Crackpot requests

[mjbabcock]

I have to vent...Recently a guy contacted me about framebuilding and how he used to help out at an operation back in the 70's before becoming an engineer at Boeing.

Flash forward 40 years and they guy is in his late 60's/early 70's and hasn't built or ridden a bike in thirty years. He's taken a beating in the stock market and is worries about how he will survive on his now reduced retirement savings. What to do? Maybe contact a local small time framebuilder about the possibility of hand filing and then selling custom dropouts?

So the guy comes to visit my shop and brings along his bike from 30 years ago to show me what he can accomplish. I spend HOURS with the guy complementing him on his work, letting him down easy as I told him about Pacenti, Paragon, Nova, Ceeway, H. James, Ellis, Lex, and a bunch of other guys who are offering/creating beautiful dropouts at great prices.

While we're there he hints that he's also been thinking about creating tooling for making bikes. "I used to use a 2"x4" to make forks"... I fill him on Anvil, Sputnik, H.James, Bringheli, and the rest and let him know that he's barking up the wrong tree if he is looking to make money in the bike business. Hours later my job is done, I've nicely let down a kindly older gentleman while repaying some of the time that you guys have provided me over the last few years.

I got a call Saturday that the guy has fabricated a fork jig that he wants me to check out and get feedback on. Thing looks like a 1/2 thought out Bringheli. I am way more blunt with my feedback and essentially point out, "why would I buy this when I could save up some $$$ for another month or two and buy and Anvil?" The fcuking thing even has an Anvil dummy axle in it!

Sorry I crushed the guys dreams but reality is reality...until yesterday. I have a voicemail from the guy saying he think's he's going to go ahead with production with a local CNC shop doing the work.

WTF? How many people associating with cycling are completely retarted? Am I a shit magnet or is this normal?

[Dave Kirk]

Completely normal. This business attacks the fringe.


Dave

[conorb]

I had a call last week from someone local that wanted me to check out his radical new design for bicycles - like a cruiser, only different.

He wanted to contract with me to make his design and then he was going to market/sell them - "they're going to be huge," he told me. Of course I had to sign a non-disclosure agreement.

I told him I was a custom framebuilder and not a contract manufacturer and sent him on his way.

Who knows, maybe it'll be huge, but it's one less thing for me to worry about.

Conor

p.s. I also get emails from people volunteering to work for free. I don't even know if they live in the area or not.

[Carl S]

Of course I had to sign a non-disclosure agreement.

I have people contacting me to build the next greatest thing as well. They almost alway want me to sign a non-disclosure agreement. If I have no intentions of building the part I refuse to sign. It's a document designed to protect the other parties interests and there is no reason to give anything to them if you don't get something in return.

A couple months ago I had a guy contact me and ask me to GIVE him some advice on a design he was developing. When he arrived he had the nerve to ask me to sign a non-disclosure. It kind of pissed me off. If a person wants me to sign a non-disclosure they can pay my hourly fee.

[crumpton]

crackpot list to date since I have been building full time.

turbo intakes
fuel tanks
crutches
trikes
recumbent #1
recumbent #2
recumbent #3
recumbent infinity
various custom carbon forks(usually for some engineer who assures me he knows what he is doing)
money clips
moto kickstand pads
bumpers
hoods
any stupid jap tuner part you can think of

sometimes i really have to bite my tongue when they refuse my non interest and tell me how much i am missing out on.

why has no one asked for a carbon fiber bong yet?

[Dazza]

"I make Llewellyn bicycles so
my suggestionto you is
go to work
work lots of over time
maybe even a second job
save your dollars to
buy the tools and equipment for your new workshop
learn the skills to build what you desire
then you will have all the freedom in the world to create and experiment with your dream design/part fantasy
Have fun and take care"

They some times comment that is seems that no one is interested in helping them with their hobby interest.

I reply to the effect, "It is evident that you are not self employed"

I am harsh!

[Mike Mcdermid]

crackpot list to date since I have been building full time.

turbo intakes
fuel tanks
crutches
trikes
recumbent #1
recumbent #2
recumbent #3
recumbent infinity
various custom carbon forks(usually for some engineer who assures me he knows what he is doing)
money clips
moto kickstand pads
bumpers
hoods
any stupid jap tuner part you can think of

sometimes i really have to bite my tongue when they refuse my non interest and tell me how much i am missing out on.

why has no one asked for a carbon fiber bong yet?

Can I have a carbon fibre bong

[e-RICHIE]

snipped -
Sorry I crushed the guys dreams but reality is reality.

dude.
it's a framebuilder's role to crush reality.
how does the saying go...
it's my reality or the highway.
just sayin'.