Stiletto mold out of Calfee....a case can be made that it's
really my mold, but my point was not so I could make Stiletto's but to keep Calfee from completing
the total rip off and making them after I left. Not only does Craig want to rip me on the
Stiletto's, but he's still in possesion of my fairing molds and he intends to make those also.
If honesty and intergety are something you respect you don't want a Stiletto anyway....there are a
number of issues that are suspect on the bike. I always felt that it was something I could sort out
within time, but if I'm not with that company, don't count on it being addressed.
I respect deeply most of the people on these newsgroups and I have faith that most of you can see
through the **** that Craig Calfee laid down. I mean if you've read his response he basically says
he ripped me off. Most of you know who I am. My record speaks for it's self. I have been the one
defending recumbent rider 's rights since 1978. I've been in this sport a long time on all kinds of
bikes...I'm not greedy, believe me, if Craigs offer was good I'd have taken it. He's a rip off and
the Stilettos are not the bike I fully intended to make when I left Easy Racers to build my dream
bike....I made enough design compromises that I'm less than thilled. So, for those of you who are on
my side.... I'm building your bikes soon...you'll love them Freddy
ps I'm actually quite touched by the support I've already recieved from a lot of you....I
won't forget!
<end quote