I am a frame builder AMA

Remember a lot of the bespoked folks are pretty cheap ass, and that's probably because technically that's all they are capable of and all they can afford if they're having to put their hand in their own pocket and not have someone subsidise it

Partner up in the bike industry usually means your funding someone else's dream

....in a world where you take the same 9 tubes as the next guy has and then paint them a unique colour whilst telling the world your the next best thing to Michaelangelo in terms of artisanal awesomeness....your pretty much fucked unless you have an entourage 10 people wedged up your arse telling the world how great nice and respected and that in the press piece you worked for NASA at one point in your career ( even if it was for 30 seconds) ...Steven Hawking was respected...fucking clowns.

But mainly because they're cheap ass