asu_gt
new member
Reged: 12/28/07
Posts: 13
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My buddy and I were discussing current carbon builders who actually built their frames in the USA. I stated Calfee was one that built all their frames in USA...I think my tandem has "handmade in CA" sticker.
He thought they outsourced some things to Taiwan and that handmade=assembled in America.
J
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dfcas
contributor
Reged: 12/19/03
Posts: 139
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I visited the factory last summer and I can confirm that they handbuild the frames in their factory.
I posted a report on my visit here:
http://www.bikefanclub.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=calfee&Number=9022&Forum=All_Forums&Words=&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Main=9022&Search=true&where=bodysub&Name=56&daterange=0&newerval=&newertype=&olderval=&oldertype=&bodyprev=#Post9022
I -think- they import bamboo from Taiwan,but I may be wrong about that.
dan
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no signature
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bfd
journeyman
Reged: 12/22/03
Posts: 77
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Yup, Calfee are made in the US of A. A couple of other American carbon builders are
Bob Parlee
http://www.parleecycles.com/
Nick Crumpton
http://www.crumptoncycles.com/
and the guy who use to work for Craig, Brent Ruegamer of Rue Sports:
http://www.ruesports.com/
Good Luck!
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cccyclist
journeyman
Reged: 09/27/05
Posts: 80
Loc: Central California
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What does it mean when they are afraid to put list prices on their web site??
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Darby
sage
Reged: 08/03/06
Posts: 420
Loc: Orange County California
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Quote:
cccyclist wrote:
What does it mean when they are afraid to put list prices on their web site??
That is a common sales tactic. They would rather you called them so that they can talk to you about their product, and then maybe you wont suffer from sticker shock as much.
Bruce
Edited by Darby (03/01/08 01:27 AM)
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asu_gt
new member
Reged: 12/28/07
Posts: 13
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my buddy sent me this link:
http://www.mcmwin.com/images/R0010756.JPG
must be the bamboo frames.
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Darby
sage
Reged: 08/03/06
Posts: 420
Loc: Orange County California
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Quote:
asu_gt wrote:
my buddy sent me this link:
http://www.mcmwin.com/images/R0010756.JPG
must be the bamboo frames.
I know that Tom Milton is a huge fan of the Calfee Bamboo bike. Is he building a bamboo tandem?
Bruce
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Umlungu
contributor
Reged: 03/04/05
Posts: 183
Loc: Plano, TX
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Not sure what's in those boxes, but I doubt they are bamboo frames of any sort. The boxes in the picture are labeled:
N.W. (Net Weight) 21 KGS.
That's like 46+ lbs! (Besides, the main reason to outsource the manufacture of _anything_ to Taiwan is to get discounts on the production of mass quantities) My guess would be it's raw bamboo.
The Science Channel's "Invention Nation" piece on their Bamboo frames showed their in-house manufacturing process.
BTW, I love the carbon ribbon wrap on that Bamboo tandem!
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cccyclist
journeyman
Reged: 09/27/05
Posts: 80
Loc: Central California
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I would sure like to know what he is getting from Taiwan!
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Dave_Thompson
prophet
Reged: 12/19/03
Posts: 717
Loc: Spokane, Washington
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Perhaps pieces of the bamboo he uses for the bikes?
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Steel lover, but then I like Ti with carbon too.
Licensed bike geek.
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cccyclist
journeyman
Reged: 09/27/05
Posts: 80
Loc: Central California
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Funny thing is that it looks like bike boxes.
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asu_gt
new member
Reged: 12/28/07
Posts: 13
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that is what my buddy said and what prompted him to send me this pic. not sure how he came across it. maybe he was motivated because I was teasing him that his colnago wasn't a product of italy.
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Darby
sage
Reged: 08/03/06
Posts: 420
Loc: Orange County California
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Any possibility that his carbon fiber material comes from Taiwan?
Bruce
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Umlungu
contributor
Reged: 03/04/05
Posts: 183
Loc: Plano, TX
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Funny we are having this discussion on the day the new VeloNews issue came out. If you can pick up an issue of VeloNews' Buyers Guide, do it; it contains an article written about Calfee Design and is titled "Factory Tour: Calfee" on page 70 and 71.
In actuality its not really "a tour", but an article about how he makes the frames by hand in California. It details why he refuses to build frames in Asia when soo many other companies are doing that these days.
-snip-
"I've thought about it - we'd make a hell of a lot more money if we made our bikes [in Asia]. They are good bikes but [the production] is hard to control. Maybe I'm a control freak, bt I like to know really precisely what is going on. I have a very low tolerance for craftsmanship issues. I wouldn't be able to guarantee that if I made my bikes over there."
Regarding the Bamboo bikes in particular it says:
"These days, Calfee Designs pumps out around 100 bike frames a year, made with industrial-grade smoked bamboo he imports from South Asia."
Sounds like the boxes are imported bamboo to me! Anyway pick up the rag, its a pretty nice little read, especially for Calfee fans like myself. :P
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