ez054098
Senior Retro Guru
Re: Re:
Well said. No need to make assumptions and treat them as fact. Judge the final product.M-Power":6i0mvsgv said:Some harsh but fair words from a tough crowd on RB
He used family money to start BITD and not his own, and then he sold out in the very early 90s before the others for a very tidy Sum. How did he not make a killing....?
Like you, I have read a lot from various sources on FCC etc Tbh I don't know where you get the intel that he made a 'killing' from selling out. How much are we talking about here ? The Internet is the best rumour mill ever invented That's why people have to be guarded and respectful to all parties historically involved in commercial relationships, no matter how long ago. Pistonheads has a great policy on this.
Generally people get royally screwed over by large predators, as they are in such a weak negotiating position in those situations. I have had enough dealings with VCs and VCTs to know that :facepalm:
Im all for wanting to see an old brand back, in favour of high priced Chinese carbon for sure, but I am a realist.
The design and high standard isn't why there is a legacy, (Christ most of the steel here rotted from the inside out...(FACT)...), his legacy is Clever marketing, And in this respect the guys a bloody genius
Agree with his marketing genius. I have a nice collection of his brochures and he was way ahead of the pack and much copied by others in the industry at the time. I don't know the exact % of rotted steel frames but assuming 18000 of the ~ 20000 frames he ever built were steel, I have only seen maybe ~ 10 replacement seat tube threads on here and Fatcogs/other site retro threads + ~ 5 people loosely stating they junked their steel Fat frame or rode it into the ground as it was beyond repair.
It seems so many want to see him fail miserably, embarrass himself etc. I don't see his business as a failure at all. I frickin love my Fat collection. They all ride so well but differently. I owned and had access to most of the best bikes bitd and well his bikes have 'it' and still do.
I'm personally not a fan of maliciously slating other brands or peoples bikes. If somebody really loves their Raleigh Maverick...whatever....good for them. That being said winding people up and controversy does increase site traffic, so its all good