Are people into this? It looks clean in photos but I think about brake bleeds and how to pack my bike for an airplane flight and think is not worth it.Internal routing...although probably quite standard these days
When manufacturing moved over seas, so does further development within that industry. I don't know anyone with the money or experience now that would be willing to invest the time and money to properly create a manufacturing facility here that could compete price wise with asia, even at these prices. Carbon manufacturing here see's more money and investment at the aerospace and defense level that bikes just simply don't make sense for most capable in manufacturing sizable runs of framesWhy can't we produce carbon stuff over here?
carbon bike fabrication is labor intensive. Bikes are low volume and low margin. You wouldn't buy the finished product, even if someone did it - price would be insane. Lets not forget that Sapa quit aluminum frame production, which has much less direct labor hours per frame.Why can't we produce carbon stuff over here?
material, process, and process variation. This cannot be done at the consumer level tho. Metrology labs, carbon experts, and testing are the only ways. Again, consumers cannot tell the good from bad.How do you grade "good" carbon versus cheap shltty carbon? Seriously. How?
take wheels off. take pedals off. loose the bar. put everything in your evoc bike bag. don't think of any cables. travel. arrive. put everything back together. not THAT complicated...Are people into this? It looks clean in photos but I think about brake bleeds and how to pack my bike for an airplane flight and think is not worth it.
You can understand what alloy is used, and see the forging/machining and welding.Can consumers tell good aluminum from bad...?
I've had some nightmares showing up somewhere to ride and having a bike that was damaged in shipping. I take everything off and wrap things individually. No trusting TSAtake wheels off. take pedals off. loose the bar. put everything in your evoc bike bag. don't think of any cables. travel. arrive. put everything back together. not THAT complicated...
also in cases you know who the builder is. You know if FTW is building you something and its 100% aircraft grade aluminium, you're going to get something awesomeYou can understand what alloy is used, and see the forging/machining and welding.
How many consumers know enough to pick out different alloys? I know on a basic level what some of the differences are, but to get an educated answer, I'd have to ask a frame builder.You can understand what alloy is used, and see the forging/machining and welding.
fixed that one for yaanyone that buys a frame by itself, really it comes down to the following:
1 - Looks
2 - What big name rides it?
3 - Does it snap a lot?
4 - Price
5 - What was the price again?
Really? I've been deluding myself. I figured looks was up there, expected weight, suspension, geometry, stiffness and component compatibility might show up in there - at least for frame only buyers.How many consumers know enough to pick out different alloys? I know on a basic level what some of the differences are, but to get an educated answer, I'd have to ask a frame builder.
And then the welding - nice welds are a cherry on top of the sundae, but that's it. I'd have to think that for your regular enthusiast consumer (let's say someone who would bother reading these forums, or hell, anyone that buys a frame by itself, really) it comes down to the following:
1 - Price
2 - Looks
3 - What big name rides it?
4 - Does it snap a lot?
5 - What was the price again?