Conference noted::bicycle

    	Norm,
    
    	Just received my latest BICYCLE GUIDE and VeloNews. I saw
    	your note and said, "Hey, I just saw something last night
    	in BG about EDCO."
    
    	So, without further ado...
    
    		EDCO Engineerying sa
    		CH-2108 Couvet
    		Phone: 038/64 11 31
    		Telex: 952977 edco ch
    		Fax:   038/63 33 92
    
    	Scott

    
    Scott,
    
    	I saw that ad as well.  I believe the number is in Switzerland.
    I don't speak Swiss or do they use English?
    
    
    							Norm
    
      

	Norm,

	The address you have is in the french part of Switzerland.
	So they would speak french, but maybe also englsih, since
	they export their products (very good quality indeed).

	If you want I can call them up (I live in Geneva). You just
	would have to tell me exactly what you would like to know.

	Norbert

    
    Norbert,
    
    	I am interested in all of their products.  I here they manufacture
    cranks, bottom brackets and derailleurs as well as the beautiful hubs
    that I saw.  
      I need to know who their importer to the United States is.  If not,
    how do I order direct.  
      I don't speak French, but I do alright with English.
    
    						thanks much,
    							    Norm
    
    	
    								      

    	I'm unaware of where you are located, but...
    
    	Have you tried any local dealers yet?  Can their distributors
    	get their hands on any of the stuff?
    
    	Also, a gentleman named Brian Richard was selling some Edco
    	competition products in topic # 2. (Somewhere around # 2.325)
    	If you can't find it, enter "direc /all /author=brichard",
    	you'll find any notes entered by that username.
    
    	I've spoken with Brian, he seems very knowledgable, but I don't
    	know if he still ventures into this conference...

	Hi Norm,

	I just called the EDCO factory and was given the following address
	as for the general importer for the US:

	Pace-Line Inc.
	114 Nelson Avenue
	ARROYO GRANDE - California 93420
	phone:  805 489 63 63   /  fax:  805 489 16 68

	I have a folder here showing their products for racing bikes as	
	well as for ATB. It is about of the same quality and price-range
	as the Shimano Dura-Ace or Campa Record.
	
	Just let me know your address if you want me to send you the	
	folder.

	regards. 
	Norbert

    
    Thanks Norbert.  The info is exactly what I was looking for.  
      I just received my trade name application for the state of New 
    Hampshire.  I am now an official bicycle frame manufacturer.  However 
    production won't begin until next summer.     
      This winter I plan to build myself road and MTB frames.  On the road
    bike I would like to use at least the Edco hubs and maybe some of their
    other components.  
      The reason for wanting the importers address is so I can purchase the 
    components wholesale.
    
    Look for "Team Flye" next summer.  That is if a single rider can be
    called a team.
    
    							Norm
    
        

	Good luck then Norm. 

	Let me know when the first "FLYE BIKE" is on the road.

	regards. norbert 

     Hell, gimme a shirt and I'll be on your team...
    
     Chip_who's_always_looking_for_free_cycling_apparel

So tell us, Norm, what are the "Flye" bikes going to be like, ie which tubing,
any special features, and so on? If you want to divulge these details, that
is...


Rod

    As with all "true flyes" they will have a single pair of wings ...

Hey Everybody,

By what I just read from Chip's memo, he will be getting rid of his so-so Merlin 
and Campy stuff to go with a Team Flye and Edco components.

    
    I am still trying to get all the equipment together for the business.
    Hopefully sometime this winter I will have everything.  If anyone knows
    where I can get some used stuff let me know.  At the moment I need
    almost everything.  I know where to get everything new but would like to 
    try a little longer to get used equipment.  If I can't get used
    equipment soon I will puchase everything new.  
      Once I have the equipment I will be able to start kicking them out.
    I plan on having two lines of bikes.  The "FLYE" bikes will be totally
    custom.  The customer will be measured and the frame built to fit the 
    person.  They will have the choice of any steel tubing they wish.  The
    frames will be built silver brazed lugged, small fillet brass or large
    fillet brass.  The customer will have input as to the frames geometry,
    braze-ons, etc.  
      The other line will be called "TERRAPLANE" (land flyer) and will be
    cheaper.  They will still be hand built but will be more of an "off the 
    shelf bike".  Fixed geometry, no choice of braze-ons, no wild paint
    jobs, etc.
      I have contacted enough wholesalers that I will be able to offer just
    about any component choices the customer wishes, subject to
    availablilty.  
     Anything I forgot?
    
