Pace...where's it all going?

[ferrit]

Two things for me:



01 • I thought Ragley made handbags. Or at least that's what GirlBurning is always after pestering me to buy her.

02 • Admittedly I only scan read, but where does it mention they'll be made in the UK? The three oh blah blah isn't. Can Adrian braze? Or are we talking 'assembled' in UK - they seem to be suggesting the offering of complete bikes not frames...?


That's all. Please keep arguing again.

BB

BB

I admit it I am as guilty as the next man of jumping the gun, but I couldnt argue the point that it was or wasnt made in the UK but I will point my learned friend to the quotation above and the part highlighted in red

 

[gil_m]

Why not talk to this guy ~ http://feathercycles.blogspot.com/

UK craftsman, fillet brazed and very realistic prices and I am sure he is not the only one out there

It just seems such a shame that another UK company end up going abroad just for an increased profit margin, this is understandable when it's for high end tubing or manipulation but when they are working with steel it seems stupid and a great shame

 

[BoyBurning]

I'll continue the banter as it's lunch time and there's a queue in Nero...

The bit in red you highlight was meant as a supportive to the primary question - where does it say the frames will be built in the UK?

There are several posts so far on this thread which suggest it is great to have a uk made frame available again. Where does it say that in the article, or are people jumping to assumptions?

As we know, there is a work around, often used, which will state something is 'assembled' in the UK, slyly suggesting 'built' or 'made' in the UK.

The two are very different, and the current Pace frames are not made in UK. Hence question as to whether Adrian can braze or not.

Continue!

 

[gil_m]

Adrian, Braze ~ Not to frame building standards, if at all

Dean used to weld the RC200 frames and Duncan the RC100 frames

Most of the engineering work was done by Richard or later Mark, fork fettling by Tim and Josh amongst others

Adrian was/is the ring leader

 

[BoyBurning]

Exactly Gil.

My point, badly made obviously.

Unlikely therefore they are 'made' in UK as people have erronously been suggesting?

BB

 

[Dr S]

Always nice to see people voicing their option


Everybody is happy with what was a British firm building bikes in-house using local people moving into the Taiwan built "niche" market products, with whatever the current trend is?



Thoughts...

I would love to see them going back to building innovative frames and products here in the UK rather than in some far east factory but if thats what they have to do to compete with the big guns and survive then so it has to be. As long as the design and material quality remains high then its better than nothing.

The big problem now is that a mountain bike has evolved to such a high level that its impossible to improve much- the RC100 was from a time when we were all still experimenting and different avenues were explored. Just like the cars of today- a bike looks and feels much the same as the next one along the shop window now. If you want something to stand out you have to look at a niche and build it- hence the resergence of retro styling, steel tubes and fillet brazing. It would be impossible for anyone to build a modern bike today that would have the jaw dropping impact and innovation of that RC100. So Pace are now building bikes that look different and work in UK conditions- which is what they always did.

These days, a company like Pace only has two options- try and compete with everyone and build abroad and hope that good UK design and quality materials gives it an edge. Or take on a small shed, two old framebuilders and do complete custom work al la Groovy, Indy Fab, Iglehart etc. The passion of bike building in my own heart would choose the latter but my head and the bank manager would choose the second.

Si

 

[Dr S]

On the other hand, if it's beautifully built steel and titanium frames people want, made right here in the North of England, and you are willing to pay for it.......

All I can say is something is brewing behind the big wooden partition that has suddenly sprung up in my workshop. Oh, and I wonder what all that machinary by the door is for......

watch this space!

 

[gil_m]

Guess I don't want to face facts

 

[hamster]

If the general trend is to start work with steel again why are we not using English craftsmen?

From that list only Orange make anything in-house, why can't we have a brand that is prepared to use a British builder other than the fact it's down to price

Surely there is a market who would pay a little more knowing the frames were UK built, also means designs can be tweaked in-house rather than waiting 3 weeks to find the designs don't work

Look at the American market, how many "niche" builders are there, compaired to the 3 or 4 in the UK

Come on, there are way more in the UK, but admittedly they are craft framebuilders who have generally built more for touring and audax than offroad.

Mercian, Argos, Mather, Bob Jackson, Yates, Condor, Enigma, Hetchins are just a few...

 

[JeRkY]

Worth noting that labour costs in the US, although not on the level with the far east are much lower than the UK.

It would be very difficult to sustain a larger number of hand fabricated frame builders in the UK due to the costs invovled.

Pace left these shores manufacturing wise with the RC303, it should come as no supprise that the new frames are not manufactured here. Sad but not shocking. As suggested, its the design and implementation that will make or break Pace's future...that and a little reliance on a name that did so much to break new ground in years gone.