M
Mike Jacoubowsky/Chain Reaction Bicycles
Guest
> Art is personal, you may think your 5900 is art (though I doubt it),
> but if it is not art the maker is not an artisan.
That is essentially correct; my 5900 defines itself not by its appearance,
but rather by what it does. It's not something you drag people over to show
the intricate lugwork or spectacular paint on. It's not the
bicycle-equivalent of the motorcycles that people drool over at 4-corners
(Sky L'onda) on any given Sunday.
It's fun to take the Cinelli out and raise eyebrows. It's interesting to
watch people drop what they're doing to come over and see the fancy
full-chrome (which was a big mistake, by the way) bike. And, to watch those
who appreciate such things ooh and aah over a Campagnolo Record drivetrain
from the mid-70s. But... it's not nearly as fun to ride. It doesn't shift as
well, it doesn't brake as well, and it sure as heck beats me up a whole lot
more than my 5900. And when you stand on the pedals to climb... well, don't.
Much better staying in the saddle, since standing exacerbates the differencs
in weight and handling (as you're throwing, or controlling, more weight
that's trying to move from side-to-side, and it develops quite a bit more
momentum with each swing than does a much lighter bike).
The Cinelli was built by an artisan craftsman. The 5900 may have been
designed by an artisan, but I concede the point that it's built by
highly-skilled craftsman. Nevertheless, I believe a highly-skilled craftsman
can do just as much to impart a soul to a bicycle as the artisan, especially
when that craftsman is backed up by a design & engineering team that really
believes that a bicycle can be much more than the sum of its component
parts.
--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
IMBA, BikesBelong, NBDA member
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Mike,
>
> A bit neo-grouchy, eh? I think there is a semantical argument to be
> made here; the folks at Trek make fine bikes, and they are great at
> their craft. But the root of artisan is 'artigiano' or 'arte', *ART*.
> Producing a fine handcrafted Madone may be fine craft, but to me it is
> not art. Some may argue that finely crafted lugwork, e.g., the stuff
> done by Columbine cycles (see
> http://columbinecycle.com/images/photos/columbine_twins.jpg) is not
> art, but to me it falls into that category and the maker is a true
> artisan. The folks at Trek are craftsmen, not artisans in the strict
> sense of the word. The difference is not material, it is that quality
> that moves a piece of work from being utlitarian into the realm of art.
> Art is personal, you may think your 5900 is art (though I doubt it),
> but if it is not art the maker is not an artisan.
>
> - rick
>
> but if it is not art the maker is not an artisan.
That is essentially correct; my 5900 defines itself not by its appearance,
but rather by what it does. It's not something you drag people over to show
the intricate lugwork or spectacular paint on. It's not the
bicycle-equivalent of the motorcycles that people drool over at 4-corners
(Sky L'onda) on any given Sunday.
It's fun to take the Cinelli out and raise eyebrows. It's interesting to
watch people drop what they're doing to come over and see the fancy
full-chrome (which was a big mistake, by the way) bike. And, to watch those
who appreciate such things ooh and aah over a Campagnolo Record drivetrain
from the mid-70s. But... it's not nearly as fun to ride. It doesn't shift as
well, it doesn't brake as well, and it sure as heck beats me up a whole lot
more than my 5900. And when you stand on the pedals to climb... well, don't.
Much better staying in the saddle, since standing exacerbates the differencs
in weight and handling (as you're throwing, or controlling, more weight
that's trying to move from side-to-side, and it develops quite a bit more
momentum with each swing than does a much lighter bike).
The Cinelli was built by an artisan craftsman. The 5900 may have been
designed by an artisan, but I concede the point that it's built by
highly-skilled craftsman. Nevertheless, I believe a highly-skilled craftsman
can do just as much to impart a soul to a bicycle as the artisan, especially
when that craftsman is backed up by a design & engineering team that really
believes that a bicycle can be much more than the sum of its component
parts.
--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
IMBA, BikesBelong, NBDA member
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Mike,
>
> A bit neo-grouchy, eh? I think there is a semantical argument to be
> made here; the folks at Trek make fine bikes, and they are great at
> their craft. But the root of artisan is 'artigiano' or 'arte', *ART*.
> Producing a fine handcrafted Madone may be fine craft, but to me it is
> not art. Some may argue that finely crafted lugwork, e.g., the stuff
> done by Columbine cycles (see
> http://columbinecycle.com/images/photos/columbine_twins.jpg) is not
> art, but to me it falls into that category and the maker is a true
> artisan. The folks at Trek are craftsmen, not artisans in the strict
> sense of the word. The difference is not material, it is that quality
> that moves a piece of work from being utlitarian into the realm of art.
> Art is personal, you may think your 5900 is art (though I doubt it),
> but if it is not art the maker is not an artisan.
>
> - rick
>