    Chip if you want to wear one of my jerseys you will have to get rid of
    that junk you are riding.  Remember to save the headset for me.
    
    							Norm
    
     
       

    I wouldn't sell my MERLIN for anything (including Norm's weight in 
    platinum!).
    
    All I wanted was a shirt... I'll continue to ride with "real" equipment.
    
    Junk you say? My dear boy, let me explain a few things to you...
    
     o My guess is that the word "junk" is used in conjunction (or in
       lieu of) with you inability to work the precious metal...
    
     o Let's see... Specialized? MERLIN?... Specialized? MERLIN?
       (I won't harp on this one... the answer's toooooo obvious)
    
     o At least your taste in headsets is noteworthy.  With a little
       work you'll come around on the rest of the stuff...
    
    
       :-)   CHIP  :-)
     o 

    You might  want  to  check  out  Bike  Ex's  sale. They're selling
    everything,  including their shop tools. I don't know if they have
    frame tools, but suspect that they do.

--David

    
    RE. 14
    
    Chip,
    
    	Actually I have become a steel fan again.  I have owned steel,
    aluminum & carbon fiber and have ridden titanium.  The new oversized
    steel, to me, seems to be the way to go.  As my cycling ability has 
    improved I see what the pro's mean by steel having a special feel.
    The non-ferrous frames may soak up shock but steel lets me know what
    is happening between me and the road.  My Specialized Allez Epic may 
    have been comfortable on a long ride but ripping through a high speed
    corner on it now scares the hell out of me because I don't have a feel 
    of the road.  I have had the wheel start to slide without warning.  I 
    was at the edge of traction without knowing like I would with steel.
      People say steel has a harsh ride and is heavy.  The harsh ride lets
    you know the traction situaton.  The new oversized tubing will
    alleviate some of the harshness.  The frames built with the new tubing
    are also starting to rival the weight of the non-ferrous frames.
      Steel is inexpensive, easy to work with and available.  For the
    little guy working with the non-ferrous stuff is not really worth it.
    Have you ever tried to get lugs for carbon fiber?  Titanium is rough
    on tools, expensive and requires an inert gas bath for welding.  
    Aluminum is problably the easiest of the three to work with but there 
    is an availability and selection problem.  
      Everyone has their opinion on what is the best.  I'll respect that.
    I do think that steel will make a resurgence and the non-ferrous stuff
    will be around for a while to come.  
    
    							Norm
    
      

     Sheesh, Norm... Lighten up, will ya!
    
    
     Can't you feel a compressed cookie (while it's happening?)
    
    
     Actually, I must be missing that "jeweler's feel" that you mention...
    (Old war wound I guess).
    
     Actually, this is probably my laziness talking, but steel and paint
    are a pain in the *ss. Rust, scratches - I challenge your remark that
    says "new" (available and cost "hibitive") steel tubing is rivaling
    other materials... I haven't read anything like anywhere... Help me
    if I'm all wet here...
    
     Chip the "going numb" Titanium Ninja Rider

My 2�.

Sometimes I wonder where my brain was when I decided to blow >$1500 for a frame 
and fork but everytime I get off the saddle to challenge a hill I remember 
what I like so much about titanium.  

I've gone through the experience of building a frame and in my h.o., I tip my 
hat off to Norm.  You're not in it for the $$, it takes over 10 yrs to really be 
considered a master frame builder and you must compete with great marketeers 
such as Serotta.

Eric

    
    Les Woodland tells in his recent book of the "fabled publicity
    caravans" accompanying the Tour de France, including "lorries done up
    as dead flies and vacuum cleaners."  So here's a precedent for you,
    Norm.  Visualize the promo possibilities of "lorries done up as live
    flies" to advertise your frames to the tifosi of many lands! :-)
    
    -john
    
    (Presumably the dead flies represented some pest-control company.)

    > (Presumably the dead flies represented some pest-control company.)
    
    You've heard of catch sprints ?  Well Catch is fly-spray.
    
    As far as I remember the Vacuum cleaner was the voiture balais until
    some riders complained that the stigma of being picked up by the van
    was bad enough without it being a vacuum cleaner....
                                                        

    The broom-wagon this year wasn't a vacuum cleaner. But it did carry a
    broom fixed to the front.
    
    
    Rod